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Where The Box Blockers Roam
By
Garth Johnston
Published Jul 9, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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By
Garth Johnston
Published Jul 9, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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Gothamist can't so much drive (well, this part of Gothamist) and yet even we know that one of the basic principles of driving in the city is "Don't Block The Box." It's a simple rule for a complicated city and it can make all the difference in keeping traffic flowing, especially in the grids of Manhattan. But in order for a rule to be effective, we've always thought, it is a good idea to actually enforce it.
And enforcement of the box rule, according to Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, is exactly what isn't happening in our fine metropolis. "Not a single ticket was issued to impatient driveers who clogged 10 of the city's busiest intersections during a recent survey period" on June 26. In numbers: Over a nine-hour period at 10 of Manhattan's top intersections 3,044 cars blocked the box and despite cops being positioned at the same corners not one of the offending drivers received the $45 ticket they were due. If they had the city would be $136,980 richer. The busiest blocked intersections were 60th and Second Avenue (822 cars in the box over the nine-hour survey) followed by Delancy and Essex (755), 125th and Lex (424), 38th and Ninth (363) and 57th and Third (351).
Now, we're not saying that cops should be wasting their time writing a bajillion tickets for box blockers in the middle of a traffic jam - that's just an easy way to make more traffic. But isn't this one of those situations where the cameras that are being installed in traffic lights could be useful? Take photos of the offending license plates and send the drivers a bill. If the box-blocking was unavoidable a ticketed driver could request the camera's videotape and argue it in court. But what do we know, we can't drive...
'My daily commute today' by hbomb1947 via Contribute.
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