Comments on: The Most Obvious Idea Ever http://blog.tstc.org/2007/12/14/the-most-obvious-idea-ever/ News and opinion from the Tri-State Transportation Campaign Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:37:44 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: 1,100 Pedestrians a Minute? Just Another Day at Penn Station. « Mobilizing the Region http://blog.tstc.org/2007/12/14/the-most-obvious-idea-ever/comment-page-1/#comment-119 1,100 Pedestrians a Minute? Just Another Day at Penn Station. « Mobilizing the Region Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:50:13 +0000 http://blog.tstc.org/2007/12/14/the-most-obvious-idea-ever/#comment-119 [...] launched its Penn For Peds campaign not only because of existing congestion and safety issues, but also because planned public [...] [...] launched its Penn For Peds campaign not only because of existing congestion and safety issues, but also because planned public [...]

]]> By: TM http://blog.tstc.org/2007/12/14/the-most-obvious-idea-ever/comment-page-1/#comment-120 TM Thu, 29 May 2008 21:26:14 +0000 http://blog.tstc.org/2007/12/14/the-most-obvious-idea-ever/#comment-120 Absolutely sidewalks must be widened on this street, as well as many other streets in New York. In particular, the sidewalks in the Village are ridiculously narrow, and pedestrian space is further reduced by street vendors, mountains of garbage and recycling bags, sidewalk signs to draw customers into shops and restaurants, bicycles chained, newspaper boxes, etc. Why not also put large trash receptacles in the street for pick up, so residents need not put garbage bags and cans right in the sidewalk? Let that be an inconvenience to drivers, who are rather oblivious to garbage anyway, rather than to pedestrians and residents of the neighborhoods. Definitely it is also a very positive idea to completely transform certain streets to pedestrian (or pedestrian and public-transit) only. Furthermore, congesting pricing must be pushed forward. The recent defeat in Albany should only be seen as a temporary setback. The age of the ubiquitous private automobile in urban environments is over, and it is high time. Absolutely sidewalks must be widened on this street, as well as many other streets in New York. In particular, the sidewalks in the Village are ridiculously narrow, and pedestrian space is further reduced by street vendors, mountains of garbage and recycling bags, sidewalk signs to draw customers into shops and restaurants, bicycles chained, newspaper boxes, etc.

Why not also put large trash receptacles in the street for pick up, so residents need not put garbage bags and cans right in the sidewalk? Let that be an inconvenience to drivers, who are rather oblivious to garbage anyway, rather than to pedestrians and residents of the neighborhoods.

Definitely it is also a very positive idea to completely transform certain streets to pedestrian (or pedestrian and public-transit) only.

Furthermore, congesting pricing must be pushed forward. The recent defeat in Albany should only be seen as a temporary setback. The age of the ubiquitous private automobile in urban environments is over, and it is high time.

]]> By: New ARC Design: Smaller Station, Larger Crowds « Mobilizing the Region http://blog.tstc.org/2007/12/14/the-most-obvious-idea-ever/comment-page-1/#comment-117 New ARC Design: Smaller Station, Larger Crowds « Mobilizing the Region Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:37:35 +0000 http://blog.tstc.org/2007/12/14/the-most-obvious-idea-ever/#comment-117 [...] riders onto sidewalks that already overflow today, as Tri-State’s Penn for Peds campaign has highlighted. The SDEIS identifies 49 “failure” sidewalk corners, stretches of sidewalk, and [...] [...] riders onto sidewalks that already overflow today, as Tri-State’s Penn for Peds campaign has highlighted. The SDEIS identifies 49 “failure” sidewalk corners, stretches of sidewalk, and [...]

]]> By: Help Name Tri-State’s Penn Station Campaign! « Mobilizing the Region http://blog.tstc.org/2007/12/14/the-most-obvious-idea-ever/comment-page-1/#comment-118 Help Name Tri-State’s Penn Station Campaign! « Mobilizing the Region Tue, 22 Jan 2008 21:19:22 +0000 http://blog.tstc.org/2007/12/14/the-most-obvious-idea-ever/#comment-118 [...] MTR announced that the Tri-State Campaign would launch an advocacy campaign centered around the unfriendly pedestrian environment surrounding Penn Station. Commuters already deal with narrow and crowded sidewalks, insufficient [...] [...] MTR announced that the Tri-State Campaign would launch an advocacy campaign centered around the unfriendly pedestrian environment surrounding Penn Station. Commuters already deal with narrow and crowded sidewalks, insufficient [...]

]]> By: Jeff Zupan http://blog.tstc.org/2007/12/14/the-most-obvious-idea-ever/comment-page-1/#comment-116 Jeff Zupan Sat, 22 Dec 2007 01:24:27 +0000 http://blog.tstc.org/2007/12/14/the-most-obvious-idea-ever/#comment-116 Responder #4 is right on target. Close this street so useless for motor vehicles and give pedestrians the break they deserve. Jeff Zupan Co-author, Urban Space for Pedestrians Responder #4 is right on target. Close this street so useless for motor vehicles and give pedestrians the break they deserve.
Jeff Zupan
Co-author, Urban Space for Pedestrians

]]> By: techcities http://blog.tstc.org/2007/12/14/the-most-obvious-idea-ever/comment-page-1/#comment-115 techcities Mon, 17 Dec 2007 20:43:51 +0000 http://blog.tstc.org/2007/12/14/the-most-obvious-idea-ever/#comment-115 Re #4: "Another yard or two of sidewalk width..." Why stop there? I suggest closing 32nd Street between 6th & 7th Avenues to general traffic altogether and creating a "transit mall" with broad sidewalks and sheltered bus stops. I'd suggest that block be completely pedestrianized, but the only vehicular use that currently seems important is large number the buses that layover near 7th Avenue. Re #4: “Another yard or two of sidewalk width…”

Why stop there? I suggest closing 32nd Street between 6th & 7th Avenues to general traffic altogether and creating a “transit mall” with broad sidewalks and sheltered bus stops.

I’d suggest that block be completely pedestrianized, but the only vehicular use that currently seems important is large number the buses that layover near 7th Avenue.

]]> By: HT http://blog.tstc.org/2007/12/14/the-most-obvious-idea-ever/comment-page-1/#comment-114 HT Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:49:32 +0000 http://blog.tstc.org/2007/12/14/the-most-obvious-idea-ever/#comment-114 Start by jettisoning the planters. How about finally getting a handle on the concrete cubes and boxes of dirt strewn around Penn Station? They could find some much more space efficient bollards that would look better and work better. These many years after 9/11 and we still have to stumble around garbage like this. Why can London and Paris do it and we can't? Start by jettisoning the planters. How about finally getting a handle on the concrete cubes and boxes of dirt strewn around Penn Station? They could find some much more space efficient bollards that would look better and work better. These many years after 9/11 and we still have to stumble around garbage like this. Why can London and Paris do it and we can’t?

]]> By: Kenneth J. Vogel http://blog.tstc.org/2007/12/14/the-most-obvious-idea-ever/comment-page-1/#comment-113 Kenneth J. Vogel Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:09:34 +0000 http://blog.tstc.org/2007/12/14/the-most-obvious-idea-ever/#comment-113 I believe both the new World Trade Center and the Hudson Yards had some sort of Disneyequesk type people movers shown in their orginal designs. I believe though because of costs, they were not going to be built. It is too bad that maglev technology is so geared towards long distance commuter travel in other countries rather than someone local building an something with those pedestrian needs. kenv.roehrscon@verizon.net I believe both the new World Trade Center and the Hudson Yards had some sort of Disneyequesk type people movers shown in their orginal designs. I believe though because of costs, they were not going to be built. It is too bad that maglev technology is so geared towards long distance commuter travel in other countries rather than someone local building an something with those pedestrian needs.

kenv.roehrscon@verizon.net

]]> By: Streetsblog » Today’s Headlines http://blog.tstc.org/2007/12/14/the-most-obvious-idea-ever/comment-page-1/#comment-112 Streetsblog » Today’s Headlines Mon, 17 Dec 2007 14:06:07 +0000 http://blog.tstc.org/2007/12/14/the-most-obvious-idea-ever/#comment-112 [...] (News)Spitzer Creates Smart Growth Cabinet (MTR)Time to Give It Up for Penn Station Pedestrians (MTR) Rome's Chief Parking Enforcer Fired for Using Fake Placard (Reuters) Filed by Brad [...] [...] (News)Spitzer Creates Smart Growth Cabinet (MTR)Time to Give It Up for Penn Station Pedestrians (MTR) Rome’s Chief Parking Enforcer Fired for Using Fake Placard (Reuters) Filed by Brad [...]

]]> By: Ed Tristram http://blog.tstc.org/2007/12/14/the-most-obvious-idea-ever/comment-page-1/#comment-111 Ed Tristram Sun, 16 Dec 2007 21:51:33 +0000 http://blog.tstc.org/2007/12/14/the-most-obvious-idea-ever/#comment-111 Re Cap'n transit's post: There's a giant flow of pedestrian traffic on 7th between 33rd and 42nd, uptown in the AM and back down in the PM. It's really tough going. Another yard or two of sidewalk width would be like water in the desert. "you mean it would start a war?" "no - well maybe yes actually -- but I meant it would be a lifesaver." Re Cap’n transit’s post: There’s a giant flow of pedestrian traffic on 7th between 33rd and 42nd, uptown in the AM and back down in the PM. It’s really tough going. Another yard or two of sidewalk width would be like water in the desert.

“you mean it would start a war?”
“no – well maybe yes actually — but I meant it would be a lifesaver.”

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