The Vermeer ! — 7th Ave & 14th Street— & ! the 7th Ave Bike Lane For Community Board 4 Transportation Committee Feb. 21, 2018
The Vermeer ! 77 7th Ave ! • One of the few large apartment buildings with a front entrance on 7th Ave • Over 350 apartments • 2 retail stores on 7th Ave • Residents include elderly, those with disabilities and families with children
Problem: With the new bike lane, a bicyclist sees a straightaway from 15th to14th Street
But Vermeer residents must cross the bike lane to: • get into cabs • enter & exit school buses • load & unload cars
An example: An elderly resident is seen crossing the bike lane to enter a cab
And, visibility up 7th Avenue is hindered by delivery trucks ! • Delivery vehicles often park illegally — • Which means residents and staff must step into traffic to hail cabs
This limited visibility due to large vehicles is a frequent occurrence
So, in reality, the straightaway seen by bicyclists actually includes a heavily used crosswalk
The problem is compounded by lack of appropriate signage • Bicyclists are given no indication that pedestrians will cross the bike path in front of the Vermeer • Vehicles have no legal place to stop because of recently installed “No Stopping” signs at the building’s entrance
This affects all residents, but especially those with limited mobility • A Vermeer resident has filed a grievance against the City of NY about the bicycle lane, alleging: • (1) discrimination against persons with disabilities based on the Americans with Disabilities Act and • (2) violations of the NYC Human Rights Code and the NYS Human Rights Law
And, we have a concern for the future: • Traffic changes on 14th Street caused by the L Train shutdown will further limit access of vehicles to the Vermeer
Solutions? • Modify the bike lane to improve safety • Examples in next slides from 5th, 6th and 8th avenues and the Hudson River Greenway • Provide a standing or loading zone • Improve lighting • Move bike lane outside the parking lane • Move bike lane across 7th Ave
Example #1: Stop-and-go light on 5th Ave for pedestrian crossing • Location: 5th Ave., mid-block between 24th and 23rd streets • On 7th Ave., the light should be synchronized with the light at 14th Street
Example #2: Stop-and-go light on Hudson Greenway for pedestrians and cars • Location: Hudson River Bikeway, at Houston Street
Example #3: Yield signs on Hudson Greenway for bikes • Location: Houston Street & Pier 40
Example #4: Pavement Markings and Signage on 6th Ave • Location: Eventi Hotel on 6th Ave. at 29th St., looking north • Note marked loading zone for a vehicle
Example #5: Pavement Markings and Signage on 8th Ave • Location: New Yorker Hotel on 8th Ave. at 34th St., looking north • Note marked loading zone for a vehicle
Example #6: Loading zone on 7th Ave • Location: 7th Ave., between 16th and 15th Streets
Thank you for your attention. ! We look forward to modifications that will improve safety for all.
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