pedestrian hit on 4th ave last night around 6:30

Streetsblog has the story.

http://tinyurl.com/3nz98x5

Hey, I work for the Brooklyn Lyceum, and it was our open mic night so ALL of us happened to be there to witness it, along with all of the usual weekly performers. I am so relieved the guy is not critically injured or worse. It was ghastly

We are all going to send him a card, we think it might be nice for him to know so many people cared if he was ok, let me know if you would like to be part of that regan[at]brooklynlyceum.com

as my friend Maja said to me last night after we spend a few miles walking this all off

"remember we are alive deliberately"

Oh come on mod, you've got to be kidding. Fourth Avenue was rezoned for residential several years ago but the city has been remiss in reviewing and updating transportation policies for this street. Have you seen the number of people that spill out of the Union St. and 9th St. subway stations at rush hour? There are literally thousands of new residents along the 4th Avenue corridor, and an awful lot of them are families. This is not the first time that this has happened and it won't be the last until the city enforces new traffic rules in this area. Unfortunately, I don't think the city will do something until a small child is run down by one of those trucks or speeding cars. For now, the only thing to do is be a defensive pedestrian.

I don't know whether or not 4th Ave was designed as a truck route, but if it was, I'd guess that this was back when the Brooklyn Waterfront was a much busier place, and when there were far fewer passenger cars clogging the roadways. Is there some reason, (beyond maximizing profit) that trucks should be allowed to careen through our residential neighborhoods at deadly speeds? And what about Third Ave south of the Prospect Ave Expressway? Doesn't that delightful place already fulfill our needs in the Hellish speeding truck route department?

homeowner said:

That's not to say that I think its okay to smack pedestrians down in the middle of the street, but its a six lane two way street. Why would you expect it to behave like a quiet country road?

Personally I expect cars and more important trucks to go remotely near the speed limit. And if not, for the police to enforce it.

I was under the impression the police exist in order to promote public safety.

When cars and pedestrians collide, it's always a one-sided affair.

For a long time I was weary of speed & red light cameras, but the simple fact is that when those cameras go in, speeds go down, and lives are saved.

I can't help but think it's a reasonable trade off.

I hated them for a long time and hate even more the road that starts us down.

But you have to balance public safety. Few things are more dangerous to New Yorkers than people speeding and running red lights.

If the NYPD can't be bothered to regulate this in person (they can't), then we have to resort to other options.

NYC speed traps are a joke, they only hide in some spots, i see them all the time. but nyc has more stop sign traps but they are only in certain spots too.

BG, do you mean the BQE/Belt? That actually runs around the borough, rather than through it. The Gowanus Expressway? That would fit your statement, except that it is woefully short, dumping all traffic into Ocean Parkway, which isn't a Parkway at all, because there are traffic lights at nearly every intersection.

It would greatly improve driving if Brooklyn had a real highway network throughout the borough, as many more modern cities do, but it will only happen if Robert Moses is reincarnated.

Isn't Atlantic Yards proof to the contrary?

this is what i'm talking about , but they had these type of plans since before the big dig and the city "fathers" at the time though hmmm lets wait and see what happens in Boston first LOL.

In 1997, the Regional Plan Association (RPA) released a report paid by the New York City Council indicating that a tunnel to replace the elevated Gowanus Expressway was not only technically feasible, but also desirable aesthetically to surrounding communities. The tunnel would begin at the intersection of the Gowanus Expressway, Belt Parkway and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge approach (I-278) in Bay Ridge. The Gowanus Tunnel would continue north through Sunset Park and under the Gowanus Canal to Red Hook, terminating at the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (I-278) and the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel approach (I-478).

Under the RPA plan, the increased space provided by the demolition of the elevated Gowanus Expressway would be used to develop a tree-lined boulevard along Third Avenue. Eventually, esplanades and parks would be created along the Bay Ridge, Sunset Park and Red Hook waterfronts.

In 2001, the NYSDOT began to study 13 different tunnel alternatives for the Gowanus Expressway from the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge approach to the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel approach. While the north-south alignments of the proposed Gowanus Tunnel differed - routes were selected along the waterfront, First Avenue, Second Avenue and Third Avenue - most alignments featured the following design conventions:

Four inbound (eastbound) and three westbound (outbound) lanes would be provided through the tunnel. One lane in the eastbound direction would be established for HOV use during peak periods.

New interchanges would be constructed so as to minimize weaving problems. There are to be new underground grade-separated interchanges at the Belt Parkway, Prospect Expressway (NY 27) and the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel (I-478), and reconstruction of existing highway approaches to the Gowanus Tunnel.

Five of the 13 alternatives move the terminus of the Belt Parkway to the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge approach, providing a direct connection to the Gowanus Tunnel at this point.)

Eight of the 13 alternatives provide a new underground trumpet interchange in the vicinity of 39th Street to serve the Sunset Park area.

Two of the 13 alternatives provide a 9,250-foot-long deepwater tunnel beneath the Brooklyn piers. The tunnel would be constructed at least 75 feet beneath the surface to permit operation of the deepwater port.

The NYSDOT prepared a comprehensive environmental impact statement to determine the best way to improve the expressway, and in 2006 gave preliminary approval to build a 3.5-mile-long, seven-lane tunnel costing an estimated $12.8 billion. Before any construction takes place, a number of obstacles from existing utility and sewer lines to the placement of a cross-harbor freight rail tunnel, need to be taken into account. Finally, if a tunnel were to be built, one or more methods - bored tunnel, cut-and-cover tunnel or immersed tunnel - may be used. The tunnel would be scheduled for completion by 2020.

they had so many of these studies over the years never actually would have the balls or money to do it.

oh check out the site tons of interesting stuff about the Gowanus.

Example: if Atlantic Avenue were converted into a limited access highway from Flatbush to Conduit Avenue, and Conduit were similarly converted, then getting out to Kennedy Airport by bus or car would take only a few minutes.

If there were a limited access highway connecting downtown Brooklyn to the Jackie Robinson, getting to LaGuardia would be quick and easy.

It'll never happen, but a fella can dream...

Booklaws solution might work if it could keep up with demand and no one brokedown.

LIRR in combo with airtrain does it in about 40 min ....same route.

booklaw said:

Example: if Atlantic Avenue were converted into a limited access highway from Flatbush to Conduit Avenue, and Conduit were similarly converted, then getting out to Kennedy Airport by bus or car would take only a few minutes.

If there were a limited access highway connecting downtown Brooklyn to the Jackie Robinson, getting to LaGuardia would be quick and easy.

It'll never happen, but a fella can dream...

Downtown Brooklyn to the Jackie Robinson via EP is a long way out of the way to get to LGA. Limited or not. What's wrong with the BQE? Besides the usual tie up before the LIE exit off the Kosciuszko Bridge.