Author Topic: 34th Avenue street closure permanently (NOT) (Read 11794 times)

petegart · « **Reply #15 on:** August 18, 2020, 09:11:16 PM »

Hi, I use 34th Ave as a place to ride my bike, as well as walks - and I love that it is closed to traffic for now.
One point I want to make is that all the parades that usually take place almost every Sunday have been cancelled this year.
In the past, if we had to drive on one of the parade days, the traffic all around was severely impacted in a negative way.
If + when the pandemic crisis is behind us, we cannot have 37th Ave And 34th Ave closed. It will be complete and total gridlock.

Beherenow · « **Reply #16 on:** August 20, 2020, 12:21:53 PM »

Quote from: lalochezia on August 17, 2020, 08:38:44 AM

Closures like these should be part of an integrated transport planning process.

It's legit if a proposal to close a street has mitigation factors worked in.

The outcomes you suggest are not inevitable if closures are conducted in that way.

Perhaps those outcomes aren't inevitable, but does anyone who advocates permanent closure of 34th Avenue have answers to the objections raised here, mainly the increased traffic congestion on 35th and Northern? I haven't read any ideas, other than banning parking on 35th, which would cause nightmarish problems for those who must deal with the already limited street parking available.

The petition that's going around, BTW, calls for closing 34th so it's possible to walk or bike all the way to Flushing Meadow

abcdefghijk · « **Reply #17 on:** August 20, 2020, 01:51:15 PM »

There is no solution to increased car traffic.

Anywhere in the world. Car traffic rises to overwhelm whichever highway is built to alleviate it.
Until the traffic is worse than before.

This is a global phenomenon. Not just in Jackson Heights.

The only solution is less cars.

Quickly, if 34th Ave is closed it will become known that Jackson Heights should be avoided by drivers.

And presto. Less cars.

itsit · « **Reply #18 on:** August 20, 2020, 04:44:05 PM »

Yes to the feasibility study. Seems needed here to provide some data points to add to our speculation and anecdotal material. Does the DOT do these studies in advance of closing streets? Hoping so.

Beech Court · « **Reply #19 on:** August 20, 2020, 05:48:27 PM »

Quote from: abcdefghijk on August 20, 2020, 01:51:15 PM

There is no solution to increased car traffic.

Anywhere in the world. Car traffic rises to overwhelm whichever highway is built to alleviate it.
Until the traffic is worse than before.

This is a global phenomenon. Not just in Jackson Heights.

The only solution is less cars.

Quickly, if 34th Ave is closed it will become known that Jackson Heights should be avoided by drivers.

And presto. Less cars.

Do you really think it's that simple? Are we in the neighborhood supposed to just get use to it?
Or maybe you think 35th should revert to the original plan - no parking, a single lane East, a single lane West and a grassy mall up the middle for more outdoor gardens and benches. We could also close 37th too and maybe all the side streets while we are at it. We can all walk from Northern or Roosevelt, and ask deliveries to do the same.

80JHer · « **Reply #20 on:** August 21, 2020, 07:51:21 AM »

If this whole Experiment was to promote social distancing, then I would argue it’s a complete failure.

The streets of Jh have never been more crowded. Travers Park attendance has swelled beyond belief.

Where are all these people coming from? I suggested this open avenue has acted like a conduit & we have jammed more people into an already condensed area.

Close it down and clean the street for gods sake.

theplanesland · « **Reply #21 on:** August 21, 2020, 08:20:41 AM »

Quote from: 80JHer on August 21, 2020, 07:51:21 AM

If this whole Experiment was to promote social distancing, then I would argue it’s a complete failure.

The streets of Jh have never been more crowded. Travers Park attendance has swelled beyond belief.

Where are all these people coming from? I suggested this open avenue has acted like a conduit & we have jammed more people into an already condensed area.

Close it down and clean the street for gods sake.

The experiment was supposed to give people a place to get some fresh air. It's working.

The people are coming from the neighborhood. But in the normal world, a lot of people in the neighborhood would go to Central Park, Flushing Meadows, Rockaway, Forest Park, etc. etc. etc. And a lot more people would be at work and in school. But we have nobody commuting, people still not taking the subway for recreation, etc. so we can't spread across the city. This is just what our very dense, very crowded neighborhood with very little open space produces.

abcdefghijk · « **Reply #22 on:** August 21, 2020, 09:19:48 AM »

Quote from: theplanesland on August 21, 2020, 08:20:41 AM

Quote from: 80JHer on August 21, 2020, 07:51:21 AM
If this whole Experiment was to promote social distancing, then I would argue it’s a complete failure.

The streets of Jh have never been more crowded. Travers Park attendance has swelled beyond belief.

Where are all these people coming from? I suggested this open avenue has acted like a conduit & we have jammed more people into an already condensed area.

Close it down and clean the street for gods sake.

The experiment was supposed to give people a place to get some fresh air. It's working.

The people are coming from the neighborhood. But in the normal world, a lot of people in the neighborhood would go to Central Park, Flushing Meadows, Rockaway, Forest Park, etc. etc. etc. And a lot more people would be at work and in school. But we have nobody commuting, people still not taking the subway for recreation, etc. so we can't spread across the city. This is just what our very dense, very crowded neighborhood with very little open space produces.

Agreed. Over 100K live in this neighborhood.

Parts of 34th Ave have been turned into a Summer Camp type location by the city. For kids who can't afford to go to Summer Camps. With activities and playgroups and youth leaders.

Are folks really going to choose cars over kids?

These people's priorities and values need to be re-set.

80JHer · « **Reply #23 on:** August 21, 2020, 10:37:31 AM »

If it’s for recreation, then that’s fine. Keep it open. But have a plan to clean it and maintain it.

But jut don’t pretend or try to sell it as some great social distancing tool to fight covid. It seems to have increased our population density enormously. Which is the single biggest factor for spread of the disease.

Beech Court · « **Reply #24 on:** August 21, 2020, 01:42:05 PM »

Quote from: abcdefghijk on August 21, 2020, 09:19:48 AM

Are folks really going to choose cars over kids?

These people's priorities and values need to be re-set.

Quality of life and safety issues are not only about kids.

Why do I often feel that people here love to wave the kid flag? JH isn't Disney nor should it become that. If young families don't feel this place is kid friendly enough why are they here? They knew, or should have known what neighborhood they moved into.

abcdefghijk · « **Reply #25 on:** August 21, 2020, 05:23:18 PM »

Quote from: Beech Court on August 21, 2020, 01:42:05 PM

Quote from: abcdefghijk on August 21, 2020, 09:19:48 AM

Are folks really going to choose cars over kids?

These people's priorities and values need to be re-set.

Quality of life and safety issues are not only about kids.

Why do I often feel that people here love to wave the kid flag? JH isn't Disney nor should it become that. If young families don't feel this place is kid friendly enough why are they here? They knew, or should have known what neighborhood they moved into.

Maybe Jackson Heights didn't used to have a big kid population decades and decades ago.

It certainly does now. And in a democracy, numbers matter...

Young families have changed the neighborhood.

It's no longer ok to not be kid friendly. As perhaps in a previous era.

r · « **Reply #26 on:** August 21, 2020, 05:47:11 PM »

Quote from: abcdefghijk on August 21, 2020, 09:19:48 AM

Are folks really going to choose cars over kids?

People with kids are more likely to need to buy a car.

Jackson Heights needs more green space. But neighborhoods that make it impossible to drive in and park in are not family friendly. They also make it harder for older people to live in because public transport is often difficult for them to use too.

Optimizing for bikes and walking is great if you are young and healthy and don't have kids (and aren't in a pandemic)

abcdefghijk · « **Reply #27 on:** August 21, 2020, 05:56:57 PM »

Quote from: r on August 21, 2020, 05:47:11 PM

Quote from: abcdefghijk on August 21, 2020, 09:19:48 AM
Are folks really going to choose cars over kids?

People with kids are more likely to need to buy a car.

Jackson Heights needs more green space. But neighborhoods that make it impossible to drive in and park in are not family friendly. They also make it harder for older people to live in because public transport is often difficult for them to use too.

Optimizing for bikes and walking is great if you are young and healthy and don't have kids (and aren't in a pandemic)

No way most of the families in Jackson Heights can afford a car.

You are talking about the more affluent families. Not the majority who are immigrant families.

r · « **Reply #28 on:** August 21, 2020, 06:16:02 PM »

Quote from: abcdefghijk on August 21, 2020, 05:56:57 PM

Quote from: r on August 21, 2020, 05:47:11 PM
Quote from: abcdefghijk on August 21, 2020, 09:19:48 AM
Are folks really going to choose cars over kids?

People with kids are more likely to need to buy a car.

Jackson Heights needs more green space. But neighborhoods that make it impossible to drive in and park in are not family friendly. They also make it harder for older people to live in because public transport is often difficult for them to use too.

Optimizing for bikes and walking is great if you are young and healthy and don't have kids (and aren't in a pandemic)

No way most of the families in Jackson Heights can afford a car.

You are talking about the more affluent families. Not the majority who are immigrant families.

Not sure about "most" but many people who bought in the last 5-10 years could afford a car, based on purchase prices...

I'm just saying there is a different perspective to consider. There have been a lot of posts recently on the jhfamilies list about cars and parking. "Think of the children" might not go in the direction you think it will.

Bill · « **Reply #29 on:** August 21, 2020, 09:47:07 PM »

Who told you that immigrant families do not buy cars?

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Author Topic: 34th Avenue street closure permanently (NOT) (Read 11794 times)

petegart

Re: 34th Avenue street closure permanently (NOT)

Beherenow

Re: 34th Avenue street closure permanently (NOT)

abcdefghijk

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itsit

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Beech Court

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80JHer

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theplanesland

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abcdefghijk

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80JHer

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Beech Court

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abcdefghijk

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r

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abcdefghijk

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r

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Bill

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