Sheepshead Bay Road Closed to Vehicular Traffic?


by on May 27th, 2009

Could Sheepshead Bay Road…

…ever look like this?

Photographer Lisanne Anderson snapped this rare scene of Sheepshead Bay Road (left) during a moment when there was no traffic on the streets. Surprised by the desolation, she attributed it to the possibility that everyone was already at Bayfest, which was currently underway.

This rare shot of the usually very busy road, made us wonder: What would happen if Sheepshead Bay Road was overrun by pedestrians walking where previously there were buses and livery cabs picking up illegal fares? Over at Subchat.com, our article about the Station Plaza development has kicked off quite the discussion. One commenter suggested that, with the proposed new street, there’s the possibility that Sheepshead Bay Road between East 14th street and East 16th street could be pedestrianized.

So, what do you think, Sheepshead? Could the road end up looking like Broadway in Manhattan did when it was shut to vehicular traffic (right photo)? We think not.

[Pedestrianized Broadway photo by Amy Dreher via Flickr]

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  • http://www.flickr.com/photos/lisanne001/ Lisanne!

    It’s a interesting idea, and perhaps a practical one on some level. Sheepshead Bay is is barely wide enough to handle two way traffic, which is why it is so often so crowded with cars. The convoluted route of the B4 is an admission of this problem by transportation planners, even the two block stretch it does follow on Sheepshead Bay Road creates significant congestion. So do store deliveries.

    I sincerely doubt that there can be any justification for blocking traffic for a two block stretch. More likely would be a plan to make Sheepshead Bay a pedestrian mall from East 14th Street to Voorhies Avenue.

    But will it happen? The interruption of cross streets between East 14th and East 18th makes for difficult rerouting of traffic. And will Sheepshead Bay Road actually generate enough pedestrian traffic to justify such a change? Personally, I favor making Sheepshead Bay a one way street between East 14th and Jerome Avenue. I think that’s long over due.

  • http://www.flickr.com/photos/lisanne001 Lisanne!

    It’s a interesting idea, and perhaps a practical one on some level. Sheepshead Bay is is barely wide enough to handle two way traffic, which is why it is so often so crowded with cars. The convoluted route of the B4 is an admission of this problem by transportation planners, even the two block stretch it does follow on Sheepshead Bay Road creates significant congestion. So do store deliveries.

    I sincerely doubt that there can be any justification for blocking traffic for a two block stretch. More likely would be a plan to make Sheepshead Bay a pedestrian mall from East 14th Street to Voorhies Avenue.

    But will it happen? The interruption of cross streets between East 14th and East 18th makes for difficult rerouting of traffic. And will Sheepshead Bay Road actually generate enough pedestrian traffic to justify such a change? Personally, I favor making Sheepshead Bay a one way street between East 14th and Jerome Avenue. I think that’s long over due.