Comments on: The Taming and Reclaiming of Prospect Park West http://www.streetfilms.org/the-taming-and-reclaiming-of-prospect-park-west/ Documenting Livable Streets Worldwide Fri, 17 May 2013 04:36:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: João Augusto http://www.streetfilms.org/the-taming-and-reclaiming-of-prospect-park-west/comment-page-1/#comment-254613 João Augusto Sat, 05 Mar 2011 03:13:21 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48099#comment-254613 Very good! excellent initiative Very good! excellent initiative

]]> By: Dan Kaufman (CrankMyChain.tv) http://www.streetfilms.org/the-taming-and-reclaiming-of-prospect-park-west/comment-page-1/#comment-207954 Dan Kaufman (CrankMyChain.tv) Fri, 15 Oct 2010 17:04:24 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48099#comment-207954 Great story and video! All the brouhaha over parking seems absurd to me. We have better uses for our streets than subsidized vehicle storage spaces. Great story and video!

All the brouhaha over parking seems absurd to me. We have better uses for our streets than subsidized vehicle storage spaces.

]]> By: Ed Pino http://www.streetfilms.org/the-taming-and-reclaiming-of-prospect-park-west/comment-page-1/#comment-207802 Ed Pino Thu, 14 Oct 2010 13:40:00 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48099#comment-207802 We need more of these types of lanes in the city. Can Queens Blvd be next! We need more of these types of lanes in the city. Can Queens Blvd be next!

]]> By: Mathiew (Poland, Warsaw) http://www.streetfilms.org/the-taming-and-reclaiming-of-prospect-park-west/comment-page-1/#comment-205653 Mathiew (Poland, Warsaw) Wed, 15 Sep 2010 05:30:34 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48099#comment-205653 Lucky you! In Warsaw thare is NO bikes infrastructure at all. :( Lucky you! In Warsaw thare is NO bikes infrastructure at all. :(

]]> By: ChrisCo http://www.streetfilms.org/the-taming-and-reclaiming-of-prospect-park-west/comment-page-1/#comment-205348 ChrisCo Sat, 11 Sep 2010 05:44:45 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48099#comment-205348 As much as I've praised this project, it would still be better were the street two-way (in addition to all the changes made). One moving lane and one parking lane in each direction. That would further slow traffic down from an average of 28 MPH to probably under 25. As much as I've praised this project, it would still be better were the street two-way (in addition to all the changes made). One moving lane and one parking lane in each direction. That would further slow traffic down from an average of 28 MPH to probably under 25.

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.streetfilms.org/the-taming-and-reclaiming-of-prospect-park-west/comment-page-1/#comment-205324 Jonathan Fri, 10 Sep 2010 22:21:38 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48099#comment-205324 I just moved to PPW and 15th and as a cyclist I was thrilled to note the bike path. What a great addition. Let's hope for similar installations in the coming months all over Brooklyn. I just moved to PPW and 15th and as a cyclist I was thrilled to note the bike path. What a great addition. Let's hope for similar installations in the coming months all over Brooklyn.

]]> By: Steve F http://www.streetfilms.org/the-taming-and-reclaiming-of-prospect-park-west/comment-page-1/#comment-205318 Steve F Fri, 10 Sep 2010 17:37:06 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48099#comment-205318 Stay tuned for one last real world congestion test. Next week the summer/Labor Day/Jewish New Year holiday/vacation season comes to an end. I am going to sit out on a PPW bench and watch motor traffic flows between 3 and 5 PM to see if all the cars stopped at a red light are able to clear that light on one green cycle. My observations since June are that there has been no backup delay at any of the PPW signalized intersections, period. In fact, there is usually 20-30 seconds of empty street before the next red cycle. Therefore, the car travel time from one end of PPW to the other has not changed. Only the peak auto speeds between red lights has changed, from 0-50-0 down to 0-30-0. The end to end average speed is the same. And would the world come to an end if there were an occasional backup? Once everyone returns to work and schools are fully reopened next week, we will see if there is any delay during the peak commute hours. I just realized that technically, extra school buses stopping should not create a bigger problem after the change from 3 lanes to two. All cars are supposed to stop for unloading school buses anyway. We will see next week. Stay tuned for one last real world congestion test. Next week the summer/Labor Day/Jewish New Year holiday/vacation season comes to an end. I am going to sit out on a PPW bench and watch motor traffic flows between 3 and 5 PM to see if all the cars stopped at a red light are able to clear that light on one green cycle. My observations since June are that there has been no backup delay at any of the PPW signalized intersections, period. In fact, there is usually 20-30 seconds of empty street before the next red cycle. Therefore, the car travel time from one end of PPW to the other has not changed. Only the peak auto speeds between red lights has changed, from 0-50-0 down to 0-30-0. The end to end average speed is the same. And would the world come to an end if there were an occasional backup?

Once everyone returns to work and schools are fully reopened next week, we will see if there is any delay during the peak commute hours. I just realized that technically, extra school buses stopping should not create a bigger problem after the change from 3 lanes to two. All cars are supposed to stop for unloading school buses anyway. We will see next week.

]]> By: Pedestrian Uno http://www.streetfilms.org/the-taming-and-reclaiming-of-prospect-park-west/comment-page-1/#comment-205316 Pedestrian Uno Fri, 10 Sep 2010 17:06:10 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48099#comment-205316 I think it's fine, but someone needs to police the idiots (mostly trucks & black cars) who block one of the 2 remaining lanes for vehicles. And someone still needs to teach the bikers inside the park who are lunatics and dangerous to pedestrians. And control the bikers throughout the city who ignore simple safety and traffic regulations. It's a 2 way street folks! I think it's fine, but someone needs to police the idiots (mostly trucks & black cars) who block one of the 2 remaining lanes for vehicles. And someone still needs to teach the bikers inside the park who are lunatics and dangerous to pedestrians. And control the bikers throughout the city who ignore simple safety and traffic regulations. It's a 2 way street folks!

]]> By: inwoodist http://www.streetfilms.org/the-taming-and-reclaiming-of-prospect-park-west/comment-page-1/#comment-205315 inwoodist Fri, 10 Sep 2010 17:05:32 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48099#comment-205315 Hi Robin, you can take comfort in the fact that at least Leni Riefenstahl is a considered to be one of the great filmmakers (even though she tragically put her art in service of the Third Reich). I mean, hey, if someone with Leni Reifenstahl's skills wants to make livable streets films, I'm all for it! Hi Robin, you can take comfort in the fact that at least Leni Riefenstahl is a considered to be one of the great filmmakers (even though she tragically put her art in service of the Third Reich). I mean, hey, if someone with Leni Reifenstahl's skills wants to make livable streets films, I'm all for it!

]]> By: Daniel Dunnam http://www.streetfilms.org/the-taming-and-reclaiming-of-prospect-park-west/comment-page-1/#comment-205314 Daniel Dunnam Fri, 10 Sep 2010 16:54:34 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48099#comment-205314 what a great video! the zealots who were at those anti-bike lane meetings really just have nothing to say to this other than call names. typical. what a bunch of ignorant dbags. thanks for making such a great short explaining what a wonderful asset the lane is park slope and all brooklynites! what a great video!

the zealots who were at those anti-bike lane meetings really just have nothing to say to this other than call names. typical. what a bunch of ignorant dbags.

thanks for making such a great short explaining what a wonderful asset the lane is park slope and all brooklynites!

]]> By: J. Jackson http://www.streetfilms.org/the-taming-and-reclaiming-of-prospect-park-west/comment-page-1/#comment-205306 J. Jackson Fri, 10 Sep 2010 14:27:56 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48099#comment-205306 Wow. I really think/hope that @NoBikeLane is a troll; it's posts are so absurd and offensive. One tweet blames the bike lane for a robbery, and links to a story where no bike is mentioned. One tweet calls a bike lane advocate "ugly" and accuses him of only wanting publicity not actually safety. One empathizes with the driver of an SUV that hit a bollard, possibly saving a cyclist on the West Side Greenway. And now this Riefenstahl thing. Yeah, wanting a safe place to ride your bike is exactly like gassing millions of people. That's my cue to go back to ignoring this fool. Wow. I really think/hope that @NoBikeLane is a troll; it's posts are so absurd and offensive.

One tweet blames the bike lane for a robbery, and links to a story where no bike is mentioned.

One tweet calls a bike lane advocate "ugly" and accuses him of only wanting publicity not actually safety.

One empathizes with the driver of an SUV that hit a bollard, possibly saving a cyclist on the West Side Greenway.

And now this Riefenstahl thing. Yeah, wanting a safe place to ride your bike is exactly like gassing millions of people.

That's my cue to go back to ignoring this fool.

]]> By: Larry Littlefield http://www.streetfilms.org/the-taming-and-reclaiming-of-prospect-park-west/comment-page-1/#comment-205304 Larry Littlefield Fri, 10 Sep 2010 13:55:21 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48099#comment-205304 There are a lot of those traffic counters around Windsor Terrace these days, so I believe DOT is trying to come up with a way to extend the bike route. I'm not sure PPSW is wide enough for the PPW treatment, particularly since it is two-way, but they may be looking to bring Prospect Avenue into it somehow. Perhaps the bike route would be diverted to Prospect Avenue. Or PPSW would be made one-way south/east bound, and Prospect would be made one-way north/west bound. There are a lot of those traffic counters around Windsor Terrace these days, so I believe DOT is trying to come up with a way to extend the bike route.

I'm not sure PPSW is wide enough for the PPW treatment, particularly since it is two-way, but they may be looking to bring Prospect Avenue into it somehow.

Perhaps the bike route would be diverted to Prospect Avenue. Or PPSW would be made one-way south/east bound, and Prospect would be made one-way north/west bound.

]]> By: Jacob http://www.streetfilms.org/the-taming-and-reclaiming-of-prospect-park-west/comment-page-1/#comment-205260 Jacob Thu, 09 Sep 2010 23:41:12 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48099#comment-205260 Steve, It takes time. This project had amazing community support and it still drew incredible controversy. Park Slope also had a large amount of cyclists to begin with. Keep up the pressure and you'll get your improvements as well. Steve,

It takes time. This project had amazing community support and it still drew incredible controversy. Park Slope also had a large amount of cyclists to begin with.

Keep up the pressure and you'll get your improvements as well.

]]> By: steve http://www.streetfilms.org/the-taming-and-reclaiming-of-prospect-park-west/comment-page-1/#comment-205259 steve Thu, 09 Sep 2010 23:35:57 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48099#comment-205259 do you really think it should take 3-4 different community boards, 3-4 different struggles, to get all sides of the park taken care of..or would have it been wise, and more equitable, for the DOT to take a more cohesive approach...like Jeff mentioned, a lane on ppsw would have allowed you to get all the way between GAP to Coney Island. instead that's a really odd missing link but again, this DOT has shown an amazing abaility to grab headlines and make already nice neighborohoods just a little bit nicer. do you really think it should take 3-4 different community boards, 3-4 different struggles, to get all sides of the park taken care of..or would have it been wise, and more equitable, for the DOT to take a more cohesive approach...like Jeff mentioned, a lane on ppsw would have allowed you to get all the way between GAP to Coney Island. instead that's a really odd missing link

but again, this DOT has shown an amazing abaility to grab headlines and make already nice neighborohoods just a little bit nicer.

]]> By: Willow http://www.streetfilms.org/the-taming-and-reclaiming-of-prospect-park-west/comment-page-1/#comment-205257 Willow Thu, 09 Sep 2010 23:25:30 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48099#comment-205257 Beautiful! I rode it today, on my way from Williamsburg over to Red Hook, and I love it. Really impressed by Brooklyn's bike lanes in general. Have not imagined in my wildest dreams to ride in this city (am from Germany originally and bike lane spoiled...). Beautiful! I rode it today, on my way from Williamsburg over to Red Hook, and I love it. Really impressed by Brooklyn's bike lanes in general. Have not imagined in my wildest dreams to ride in this city (am from Germany originally and bike lane spoiled...).

]]> By: LD http://www.streetfilms.org/the-taming-and-reclaiming-of-prospect-park-west/comment-page-1/#comment-205247 LD Thu, 09 Sep 2010 20:42:28 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48099#comment-205247 @ benf... Wow! "Robin Urban Smith is the Bike Lobby's Leni Riefenstahl" Absurd. @ benf... Wow!

"Robin Urban Smith is the Bike Lobby's Leni Riefenstahl"

Absurd.

]]> By: benf http://www.streetfilms.org/the-taming-and-reclaiming-of-prospect-park-west/comment-page-1/#comment-205246 benf Thu, 09 Sep 2010 20:16:20 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48099#comment-205246 Congratulations, Robin. You know you've arrived when the anti-bike lane folks <a href="http://twitter.com/NoBikeLane/status/24024855545" rel="nofollow">call you a Nazi</a>. Congratulations, Robin. You know you've arrived when the anti-bike lane folks call you a Nazi.

]]> By: Clarence Eckerson Jr. http://www.streetfilms.org/the-taming-and-reclaiming-of-prospect-park-west/comment-page-1/#comment-205244 Clarence Eckerson Jr. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 19:52:17 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48099#comment-205244 In Montreal there are bike lanes like this on the perimeter of many of their parks.  No one cries about it. In Montreal there are bike lanes like this on the perimeter of many of their parks.  No one cries about it.

]]> By: dporpentine http://www.streetfilms.org/the-taming-and-reclaiming-of-prospect-park-west/comment-page-1/#comment-205243 dporpentine Thu, 09 Sep 2010 19:48:29 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48099#comment-205243 Nothing but good things to say about the new lanes, though I'm still convinced the next administration will sweep them away. Poor Marty Markowitz just wants his voice heard the same as everybody else! And I'm all for extending lanes on every side of the park; criminy, they could just make safe, legal bike entrances and exits to the park from all sides and I'd be happier. Nothing but good things to say about the new lanes, though I'm still convinced the next administration will sweep them away. Poor Marty Markowitz just wants his voice heard the same as everybody else!

And I'm all for extending lanes on every side of the park; criminy, they could just make safe, legal bike entrances and exits to the park from all sides and I'd be happier.

]]> By: ChrisC http://www.streetfilms.org/the-taming-and-reclaiming-of-prospect-park-west/comment-page-1/#comment-205242 ChrisC Thu, 09 Sep 2010 19:41:32 +0000 http://www.streetfilms.org/?p=48099#comment-205242 The new and improved Prospect Park West is fantastic. I can think of several other places in Brooklyn and Queens that could use similar treatment. The new and improved Prospect Park West is fantastic. I can think of several other places in Brooklyn and Queens that could use similar treatment.

]]>