SHEEPSHEAD BAY'S ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWS BLOG

Traffic backs up to Neptune Avenue, forcing the DOT to remove parking spots at Avenue Z

This Wednesday, Department of Transportation workers arrived on Coney Island Avenue and Avenue Z and sawed down parking meters in front of the 99-Cent Store. The spaces are being used as a right turn lane for the duration of the Guider Avenue/East 8th Street Bridge reconstruction project.

The city made the move to replace the meters with “No Standing Anytime” signs after community complaints poured in about traffic backups all the way to Neptune Avenue. Because of construction on the bridge, commuters seeking Belt Parkway West are being detoured over the Coney Island Avenue bridge to Avenue Z.

North-bound Coney Island Avenue now has four lanes – two continuing north, one left turn, and one right turn. The project is scheduled to last from 12 to 18 months.

In the two days since the change has been in effect, we’ve heard that it has only been a minor improvement, as the bigger problem comes from people attempting to use the 99 cent store parking lot. Cars going in and out block off traffic coming from the Volkswagen garage and Shore Parkway North. We’ve also heard that at the worst times, traffic is still backed up to Neptune Avenue.

Councilman Michael C. Nelson is pushing a new bill that would give a free pass to recipients of parking tickets that have wracked up late fees. You can read the press release below.

I’m not a driver, so I don’t have parking tickets. My general reaction to this is that it’s plainly unfair to give forgiveness to people too irresponsible to pay their bills on time. Parking tickets are a problem in this city, for sure, and the city could use the immediate revenues this would produce. But none of this is a real solution. Instead, it seems to me the city should lean on those who haven’t paid and get every penny the taxpayers are owed. Simultaneously, there should be reform in the way parking tickets are given out to reduce excessive and abusive ticketing processes.

But again, I’m not a driver, so maybe it looks different from your side of the windshield. I welcome your opinion.

Here’s the release:

Councilman Nelson Introduces Parking Violations Amnesty Program Legislation

(City Hall) – Council Member Michael C. Nelson proudly announces the introduction of legislation which, if passed into law, will initiate a forgiveness program for parking violation penalties. Introduction 22-2010, which is co-sponsored by Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, is modeled after the same concept as the ECB forgiveness program implemented by the Council last year. The ECB bill provided an opportunity for individuals, who were issued violations by various city agencies (Department of Buildings, Consumer Affairs, Sanitation, etc.) and were currently in default to eliminate their debt with the city by paying only the base fine, thereby avoiding all penalties.

Click to keep reading the release

New York City officials have announced they are shuttering all of the city’s public schools tomorrow, February 10, in anticipation of about 1.5′ of snowfall. All after-school activities, PSAL events, and all other events taking place in school buildings will also be cancelled.

Additionally, alternate side parking will be suspended tomorrow citywide due to snow removal. Parking meter rules will be in effect.

Sheepshead Bites encourages you to stay home and stay warm tomorrow. If you must go out, drive safely and carefully.

In addition to break-ins and thefts, Sheepshead Bay residents need to worry about out of control drivers at night. One reader sent in these photos of cars that were struck by traffic. The BMW was hit as recently as Sunday night on Coyle Street and Shore Parkway, while the van has sat at Avenue Y near Bedford Avenue for more than a week. We’ve seen dozens more like this in the area. Sheepshead Bites is reminding you to park in a well-lit section of the street whenever possible, and avoid the corners. Not only will it protect you from break-ins, but cruddy drivers will have an easier time seeing you.

See more photos of overnight accidents

Gravesend Neck Road, between East 14 and East 15 Streets gains parking meters.

A worker at the New Great Wall Chinese take-out, across the street from where the picture above was taken (1419 Gravesend Neck Road), told us that he noticed the new meters on the south side of the street two or three months ago and that the meters were installed on a portion of the north side of the road “a couple of years ago.”

Now that there are meters prohibiting parking for more than two hours at a time, commuter parkers have taken note. One man we spoke with – a Florida snowbird retiree who still has a home in Marine Park and visits Brooklyn a few times a year – told us,

For me, it’s not much of a problem, because I just come here once in a while when I’m visiting my house and family and need to get on the subway, which is a whole other mess — but, I remember when this place hardly had any cars.

Gravesend Neck Road was known as a relatively quiet street, traffic-wise. The numerous businesses lining the road attract mainly nearby residents, who prefer getting to know their local merchants as opposed to shopping on busy Avenue U.

Commuters looking to avoid bus fare and tired of the mile long walk to the Gravesend Neck Road station from the boondocks of Gerritsen Beach, let’s say, would drive to Neck Road and park all day. The road was known as one that was safe and quiet, one without meters, where the commuter could come back from their long day at work in Manhattan and not have to worry about a parking ticket.

Referring to the lesser used local train station, the blogger known as Chicken Underwear, who grew up in Sheepshead Bay, but now resides in Park Slope, said, “why does everybody from Sheepshead Bay, Brighton Beach and Coney Island have to stop there when the trains are running local?” That the city sees Gravesend Neck Road as the next parking meter cash cow suggest an answer to his question. They recognize that many people are frequenting the area.

As for the residents who are now missing parking spots, they’ll just have to cut an illegal curb on the sidewalk in front of their home.

As Niklas, the reader who sent this in, said, “How many traffic signs are needed to get the message to a driver?”

Gross waste of taxpayer money #938

Some of you may have noticed the exceptionally windy weather we’ve had lately. With winds gusting at 45mph, many trees in the area took lots of damage, just like the following fallen branch across the street from 2260 East 19th Street. Most likely this grand branch snapped off last weekend as it’s been laying on the road since last Monday. We want to know: why is it still here? The branch represents a hazard for every pedestrian in the area. Children risk hurting themselves among the sharp and pointy twigs. The elderly risk tripping. And, worst of all, it’s taking up two parking spots right next door to an apartment building. Is this a case of apathetic residents or of a negligent city? In any case can some one please come clean this up!?

Chrysler L300 on East 16 St.; three tickets & two flat tires, later: still shiny & clean

This post started as just another musing about something seen now and then: a car parked and unmoved for an extended period of time on a public street. It quickly morphed into a series of questions for which I have no real answers.

The car we’re speaking of is a black, luxury sedan, Chrysler L300, with Maryland plates. It has two rear flat tires and it’s on East 16 Street and Avenue Y, parked very close to a hydrant and a sign that says “No Parking Wednesday 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.” for, what seems like, more than a month. Continue Reading »

It's a miracle! Common sense prevails in DOT sign changes at Bassett Deli

Way back in October we told you about the bad sign situation in front of Bassett Deli and Caterers on Avenue X and East 14th Street. At the time, the “Stop Sign Ahead” caution blocked the “Alternate Side Parking” sign, causing many customers to become victims of the city’s agressive ticket policies. Police stalked the intersection, waiting for unwitting violators.

Well, no longer. Local drivers and customers at Bassett Deli and Caterers won’t be victimized by this ghost sign anymore.

Early Thanksgiving week, workers from the Department of Transportation arrived to make adjustments. According to Frank Bassett, owner of the neighborhood institution, DOT sought to swap their positions, so the alternate side parking sign blocked the stop sign ahead. But an employee of the deli with a little more common sense came out and suggested that they put both signs on one post. In an amazing instance of bureaucratic clarity, they listened! They’ve removed one pole entirely, and both signs are finally equally visible. Continue Reading »

A photograph Ned posted two days ago, showing a silver minivan and a sedan in a strange perpendicular accident, prompted me to post this even stranger photo of a minivan parked in the middle of the street. Although the minivan was not involved in an accident, there were a few near misses as visibly confused drivers passed by doing double takes.

This Honda Odyssey minivan was seen at the intersection of East 12th Street and Sheepshead Bay Road on Monday night. It was parked many feet away from the “curb.” The word curb is placed into quotation marks because it’s more of a turn at the concrete.

The minivan, parked less than a block away from the 61st Precinct building, where Sheepshead Bay Road meets East 12th Street, did not appear disabled or left for a few minutes. Instead, it seemed parked for good and did not have any emergency placard displayed or flashers blinking.

When I contacted 911 (after 311 directed me there), it took a while for them to find it on the map. I later looked it up myself in Google, and after some struggle, found this:

Lo and behold, the Google Maps Street View shows what looks like the same minivan and another car parked in the exact location. There is also a jeep parked at the curb nearby, where there is a hydrant (similar to what was observed this past week).

Apparently, this is a spot where parking is at a free-for-all. Are there any of you out there in need of a parking spot and never want to worry about a ticket? We seem to have hit on a jackpot. Not even a 911 call will get you in trouble for parking here.

Even without the threat of a ticket, would any of you leave your vehicle so vulnerable in the street?