In our last blog we announced the two upcoming meetings:
Thursday, June 15 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Hastings Community Center 44 Main Street, Hastings on Hudson, NY 10706
Saturday, June 17 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Warner Library 121 North Broadway, Tarrytown, NY 10591
Which will bring residents, merchants & government officials with transportation professionals together to discuss the "Route 9 Active Transportation Conceptual Design Plan". The plan hopes to do the following:
a) provide a protected bike lane along Route 9 from the north end of Sleepy Hollow through the south end of Hastings-on-Hudson. This will make it safe and fun to get to shops, schools, friends and the bike path on the new Tappan Zee Bridge.
b) improve sidewalks, crosswalks and intersections in this corridor to
make things safer and more inviting for people walking.
The Jogging Jeweler has complied a list (by village/town) for residents to consider in their own research, problem solving, and to raise awareness among more members of our community. Within each list I will provide the blog numbers that photographic or video footage can be found demonstrating the problems.
Hastings-On-Hudson
Curbs - the sidewalks through-out HOH are not friendly to handicap, strollers, carts, or the elderly. See Blog #11
Crosswalks - While HOH proved to have more crosswalks than other villages, the village use some fresh paint to make those crosswalks really pop.
Broadway, Main St, Baker Lane, Chauncey Lane, & Farraguy Avenue - (See video below).
Problem: Too many roads with vehicles traveling too many possible directions.
Solution:
1. Make it all a pedestrian zone - large crosswalk, with large, bright, reflective, and raised lines to indicate heavy pedestrian usage.
2. Add signage indicating a pedestrian zone.
Dobbs Ferry
Sidewalks -
Cochran Ave and Osburn Lane
Problem: Currently there is an asphalt paved walk-way, while useful, it does not "pop" to drivers the way a white sidewalk does. Pedestrians walking on that side of the street are hidden from view by the parked cars. (See below image)
Solutions:
1. Add a proper, raised sidewalk,
2. Trim trees above that side of the road to allow better visiblity of sidewalk and pedestrians using it.
Crosswalks - Crosswalks on Broadway in Dobbs Ferry are not visibly serious enough for drivers to mind them. Broadway is seen by most drivers as a major road - they do not drive as though they are in the middle of a village - speeding, blaring horns, swerving around cars stopped to turn or for pedestrians... Broadway & Clinton/Oak - See Blog # 13, Blog #10 -
Problems: Countless accidents including pedestrians being struck. The streets do no align, the hill is blind, there is no pedestrian refuge, drivers speed, they swerve around each other, they block the side road, they do not stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk.
Solutions: (See below image for potential solution.)
1. A turn lane for Clinton for Southbound traveling cars.
2. Narrow the lanes of traffic to slow the cars down.
3. Properly mark the lanes edges and center lanes.
4. Proper lighting for dawn, dusk & evening hours for pedestrians to be seen.
5. Curb bump outs to elevate and move pedestrians into drivers line of sight.
6. Pedestrian refuge in the center.
Below is a video example of what it is like to attempt to cross at this intersection.
Broadway & Dobbs Ferry High School
Problems:
1. The road merges from both directions from two lanes to one, directly in front of our local high school.
2. This change of lanes is not indicated clearly via road lines and/or paint.
3. Lacking any signage indicating to drivers they are in a school zone.
4. Crosswalks do not have signage.
5. No bump outs or pedestrian refuge.
6. Due to lack in clear road lines drivers stop for a pedestrian however the vehicle behind them moves into what they believe is another lane to go around - not realizing or seeing the pedestrian.
Solutions:
1. A turn lane for the high school.
2. Lines painted to indicate lanes.
3. Signs indicating a school zone.
4. Signals for students to press, stopping traffic so they may cross.
5. Curb bump outs to elevate and move pedestrians into drivers line of sight.
6. Pedestrian refuge in the center.
7. Eliminate lane change location to before or after school, narrowing the road to reduce vehicles overall speed in that area.
Broadway & Old Croton Aqueduct Crosswalk -
Problems:
1. The road merges from two lanes to one, heading northbound.
2. This change of lanes is not indicated clearly via road lines and/or paint.
3. Misplaced signage - too near the crossing for vehicles to stop in time for pedestrians.(See image below)
4. No bump outs or pedestrian refuge.
5. Pedestrians do not use crosswalk b/c it is inconveniently placed at a rocky, ankle rolling location. (See image below)
6. Parked cars on Southbound side block pedestrians visibility to drivers.
Solutions:
1. Properly align the crosswalk with the OCA and how pedestrians actually use it.
2. Make it a pedestrian zone - large crosswalk, with large, bright, reflective, and raised lines to indicate heavy pedestrian usage.
3. Curb bump outs to elevate and move pedestrians into drivers line of sight.
4. Pedestrian refuge in the center.
5. Properly mark the lane lines.
6. Level entrance to OCA.
7. Clearly label OCA as historic park/landmark.
Irvington
Sidewalks - Broadway needs an overhaul. Riddled with missing curbs, limited crosswalks, and lacks signage alerting drivers to pedestrian usage. The following are specific locations we should draw attention to:
Problem: TOO Narrow - single file pedestrian usage. Strollers do not fit. It leads into the Irvington Elementary school.
Solutions: Raise the sidewalk to have a curb and widen it enough that a stroller can pass without falling off the edge. Surely the lanes along this portion of Broadway are wide enough to spare 12 inches for pedestrian safety.
Ardsley Ave West to East Clinton Ave - See Blog #9
Problems:
The curb is crumbling - See LIVE Facebook Video, there is re-bar protuding, sections of sidewalk are literally being eaten away.
It is an obstacle course - See Youtube video. Trees, holes, no curbs, telephone poles cause pedestrians to weave through a section of sidewalk so severely that pedestrians must travel single file, slow down, and/or wait for each other to pass.
Solutions:
Fix the curbs
Widen the sidewalk where possible.
Fill holes left by removed trees.
Crosswalks
Ardsley Ave West
Problem: A frequently used location for bikers, joggers, dog walkers, stroller pushing pedestrians, and students to access the Old Croton Aqueduct.
Solutions:
1. Add a crosswalk.
2. Make it a pedestrian zone - large crosswalk, with large, bright, reflective, and raised lines to indicate heavy pedestrian usage.
3. Pedestrian refuge in the center
4. Clearly label OCA at this location as a historic park/landmark.
Matthessien Park South & Heritage Hill Rd
Problem: Three Churches & the high school are located at this intersection with Broadway.
Solutions:
1. Make it a pedestrian zone - large crosswalk, with large, bright, reflective, and raised lines to indicate heavy pedestrian usage.
2. Pedestrian refuge in the center
3. Post signs indicating a school zone.
What can you do?
Be active!
Find other locations along Broadway that have problems.
Take notes of how it is used, safely photograph or record how drivers or other pedestrians use the space.
Share potential solutions!
Write me an email with locations that raise concerns to you - thejoggingjeweler@gmail.com
Come to the meeting(s) - (prepared!)
Share this blog with others!!!
Wave & say Thank You when someone stops when you use a crosswalk.
From The Jogging Jeweler:
Lastly, I know I may not have covered every possible problem or solution throughout our Rivertowns, likely just the tip of the iceberg. However, I am only one person - who happens to have a busy life just like the rest of you, so help a busy mom out - sharing is caring after all! Help make a larger impact by posting to your Facebook pages, sharing via email, writing letters to the Editor, and coming to these meetings!
Thank you to those of you who have recently shown gratitude in The Jogging Jeweler! The comments, compliments, honks, waves, and shares mean the world to me!
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