Van Bramer bills target sidewalk blockers

From the Times Ledger:

Majority Leader Van Bramer’s bills will hit businesses where it hurts by increasing fines and allowing the Department of Consumer Affairs to revoke the business licenses of repeat offenders.

The first bill, Intro 1179-2016, makes parking vehicles in a sidewalk or crosswalk a violation for the following types of DCA-licensed businesses: used car dealers, parking garages and lots, tow companies, and car washes. The bill states the commissioner will suspend or revoke the license of businesses found to be in violation more than twice in one year. The second bill, Intro 1180-2016, directs the commissioner of Finance to implement increasing penalties for repeat violators.

This is all well and good, but have you ever tried to get DCA to inspect a business? You'd be better off calling NYPD.

Safety fail on Eliot Avenue

This seems like a trip and fall waiting to happen here at the corner of 60th Place and Eliot Avenue. I suppose we taxpayers paid through the nose for the purchase and installation of these safety devices, and are now also on the hook for repairing the damage left in their wake. So here we go:

Service Request #: C1-1-972691391
Date Submitted: 05/24/14 1:38:09 PM
Request Type: Sidewalk Condition
Details: Pedestrian Ramp Defective
Thank you for contacting New York City 311. Your Service Request has been sent to the Department of Transportation for action.

Don't be a postal jerk

"I'm sending these photos to you hoping I could get some help. This vehicle is here just about every day for hours, it's usually left blocking the crosswalk or into the entire street making passage difficult. I just spent over an hour trying to get someone on the phone from the Ridgewood office, I've got nothing and no one." - anonymous

Kids have hard time navigating dangerous streets

City agencies looking at Whitestone crossing problem

Watch your step!

The scene at 64th Street and Grand Avenue.


Installation procedure:

1) Lay down crossing pad.
2) Remove plastic.
3) Take instructions with you.

(Janette Sadik-Khan apparently believes steps 2 and 3 are optional.)

This is part of a "Safe Streets to School" initiative, and making crosswalks more slippery and distracting people with reading material is part of that plan.

April Fools work at DOT

Since we're still at 64th Street between Grand and Flushing Avenues, I thought we'd take a moment to ponder what the hell DOT was thinking (or drinking) when it painted that crosswalk, created that curb cut and placed that bus stop sign in that configuration and how they all enhance the "Safe Streets to School" debacle across the street.

Northern Blvd follow up

"This is a follow up to your 164th street garage piece. Pedestrians beware: Do not use this crosswalk without eyes in the back of your head. Look how far over this person has to go in order not to become a traffic statistic." - anonymous

Self-certification = garage curb cut in crosswalk

Ladies and gentlemen,

I present to you...

A curb cut and parking garage exit in a crosswalk.

164th Street and Northern Blvd in Flushing.

The list of violations for this one is quite interesting. Naturally it was a self-certified job that doesn't conform to approved plans and DOB can't get access to do their audit.

But did they not notice the freakin' curb cut when they came to inspect? That doesn't require access...

You can't make this incompetence up, folks.