Thursday, September 18, 2008

Traffic at Whitestone intersection a chronic problem

When a car slammed into the side of a building at Utopia Parkway and 19th Ave. in Whitestone several weeks ago, local residents weren't surprised.

For years they have been calling for a traffic signal - or at least a four-way stop sign - at the busy intersection.


Residents demand traffic light in dangerous street corner

City Councilman Tony Avella and concerned neighbors gathered at the spot Monday to demand action from the city.

"Time and time again I have asked for a light at this intersection and it's been denied," Avella said. "They do traffic studies and say there isn't enough traffic volume and not enough accidents."

But Avella and others said numerous fender benders there aren't reported.

The spot is particularly hazardous for senior citizens who live in nearby Clearview Gardens and walk to shops along Utopia Parkway, locals said.

"Once we formed a human chain and stopped traffic. They put in a bike lane, and that only made it worse," said Bonnie Honya, who lives in the neighborhood and runs a senior citizens' program at Clearview Gardens.

City Transportation Department officials said the agency is starting a new traffic study of the area that should be completed by mid-December.

"In an effort to calm traffic, we have in recent years narrowed Utopia Parkway and installed bike lanes to enhance safety," an agency spokesman said.


How exactly does a bike lane enhance safety in a high traffic area? If anything, it puts bikers in danger.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

That bike lane on Utopia Pkwy was the biggest waste. I doubt I've ever seen anyone riding their bike there. I wonder who thunk that one up.

As for the traffic there - there's hardly any. But there is a LOT of old people. Utopia Pkwy definitely doesn't need any MORE lights over there. Alright, maybe a stop sign for the elderly. But that's it!

I am so sick of the city trying to slow me down.

Anonymous said...

Bike lanes do calm and rationalize traffic, but it sounds like that area could use additional traffic calming measures.

Anonymous said...

OVER DEVELOPMENT AROUND THE AREA
IS THE ROOT CAUSE....PERIOD !

The next time I have a bout of anxiety I'm going to walk myself over to Utopia Parkway to "calm and rationalize" myself in one of those traffic soothing bike lanes!

That's the dumbest f----g thing
I ever heard!

Anonymous said...

So you're "so sick of the city slowing you down"...eh?
Well, LIFE'S gonna slow you down eventually fella.

You don't have a perpetual supply of testosterone and not much cranial capacity either it appears!

SHOW SOME FUCKI'N RESPECT
FOR PEOPLE YOUR PARENTS' AGE
YOU PISS CLAM !

Anonymous said...

"You don't have a perpetual supply of testosterone..."

Thank God!


"...and not much cranial capacity either it appears!"

It takes one to know one.

Anonymous said...

I see Tony Avella lead yet another capacity crowd in one of his lonely rallies. The only lower numbers he'll generate will be his tallies in his pathetic mayoral campaign.

Anonymous said...

How many rallies has Como led? Katz? Tony's one up on them both.

Tony: You're damned if you do and damned if you don't by complainers.

Anonymous said...

"I see Tony Avella lead yet another capacity crowd in one of his lonely rallies. The only lower numbers he'll generate will be his tallies in his pathetic mayoral campaign."

At least he makes an effort which is more than I can say for the other CMs.

Anonymous said...

Jeezuz!

"It takes one to know one"?
And that's you're best shot?

We gave up those kind of
lame brained retorts after we left the fourth grade.

Just how old are you anyway Ital/girl
(mentally not chronologically)?

Anonymous said...

Old enough to open a can of whoop-ass on you.

Anonymous said...

Don't count on it
Ital/(uh)"girl" is it?

You ain't doin' so good wid ya words
here.

Maybe ya bitch/boxin' skills are a little better!

Anonymous said...

I think Tony is beginning to catch up
on John Liu with his number of press appearances.

I really hope they help.

Anonymous said...

"Don't count on it
Ital/(uh)"girl" is it?"

No, actually I'm a big 230 lb GUY who loves to call myself a girl. Dope.

"You ain't doin' so good wid ya words here."

Are we having a vocabulary contest?

"Maybe ya bitch/boxin' skills are a little better!"

Maybe. Beyatch.

Anonymous said...

Considering some of the breathless press ops we get around here (Gennaro, Liu and Addabbo come to mind)Tony is a minor offender.

One of the reasons he can't get things done is because he's so widely detested.

Anonymous said...

"Ital/"girl"...
we either kiss and make up
at...uh...let's say "Rubyfruit"
on Hudson Street,
or we go at it in the ring
(ha, ha).

But ya gotta be over 18 for either!

Luv the verbally sparring with you though, 'cause I'm Italian too
and it's in the blood I guess.

How long does you wanna keep it up?
A good morning work out does improve our circulatory systems.

On second thought (yawn) I suspect we're both beginning to get a little bored.

But I do like your posts (and pulling your leg once in awhile like I've been doing).

Keep it up!

So with all my respects...10-4
(over & out)...
time to get back to the original subject (not that I've thrown in the towel or anything you understand).

It's been fun...God bless!

Anonymous said...

Never mess
with a 230 lb diesel/dyke
on a Harley!

I'm coming through!

V-r-o-o-o-o-o-m !!!

Anonymous said...

"Ital/"girl"...
we either kiss and make up
at...uh...let's say "Rubyfruit"
on Hudson Street,
or we go at it in the ring
(ha, ha)."

Are you asking me out on a date? How do you know I'm not a 700 lb woman with a beard? :)
Go at it in the ring? Hmmmm. You might be surprised by some of my moves.

"But ya gotta be over 18 for either!"

Uh, I'm 17. :)

"Luv the verbally sparring with you though, 'cause I'm Italian too
and it's in the blood I guess."

Yes, especially Sicilian blood.


"How long does you wanna keep it up?
A good morning work out does improve our circulatory systems."

Forever! I'm famous for being a trouble-maker.

"On second thought (yawn) I suspect we're both beginning to get a little bored."

See you on another post.

"But I do like your posts (and pulling your leg once in awhile like I've been doing)."

Thanks! But I have one question -Are you my blog stalker?


"Keep it up!

So with all my respects...10-4
(over & out)...
time to get back to the original subject (not that I've thrown in the towel or anything you understand)."

It's been fun...God bless!

Anonymous said...

I see that a comment
has been briskly plucked out
(probably for the best).

Anonymous said...

Nah, I was supposed to have deleted the last part(starting with "keep) of anonymous' post but forgot to. Oops.


Ciao!