EVG reader Chad Marlow points out what he considers some dangerous pedestrian crossing signals on the Bowery at East Third Street and East Fourth Street... He lodged this complaint with 311:
"East-west pedestrian signals at Bowery @ E. 4th E. 3rd only provide 6 second countdown to cross 6 lane road with no center median. 1 second per lane must be an error and is dangerous. Please adjust."
It is a short signal considering ... that, for example, you have a 25-second warning crossing 14th Street at Second Avenue...
This is especially a short signal considering that the Evelyn and Louis Green Residence at Cooper Square is on the corner at East Fifth Street... and the residents here and their visitors might likely need more time crossing a busy street... Why not a 25-second countdown like at the 14th Street intersections?
13 comments:
The Times's Bill Keller has endorsed Sam Schwartz's plan for travel in/out of Manhattan, congestion pricing, etc. Schwartz should--if he hasn't already--include new plans for timers on crossings as part of his proposal.
I agree with this one - that crossing almost always requires a jog, unless you already have a lead when the light changes. I've gotten caught out in the center of that a couple times, up-close and personal with trucks and cabs. Almost every other crossing in the area leaves more than enough time.
I noticed this too! I thought I was seeing things! (I thought it said 7 and not 6 seconds — not that a second matters here.)
This HAS to be a mistake, right?
To make matters worse speeding cabs northbound on Bowery fly thru the red light at this intersection constantly.
the light at East 6th and Bowery/Cooper Sq. is too short and cars often run the red light!
There used to be a light at E. 5th with the same problems and complaints to the 9th precinct and 311 fell on deaf ears.
almost all of third avenue corners have short pedestrian crossing times - is this a plot to get rid of seniors?
the traffic there is very heavy along with different street patterns, lots of hotels, restaurants, school buildings, etc.
I walk through here at least twice a day and I won't cross Bowery at the north side of 4th in the mornings. Too many vehicles blow the red lights and the constant construction makes things worse. Down at 3rd, cars turning north onto Bowery also go way too fast and seem not to care if anyone is trying to cross. It doesn't seem as bad later in the day, but I've definitely had some close calls along this stretch.
I walk across Bowery at 4th 3-4 times a week for about 7 years now. There used to be a center median and at some point they paved over it / removed it. They should extend the time and return the median.
this is all being redesigned (traffic and park) as part of Astor redesign project before end of year. There will be more public space and park and it will be safer.
Curiously, NYPD "Traffic" officers (in the cars marked "Traffic") have told me on two occasions that they cannot enforce traffic violations -- that they can enforce only parking violations! One of these occasions was when I asked them why nobody ticketed all of the cars blowing past the stop sign on the southbound side of Bowery (a.k.a. Cooper Square) and Sixth Street. They told me that I could call the 9th Precinct and request that they enforce stopping at the stop sign.
They should put a camera there
It's the cyclists fault.
A cab crashed into a light pole on Bowery at Third on Dec 2nd.
http://www.boweryboogie.com/2012/12/cab-crashes-into-bowery-light-pole-last-night-injuring-pedestrians/
Yup, dangerous intersection!
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