& ! the 7th Ave Bike Lane For Community Board 4 Transportation - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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
• ften 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
• n 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
• n 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.