My NYC Black Folk......Gentrification

[CashmereThoughts]

Oakland aint going nowhere. You can still get your shyt rearranged in East Oakland.

Eminent Domain will fix all that

you know what harlem was like in the 80s and look at it now

 

[newworldafro]

Cyclists push for Verrazano bike lane • The Brooklyn Paper

April 5, 2013 / Brooklyn news / Bay Ridge
Cyclists push for Verrazano bike laneBy Natalie Musumeci
The Brooklyn Paper


Getting to Staten Island won’t require as many wheels as it used to if a group of cycling advocates gets its way.

Pedal-pushers are pushing to add a bike and pedestrian path to the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, a vital motorist-only connection between Brooklyn and Staten Island that currently boasts 12 lanes for cars and none for velocipedes.

“Support of the path would provide a much needed toll-free option that would benefit the health, emergency access, and economic viability of neighboring communities,” activists wrote on a Change.org petition put up by a steering committee for Harbor Ring, a proposed 50-mile route for walkers and bicyclists that would connect the waterfronts encircling New York Harbor.

More than 28 miles of the route is already in place due to existing paths and bikeways, but one critical missing link is the 49-year-old bridge, claim advocates who believe a Verrazano path is a much-needed connection between the two boroughs.

“We are well past the notion that cars are the only way to get around,” said Harbor Ring committee member and Cobble Hill resident Dave Paco Abraham. “It’s a matter of fairness to the people who either can’t afford a car or simply do not have a car.”

The bike boosters — backed by cycling advocacy group Transportation Alternatives and Regional Plan Association — are calling on Gov. Cuomo to hop onboard their proposal for a lane running across the 4,260-foot span.

They’re not the first people to call for a bike path across the bridge: the Department of City Planning commissioned a 1997 feasibility study by Verrazano engineers Ammann & Whitney, who determined that a route could be built without removing a single lane of automotive traffic.

But building a platform between the suspension cables — not unlike the Brooklyn Bridge’s bustling pedestrian and cycling area — wouldn’t be cheap. The study estimated a total build-out at $26.5 million.

A spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority — the agency that operates the Verrazano — said a cycling route was never part of the original plan for the bridge, despite rumors of the contrary, and noted that transit planners are considering conducting their own feasibility study, which would not begin until 2014 or later.

“MTA Bridges and Tunnels is considering this issue as part of a future Belt Parkway ramp reconstruction project,” said spokeswoman Judie Glave.

The bridge is only open to bikers and bipeds twice per year: once for the Five Boro Bike Tour and again during the New York City Marathon.

Abraham, who savors crossing the bridge on his two-wheeler during the bike tour, said that he can tell from the way photo-snapping cyclists react when they hit the bridge that a year-round pathway would be a big attraction.

“This could be a huge boost to New York City on a tourism level,” said the avid bike rider. “You can see sweeping views of all of Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, of Brooklyn, of New Jersey — it’s really just breathtaking.”

Bike backers gathered 924 signatures as press time, but not everyone is gung-ho for a walking and biking route over the Narrows.

“It’s sheer unadulterated idiocy,” said Community Board 10 member and driving advocate Allen Bortnik, who fears car lanes would be affected. “There are certain places bike lanes do not belong — it is a major thoroughfare.”

This is my favorite borough, cause of its underdog status and its uniqueness from the rest of boroughs....I've stated before what would make it shine even more, would be a bike/walk access and a train connection to either Bayonne or Brooklyn.....well this idea is even better than my idea of a tunnel for bikes/pedestrians....... $26 million is incredibly cheap (stupid cheap) for something that will be a huge instant tourist draw.....the bridge itself will literally become a tourist attraction.....that you can access, enjoy and not just wait in traffic......and so many other good things would come from this idea........

.... I would even make a bold argument that there are just enough people would bike from Staten Island to Brooklyn...just to be able to use the closest rail station, I believe its Bay Ridge station in Brooklyn to access the city.............hence gentrification in Brooklyn can possibly be eased a bit, at least some pressure off...since the housing would be cheaper in Staten Island......I think yall would be surprised how many folks would be ok with this arrangement.....

 

[88m3]

I haven't driven the bridge in years, but it never felt safe, I wouldn't bike across it.


Waste of taxpayer money. Hell the bike lanes in brooklyn aren't even properly used. Don't even get me started about the idiots on scooters.

 

[TLR Is Mental Poison]

It wouldnt be a tourist spot. Verrazano is at the end of BK well out of the tourist zone... and it leads in to Staten Island aka New Jersey

Its a damn waste. $26M, I wonder how much low income housing that could build/save

 

[newworldafro]

It wouldnt be a tourist spot. Verrazano is at the end of BK well out of the tourist zone... and it leads in to Staten Island aka New Jersey

Its a damn waste. $26M, I wonder how much low income housing that could build/save

You saying tourists and residents/people in the metro wouldn't walk or bike to the center of the bridge to take pictures...or walk the mile and some change across.........I'm not from New York, but I know damn well the city gets literally 10s of millions of tourists every singe year...many of them repeat visitors...and I almost guarantee that are thousands of people that will come for that opportunity as part of their experience, potentially............ put all my coli cash matterfact on that happening...... it would be a short walk/bike ride from Bay Ridge station, which is walkable distancefrom the bridge to the middle of it.........

Yall trippin......... ...... I know there are many pressing concerns with transportation, but this is a worthy investment......the benefits, EXTREMELY outweigh the cost.....and the yearly maintenance is nothing like a road or rail......

 

[BigMan]

eh. my mom's family all live/lived in Staten Island so i used to go there every weekend. It feels like NJ to me

 

[69 others]

You saying tourists and residents/people in the metro wouldn't walk or bike to the center of the bridge to take pictures...or walk the mile and some change across.........I'm not from New York, but I know damn well the city gets literally 10s of millions of tourists every singe year...many of them repeat visitors...and I almost guarantee that are thousands of people that will come for that opportunity as part of their experience, potentially............ put all my coli cash matterfact on that happening...... it would be a short walk/bike ride from Bay Ridge station, which is walkable distancefrom the bridge to the middle of it.........

Yall trippin......... ...... I know there are many pressing concerns with transportation, but this is a worthy investment......the benefits, EXTREMELY outweigh the cost.....and the yearly maintenance is nothing like a road or rail......

like someone said above it's way out of the tourist zone and the verrazano doesn't have the history and appeal like the brooklyn bridge to draw that much tourist. plus like many other bike lane proposals this one seem too optimistic, a lot of these bike lanes are under used but bike enthusiast want them everywhere

 

[Mike Ock]

This is my favorite borough, cause of its underdog status and its uniqueness from the rest of boroughs....I've stated before what would make it shine even more, would be a bike/walk access and a train connection to either Bayonne or Brooklyn.....well this idea is even better than my idea of a tunnel for bikes/pedestrians....... $26 million is incredibly cheap (stupid cheap) for something that will be a huge instant tourist draw.....the bridge itself will literally become a tourist attraction.....that you can access, enjoy and not just wait in traffic......and so many other good things would come from this idea........

.... I would even make a bold argument that there are just enough people would bike from Staten Island to Brooklyn...just to be able to use the closest rail station, I believe its Bay Ridge station in Brooklyn to access the city.............hence gentrification in Brooklyn can possibly be eased a bit, at least some pressure off...since the housing would be cheaper in Staten Island......I think yall would be surprised how many folks would be ok with this arrangement.....

Where could I find this petition in favor of the bike lane on the bridge. I'd easily ride that shyt. Paying $13 to cross the bridge is

 

[TLR Is Mental Poison]

You saying tourists and residents/people in the metro wouldn't walk or bike to the center of the bridge to take pictures...or walk the mile and some change across.........I'm not from New York, but I know damn well the city gets literally 10s of millions of tourists every singe year...many of them repeat visitors...and I almost guarantee that are thousands of people that will come for that opportunity as part of their experience, potentially............ put all my coli cash matterfact on that happening...... it would be a short walk/bike ride from Bay Ridge station, which is walkable distancefrom the bridge to the middle of it.........

Yall trippin......... ...... I know there are many pressing concerns with transportation, but this is a worthy investment......the benefits, EXTREMELY outweigh the cost.....and the yearly maintenance is nothing like a road or rail......

I dont know man. At one end of the BK bridge you have downtown Manhattan, the other end you have downtown BK (and Grimaldis). It's close to a lot of trains. Verrazzano Bridge opens to SI toll booth on one end and a shyt ton of highways on the BK side. Its not even close to Coney Island. Its not the wave.

I think extending the trains down there across the bridge would be the way to go. Connect the SI subway to BK.

 

[the next guy]

I can't believe that the South Bronx hasn't gentrified yet! 10 min ride to mid town 30 mins downtown.

 

[newworldafro]

Where could I find this petition in favor of the bike lane on the bridge. I'd easily ride that shyt. Paying $13 to cross the bridge is

Check Post #1100 where the article is.... definitely something the staunchiest anti-transit person can support..... price tag is

Edit: Check this too.... http://www.change.org/petitions/sup...rian-pathways-on-the-verrazano-narrows-bridge

 

[newworldafro]

I dont know man. At one end of the BK bridge you have downtown Manhattan, the other end you have downtown BK (and Grimaldis). It's close to a lot of trains. Verrazzano Bridge opens to SI toll booth on one end and a shyt ton of highways on the BK side. Its not even close to Coney Island. Its not the wave.

I think extending the trains down there across the bridge would be the way to go. Connect the SI subway to BK.

Your wrong and right ... at the same damn time.

I had to do a lil reseearch...and

the Bay Ridge station is 1/4 - 1/3 of mile (in that ballpark) from the bridge in Brooklyn at the closest so that connection is very accessiblle...Your Wrong for Brooklyn

the two closest rail stations are 1 1/2 miles (in that ballpark) from the bridge in Staten Island......Your Right for Staten Island.....at least if your walking... biking wouldn't be a big deal

Its probably will be around 1.5 to 2 miles for something like this actual bike/pedestrian bridge.....so again if your walking it's going to be scenic slog, but if your biking it's probably smooth sailing...again, I think its an investment that has ridiculous pluses....and very inexpensive.....

Any rail connection from Staten Island to Brooklyn would be a tunnel ($$$), underwater($$$), over 1 mile long ($$$) = $EVERAL BILLION DOLLAR$ just for having the audcacity to think about the idea.... yall didn't read the article properly......this is a $26 million proposal that would NOT REMOVE ANY CAR LANES....but the cost will go up some, but not even pocket change of an underwater rail tunnel....this is the next step before that....thats my point...

 

[ogc163]

I can't believe that the South Bronx hasn't gentrified yet! 10 min ride to mid town 30 mins downtown.

Unless they tear down...Mott Haven, Courtland, Milbrook, and Patterson Projects gentrification will not come anywhere near the South Bronx.

 

[the next guy]

Unless they tear down...Mott Haven, Courtland, Milbrook, and Patterson Projects gentrification will not come anywhere near the South Bronx.

They might as well its 2013 we off projects!!

 

[Wild self]

They might as well its 2013 we off projects!!

Yeah, If someone is desperate for a cheap place to live that is near Manhattan, South BX is the place to live. PJs in the post 9/11 world is . No point about repping that shyt anymore.