One of the hallmarks of sensationalist papers like the New York Post is that the purported thesis of a story, loudly trumpeted in a headline, often seems undermined by the story itself. The case in point here is “Anger at Mike the Road Hog; Pedestrian Islands Drive Motorists Nuts,” (below the jump) about the new pedestrian space on Broadway in Manhattan.

The paper cites precisely two people who claim the project is a disaster; an “office worker” and a 24-year-old “Jersey commuter.” Of course, the Post could have simply wandered up to cars stopped at lights and asked the opinions of other motorists. They predictably would have bemoaned traffic, questioned the idea of taking away road space, etc. — and basically said the opposite of what people sitting in the new plaza would have said (not that they polled any of those). But the newspaper seemed content with a couple of random miffed types.

And, of course, nowhere does the Post bring up the uncomfortable fact that drivers on Broadway are the minority of street users, despite taking up a majority of the space, or even raise the question of to what extent Manhattan should be designed to make the lives of Jersey car commuters easier.

The piece then goes on to cite two people who think the pedestrian plaza is just fine: A shopkeeper and the head of the local Business Improvement District, two people who presumably have a greater stake in the actual lifeblood of the neighborhood. Throw in the DOT commish who gave the go-ahead to the project and it seems like a majority of the people in the story actually support the project.

Not that you’d know that from the headline, which makes Mayor Mike out to be a traffic tyrant rather than civic hero, and paints the whole thing as a misguided folly. There’s also a few gratuitous mentions of “road-rage inducing” projects like the Ninth Avenue cycle lane, etc. This road rage would presumably not extend to the many numbers of new cyclists in the city who are taking advantage of these facilities.

And for what it’s worth, for the guy who thinks the plaza will be a waste of space during the winter (space which could be better given over to tourists in cars coming to look at the Christmas Tree), he should get himself to Copenhagen, where, thanks to outdoor heaters and the like, the city has an almost year-round outdoor cafe culture.

ANGER AT MIKE THE ROAD HOG
PEDESTRIAN ISLANDS DRIVE MOTORISTS NUTS
By CHUCK BENNETT and MELISSA JANE KRONFELD
WALK THIS WAY: A pedestrian island at Broadway and 42nd Street.
WALK THIS WAY: A pedestrian island at Broadway and 42nd Street.

Posted: 3:28 am
September 2, 2008

With his congestion-pricing plan reduced to roadkill, Mayor Bloomberg is making city drivers miserable with a series of pedestrian-friendly projects.

One of the biggest headaches for them has been the Broadway pedestrian islands – plazas that stretch onto the road – a popular summer feature that Midtown denizens expect will be deserted come the cold weather, even as they still tie up traffic.

“In the winter, it won’t even be used,” griped office worker Jeffrey Gottlieb, 47. “Broadway already is down to 1½ lanes after you take the FedEx trucks making deliveries.”

Other road rage-inducing projects include a bus corridor down 34th Street, a bike lane on Ninth Avenue from West 16th to West 23rd streets, and a bike lane on Greenwich and Washington streets.

The most dramatic changes have been on Broadway, which, with the islands, has gone from four lanes to two from Times Square to Herald Square.

“I think it is completely useless . . . It doesn’t do anything for Midtown,” said New Jersey commuter Jason Silitsky, 24.

But Haim Dadi, 48, owner of Mr. Broadway Kosher at 38th and Broadway, said he has profited from an increase in the number of pedestrians.

“Traffic-wise, it’s not good, but who cares about traffic? I care about the store, and for my store, it’s good for my business. They can take my food outside,” he said.

Barbara Randall, executive director of the Fashion Center Business Improvement District, headquartered on 38th, said: “We haven’t notice any traffic problems. It’s down two to lanes, but it’s moving.”

So far, she said, the month-old project is a success.

“It was completely, fully used every single day since it was opened,” she said.

The Department of Transportation downplayed concerns that the projects would be underused after summer’s end.

“Our streets, like parks and plazas, are used and enjoyed on a year-round basis. We will continue to monitor these improvements and make adjustments as required,” Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan said.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008 at 7:55 am and is filed under Bicycles, Cars, Cities, Congestion, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.