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East 91st Street Unhappy About Impending Bike Path
By
Jen Chung
Published Jul 23, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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By
Jen Chung
Published Jul 23, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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Who knew that some streets were off-limits to vehicles? The NY Sun takes us on a trip to East 91st Street between Second and Third Avenues, which was "zoned" as a "play" street and has been off-limits to vehicles since 1978. But now there's a fight brewing between residents and the city over the tranquility.
The city wants to install a bike path on the street, to further expand biking options for New Yorkers. (The Department of Transportation is currently painting bike paths around the city, to further distinguish them from the vehicular lanes.) However, the street's residents are very protective of their street (NIMS - Not In My Street - anyone?), it's described as a "private promenade for strolling Upper East Side residents" and running groups are even blocked from it.
Community Board 8 voted against the proposal and suggested moving the path to 89th Street (poor 89th Street!). But that vote might be for naught. From the Sun:
A spokeswoman for the Department of Transportation, Molly Gordy, said the city has installed bike lanes on the Upper West Side and the Lower East Side despite community opposition to the plans. "We find after installation the projects fit well in these communities," Ms. Gordy said in an email message.
Our question - how do we get our street blocked off from vehicular traffic?
Number 9 on the city's PlaNYC plan is "Promote Cycling: Complete the City's 1,800-mile bike master plan and Facilitate cycling."
Photograph of Brooklyn Heights' super green bike path by dietrich on Flickr
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Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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