The Sunday funnies

Before someone says there is a middle school building at that location: yes, I know, but the kids pictured aren't in the middle school. They're in the elementary school, which is nowhere near here. Are there really "constantly toddlers in the area"? And are they crossing the streets by themselves? If there's a crossing guard, why the need for a stop sign?

This is how Van Bramer spends his time?

Reynoso proposes relaxed rules for cyclists

From the Daily News:

Big Apple bicyclists would be allowed to cruise through red lights and stop signs after merely slowing down and looking both ways, under a proposed bill by a city councilman.

The measure, introduced by Antonio Reynoso — who represents bike-crazy Williamsburg — would lift the requirement that cyclists follow the same traffic-light rules as motor-vehicle drivers.

The proposal comes as Mayor de Blasio struggles with his Vision Zero plan to lower pedestrian fatalities and cops are trying to crack down on rogue drivers, cyclists and jaywalkers.

City records show 4,463 cyclists were injured in crashes last year.

But Reynoso defended the proposal, noting how stopping is difficult for cyclists at full speed.

“Riding a bike is not like driving a vehicle. A bike’s motor is the human body, and there is the issue of losing momentum,” said Reynoso, who loves biking so much, he sold his car to raise money for his 2013 campaign.

“It is not sensible to have to stop and go at every stop sign.”

Reynoso, who admits he sometimes blows stop signs and red lights “when appropriate,” believes his plan could improve traffic safety in general by speeding up the time it takes everyone to get through an intersection.

DeBlasio leaves Queens like a bat out of hell

Lame photo-op precedes scandal


From CBS 2:

Just days after Mayor Bill de Blasio announced an aggressive plan to prevent traffic deaths, CBS 2 cameras caught the driver of a car carrying the mayor violating a number of traffic laws.

As CBS 2′s Marcia Kramer reported Thursday, the mayor’s two-car caravan was seen speeding, blowing through stop signs, and violating other traffic laws. Kramer reported that if the driver of the lead car, which carried the mayor in its passenger seat, would have racked up enough points to get his license suspended if he’d been ticketed.

When the mayor announced his 62-point safe streets initiative, which includes lowering the speed limit to 25 mph, he said, “We want the public to know that we are holding ourselves to this standard.”

But Kramer reported the mayor failed to practice what he preached Thursday.

CBS 2 crews found Mayor de Blasio’s cars going through a stop sign at a Queens intersection, and that wasn’t the only traffic violation caught on tape.

The safety violations came just two days after the mayor unveiled his traffic safety plan.

Isn't this the guy who's become famous for being late everywhere? What was the rush, Bill?

Dutch Kills demolition derby

From WPIX:

Many communities can battle for the title of worst NYC traffic. Located to the north of Queensboro Plaza, Dutch Kills has seen an increase in crashes. The population and building in the area has been on the rise.

Neighbors provided Pix11 News with video from a surveillance camera that has been recording cars running stop signs around 39th avenue in Queens.

State Senator Michael Gianaris, who represents the area, has been in contact with neighbors and community leaders. NYC Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer’s office says portions of the area could be designated as a “slow zone.”

Neighbors started a petition on the DutchKillsLIC.com website to get more enforcement and attention. Tweet your #worstNYCtraffic areas to PIX11′s Greg Mocker and he may be able to check them out.

Gianaris’ office has organized a rally at the corner of 39th Avenue and 29th Street in Queens at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, July 17th.

Are my eyes deceiving me or are there no stop signs on that corner in the black-and-white video? That would explain the frequent accidents.

LIC gets a stop sign, but needs street cleaning

Confusing street corner is a moneymaker