The Department of Transit has added No Standing signs to a portion of Cherry Street that will give buses a clearer turn off the FDR access road, but has not given pedestrians a clear, protected crosswalk for getting into Corlears Hook Park.
The new signage eliminates four parking spaces on Cherry Street where buses have to make a tight right turn. But further measures suggested to DOT are not being implemented.
In particular, while a full crosswalk is unlikely without more foot traffic, a sidewalk cut on the park side of the street is necessary for wheelchairs and strollers to cross safely. Persons in wheelchairs currently need to ride in the street to the park entrance halfway up the block, or go all the way up to Jackson Street to find a way across Cherry.
The van parked there makes it dangerous.
Where can we find data on injuries or accidents on Cherry Street?
http://www.nycvzv.info/
This has not been a corner with reported accidents. It’s a tricky corner, though — visibility is uncommonly bad for NYC, and that we’re crossing into a park makes a lot of parents nervous (like myself). But apparently not enough pedestrian traffic for DOT to respond with more measures.
I have lived in bldg #1 on the corner of FDR and Cherry Street for 14 years. In my opinion, this is a needless campaign and a waste of tax dollars. Rather than be negative, one should look to the reality that 80% of the time between 6 am and 6 pm (even as I write this, 2 cars have passed in the last 5 minutes-how long does it take to cross the street?), there is absolutely no moving traffic on Cherry Street. Any pedestrian has ample and safe time to cross the street. For those who claim wheelchair in-accessibility, I have never seen more than one person in a wheelchair in Colears Hook Park or East River Park in 14 years. I run in the park daily, commute with my bike up to 5 time daily without seeing more than 1 person in a wheelchair.
I do not have a car so this view is completely impartial. A small group of people have now taking 3 parking spaces from good neighbors for what?? An accident? In 14 years there has only been one accident which occurred in the early morning before almost anyone was awake. This accident was a result of kids who stole a car and were racing to avoid police. The 3 parking spaces eliminated with a No Standing sign are now used by privileged city employees who now park in these spaces. These privileged city employees had ample parking along the FDR barrier. Without due consideration or involvement from the community, which has been an ongoing complaint regarding the management of our Co-op, a small group of neighbors negatively affected how many car owners? Let’s not live in glass houses and throw stones.