Video: Ocean & Parkside entrance to Prospect Park

As mentioned earlier, we here at Hawthorne Street are behind PLG Public Works, an effort to improve public spaces and streets around PLG. We're starting off by focusing on Ocean & Parkside, one of the most dangerous intersections for cyclists in all of Brooklyn, and one of the most heavily trafficked entrances into Prospect Park.

I'm no filmmaker, but I thought a video could help illustrate the need for our proposed changes... and so we bring you this YouTube number.

We're eager to find other people to help with this effort. If any of you readers are game for volunteering to help ruffle some feathers, let us know: brooklynite282 at gmail.

RELATED LINKS:

Public Meeting on Monday, May 19
PLG Public Works proposal for Ocean & Parkside

Comments

[Jessie]

Thank you so much for posting this! I ride my bike everyday through this intersection and get heart palpitations each time. It's almost like a game of cat and mouse when I'm trying to cross Parkside.

[Brenda from Flatbush]

I just tried crossing into the park from that subway stop a few weeks ago and was damn near killed; can't imagine what it must be like for elderly or parents tugging toddlers and pushing strollers. Now that Prospect Park is talking about a "traffic taming" component to the new Rink project, would be a perfect time for PLG stakeholders to speak up; let's start with this nightmare!

[Dan]

This intersection is also dangerous for cars. There was a recent double fatality here and there are often car accidents. Years ago, a women cyclist was struck and killed by a car that had just entered the park here. Buses often illegally idle outside of McDs. This place totally needs a revisioning. I'm glad you didn;t get hit during your experiment - I was worried there...

[carrie]

Funny that you mention it. I almost got hit the first time I crossed the street! A car came right at me but I was holding the camera backwards (like I said, I'm no filmmaker), I screamed "fuck," then someone shouted "get out of the road!"

[Charles Star]

It sounds like this plan has already been put in effect.

[Adrian]

What kind of volunteering are you looking for? I am interested in ruffling some feathers in our neighborhood...

[carrie]

I think the main thing we'll need volunteers for is tabling. We're thinking about handing out literature one day at this intersection in Prospect Park... and probably collecting signatures from residents who agree that street improvements are needed.

[Mike]

Thanks for the post.
What also is needed is police enforcement of traffic laws. Cars and truck that do not yield to pedestrians should be ticketed and fined. It is dangerous. The police department's failure to protect us is a travesty !!

[carrie]

I hear you and feel similarly, but police enforcement is incredibly expensive and not very efficient. A city can make far more substantial changes through the use of design and traffic calming tools.

One thing that would help, though, is to have more red light cameras that automatically tickets cars that run lights. Albany has limited the number of cameras New York can have -- and that limit was reached ago.... but I hope to get more info soon about which legislators to press to get more of these cameras on traffic lights in our nabe. The number of cars running lights around Parkside & Flatbush, for example, is ridiculous.

[Mike]

Is police enforcement of traffic laws really inefficient?

I moved to NYC from Chicago, where, my feeling when driving, was that if i broke a traffic law, the chance was high of getting an expensive ticket. So myself and other drivers did not risk it very often.
In NYC, drivers regularly break the traffic laws because they know enforcement is lax.

[carrie]

We can agree to disagree, but, yes: a road designed to discourage speeding (with bulb-outs, chicanes, speed humps or other calming devices), or one outfitted with cameras to catch speeders, is generally cheaper than having a cop stationed out on that road.

[stephen]

i have to say, i dont see the problem here. it's called crossing a street. every intersection in this city has vehicles turning while pedestrians cross, and i've crossed this particular intersection many times and have never had a problem. i dont see why this intersection is any different from any other intersection in new york city. has anyone ever been hurt here (not saying an accident needs to precipitate action, just wondering)? are there specific traffic rules being broken here on a regular basis? i think effort could be spent on something much more productive. people are STARVING. just be careful as you cross the street - common sense.

[Clarence]

Nicely done video. Obviously this intersection is in need of having some pedestrian-first remedies. Stephen - I don't know your demographic, but imagine the very young or old trying to cross here? Sure being a sturdy 41 year old can probably cross pretty able-y but this intersection can be redesigned better. No question.

[Charles Star]

stephen - you can already see from the video that cars routinely try to beat the pedestrians to the crosswalk. At a heavily trafficked park entrance, that is a problem.

Over the period 1995-2005Parkside and Ocean was the 5th most dangerous intersection in Brooklyn for cyclists and there have been more than 20 pedestrians injured as well.

There are agencies that deal with homelessness and starvation, and we hope that they do their jobs. We also want the transportation-focussed agencies to turn their attention to this corner.

[Carl]

Thanks for the post. As a resident of the immediate vicinity, I find this inter-section to be extremely dangerous. I feel it’s way over due for some serious traffic enhancements and police presence(i.e. red-light cameras). The motorists have no regards for the pedestrians. My wife and daughter, often times have to run across the street, when it’s clear that they have the right of way. Or, stop to let vehicles go, when they should be yielding to pedestrians. I would support red-light cameras, police and any other legal means that would curb this escalating problem. Speeding along the Parkside Ave(Long Prospect Park) is also a growing problem.
I would be willing to sign any petition that may arise to support the need for improvement to these road ways

[Ajlouny]

Imagine having fear every time you cross an intersection. There needs to be some kind of action to make it a safer place.