Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills

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Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills
Posted by Gold_12th on Wed Jul 30 20:08:16 2014 edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Retired NYPD officer Joseph Masterson, 78, was driving southbound on Hylan Boulevard earlier this year, heading toward Lee's Tavern on nearby Hancock Street, via a right-hand turn on Seaview Avenue. He entered the bus lane to make the turn onto Seaview. Over two months later, Masterson received a Notice of Liability from the Bus Lane Camera Monitoring Program "because the driver of the photographed vehicle, which is registered to you, stood, parked or entered a bus only lane during restricted hours and did not make an immediate right hand turn." The notice, dated April 7, was for the "violation" that occurred on Jan. 24, just before 4 p.m. The fine was $115. "They said I failed to make the immediate right-hand turn, up Garretson, and that I didn't make the right within 200 feet [of entering the bus lane]," Masterson said Tuesday morning at a press conference at the corner site. But Garretson is a one-way street heading toward Hylan Boulevard, and taking a right-hand turn there would be "highly irregular," he explained. In fact, such a turn would be outright illegal. On Masterson's behalf, state Sen. Andrew Lanza and Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis sent a letter in May to city Finance Department commissioner Jacques Jiha and Department of Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg, stating that "this violation should have never been issued," and requesting that the Notice of Liability be rescinded. "We have enclosed photographs of signage at the intersection providing that it would be impossible for Mr. Masterson to legally make a right turn onto Garretson Avenue," the legislators wrote. They added: "We respectfully urge you to remove the bus lane camera at this location in the interest of alleviating the confusion presently experienced by motorists, yielding a safer driving environment, and mitigating yet another situation that appears to accrue traffic violations through entrapment." APPEAL REJECTED The lawmakers' intercession was unsuccessful, as was Masterson's own appeal. On July 10, the Appeals Board of the Red Light Violations Monitoring Program affirmed the Notice of Liability that was issued to Masterson, stating: "Upon review, we find no reversible error in the decision". At Tuesday's press conference, Lanza and Ms. Malliotakis slammed the city's use of the Bus Lane Camera Program on Staten Island, calling it "Manhattan-centric." "It's hurting the people of Staten Island," said Lanza, who described the program as "horrible" and "bad policy." "It's not about safety -- it's about taking in the money. They're making life worse here on Staten Island," he commented. Citing Masterson's case, Lanza, an attorney, added: "You cannot make a right on Garretson. If you read and understand the law, and apply the facts, clearly there is reversible evidence here." The Masterson case "is another example of how [the program] is not working on Staten Island, and a perfect example of entrapment," said Ms. Malliotakis, noting "so many examples over the last two years." "It's New York City's latest get-rich-quick scheme," she added. "We're going to continue to fight." The two legislators said that they would pay Masterson's $115 fine if the Appeals Board rejection of his "not guilty" appeal stands under the law. 'DISGUSTING' At the press conference, Lanza also criticized the upkeep of the dedicated bus lanes on Hylan Boulevard. "There's barely legible paint here, with barely legible words," he said. "Who's providing this paint? "This is shoddy, this is horrible -- it's disgusting," Lanza commented. http://www.silive.com/eastshore/index.ssf/2014/07/pols_protest_bus_lane_camera_f.html
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Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills
Posted by Spider-Pig on Thu Jul 31 09:10:37 2014, in response to Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills, posted by Gold_12th on Wed Jul 30 20:08:16 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Yawn. If he could not legally make a right turn onto the next street, he should not have entered the bus lane at that point.
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Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills
Posted by Terrapin Station on Thu Jul 31 09:11:13 2014, in response to Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills, posted by Gold_12th on Wed Jul 30 20:08:16 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Did he travel more than 200 feet in the bus lane or not? If he did, it seems he's guilty. If he didn't, it seems he's not guilty. Whether or not there was a one way wrong-way street before his street doesn't seem to matter. What a stupid article.
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Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills
Posted by Spider-Pig on Thu Jul 31 09:12:01 2014, in response to Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills, posted by Terrapin Station on Thu Jul 31 09:11:13 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d What stupid politicians.
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Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills
Posted by Terrapin Station on Thu Jul 31 09:15:41 2014, in response to Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills, posted by Spider-Pig on Thu Jul 31 09:12:01 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d We don't know that. If he traveled less than 200 feet then the politicians and he might be right.
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Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills
Posted by NJT Oradell on Thu Jul 31 12:23:56 2014, in response to Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills, posted by Gold_12th on Wed Jul 30 20:08:16 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d The way I read it Mr Masterson did indeed travel more than 200 feet in the bus lane. He entered the bus lane in time to make a turn onto Garretson, but did not, in part because it's a one way against him, and in part because he wante dto turn on Seaview. Instead, he continued to Seaview in the bus lane thus committing the violation. As a retired cop he knows damn well he committed a violation. He knows the area so he knows where he wanted to turn. If you can only use the bus lane for 200 feet, then going more than 200 feet in the bus lane is a violation and he was justifiably cited.
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Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills
Posted by Terrapin Station on Thu Jul 31 14:08:45 2014, in response to Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills, posted by NJT Oradell on Thu Jul 31 12:23:56 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Ok, I measured the distance from Garretson to Seaview on Google Maps and it's 247 feet or so. So that means that if he entered the bus lane at or before Garretson, then he's 100% guilty as charged. And like I said before, the fact that Seaview exists doesn't play any role here.
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Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills
Posted by Gotham Bus Co. on Thu Jul 31 17:02:39 2014, in response to Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills, posted by Gold_12th on Wed Jul 30 20:08:16 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Here's a unique and unheard-of idea... Maybe people should drive LEGALLY for once in their lives.
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Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills
Posted by BrooklynBus on Thu Jul 31 20:24:44 2014, in response to Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills, posted by Gold_12th on Wed Jul 30 20:08:16 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Okay he was wrong, but there is another issue here. How many know that you have to make your right turn within 200 feet of entering the bus lane? None of the signs state that. All they say is Buses and Right Turns Only. I was under the impression that you must make the next available right turn. So how is anyone to know that on a 600 foot long block you must wait until the last 200 feet to get in the bus lane? If they are going to give tickets for traveling longer than 200 feet in a bus lane they need to post signs on every 600 foot block when it is permissable to enter the bus lane or mention the 200 feet on every bus lane sign.
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Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills
Posted by kcram3500 on Thu Jul 31 20:52:19 2014, in response to Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills, posted by BrooklynBus on Thu Jul 31 20:24:44 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Disagree. As any judge or attorney will tell you, ignorance of the law is not a defense. It's no different in principle than illegally using the shoulder on a highway to beat traffic when your exit is a half-mile ahead. You shouldn't need more than 5 bus lengths to make a right turn on a local street. As far as signs, too many of them become visual clutter that people will begin to ignore. Does every stop sign state how far away you can park from it? No, and you can't count on a curb being painted the correct length either. Many traffic laws are only put in the public eye when the law is signed. That doesn't mean you can drive against that law because you missed the news story.
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Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills
Posted by The Silence on Fri Aug 1 03:10:33 2014, in response to Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills, posted by BrooklynBus on Thu Jul 31 20:24:44 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d What's that old legal saying... "ignorance of the law is not an excuse"? It's not about if you know it or not. It's the law. He broke it, he get's the ticket. Consider this: How long is a city bus stop? 40 feet? 60 feet? 100 feet? Nope, legally it's from the bus stop sign to the next parking regulation sign, or to the next intersection if no other signs are present. That's why you see those blank bus stop signs at the back of stops that are not on far side of intersection corners. they revert the parking regulations back to normal.
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Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills
Posted by Henry R32 #3730 on Fri Aug 1 08:49:39 2014, in response to Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills, posted by kcram3500 on Thu Jul 31 20:52:19 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Except this does nothing for out-of-towners. I will reiterate my advice from before: when dealing with these SI bus lanes, just make the right turn from the regular travel lane. The ticket for doing that will be issued by an actual cop (so less likely to get) and cost less than the stupid bus lane violation rule. Who cares if it's more dangerous.
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Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills
Posted by Spider-Pig on Fri Aug 1 10:21:24 2014, in response to Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills, posted by Henry R32 #3730 on Fri Aug 1 08:49:39 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Or you can treat them the way a bidirectional left turn lane is treated: Enter the lane immediately before turning and no sooner.
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Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills
Posted by New Flyer #857 on Fri Aug 1 10:56:33 2014, in response to Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills, posted by BrooklynBus on Thu Jul 31 20:24:44 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d I'm not sure if it's citywide but in many areas I see that at the beginning of the block the sign says simply "bus only" or something to that effect and then only as the block progresses and approaches a right turn does it change to "buses and right turns." In Manhattan, like on Madison Ave with two bus lanes together if you are beginning a block that doesn't allow a right turn at the next light you are simply told "bus only." So do we have any more of an understanding of how the cameras are triggered? Do they take two separate photographs of you having accumulated distance in the bus lane? Or is it video? Or is it based all on one photo? Because my only concern is when I absolutely must use the bus lane to get around a fixed obstruction like a construction cone or an illegally parked video. I've done it, figuring less than a second in the bus lane won't get me caught but I don't know.
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Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills
Posted by New Flyer #857 on Fri Aug 1 10:58:33 2014, in response to Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills, posted by New Flyer #857 on Fri Aug 1 10:56:33 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d . . .illegally parked car. . .sorry. LOL
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Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills
Posted by Q4 on Fri Aug 1 11:03:54 2014, in response to Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills, posted by Henry R32 #3730 on Fri Aug 1 08:49:39 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d If you make the turn from the regular travel lane and you get a ticket for a moving violation from a cop for doing so, you are subject to not only a fine, but having points put on your license. If a camera catches you, you are subject only to the fine.
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Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills
Posted by Spider-Pig on Fri Aug 1 11:23:59 2014, in response to Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills, posted by Q4 on Fri Aug 1 11:03:54 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d +1
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Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills
Posted by Spider-Pig on Fri Aug 1 11:24:34 2014, in response to Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills, posted by Spider-Pig on Fri Aug 1 11:23:59 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Note that outside NYC (and Buffalo and Rochester), moving violations are subject to plea bargaining and people willingly pay more in fines to avoid points.
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Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills
Posted by kcram3500 on Fri Aug 1 12:48:56 2014, in response to Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills, posted by Henry R32 #3730 on Fri Aug 1 08:49:39 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Except this does nothing for out-of-towners. What difference does that make? Are you familiar enough with California traffic laws to drive trouble-free in Los Angeles? Or do you expect them to post a sign for every traffic law just to appease visitors?
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Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills
Posted by BrooklynBus on Fri Aug 1 13:01:14 2014, in response to Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills, posted by kcram3500 on Thu Jul 31 20:52:19 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d What if there are two SBS buses together which is a common sight on te B44, and a local bus right behind, That's nearly 200 feet right there. The camera isn't going to distinguish that from car traffic. And you can't make a comparison between a law that is enforced and ones that are never enforced like no parking within 20 feet of a Stop sign or 30 feet from a traffic signal.
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Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills
Posted by Spider-Pig on Fri Aug 1 13:02:21 2014, in response to Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills, posted by BrooklynBus on Fri Aug 1 13:01:14 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d And you can't make a comparison between a law that is enforced and ones that are never enforced like no parking within 20 feet of a Stop sign or 30 feet from a traffic signal. Those provisions do not apply in New York City.
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Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills
Posted by kcram3500 on Fri Aug 1 13:32:17 2014, in response to Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills, posted by BrooklynBus on Fri Aug 1 13:01:14 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d And when a law like that actually is enforced? The judge won't care that "it's never enforced"... you break the law, you pay the penalty. If it's on the books and could affect you, it's your responsibility to know about it.
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Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills
Posted by jasonbellamy on Fri Aug 1 15:56:25 2014, in response to Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills, posted by BrooklynBus on Thu Jul 31 20:24:44 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d They should really stripe where the lane becomes a bus+right turn lane. What's the alternative -- pull over and get out your 200 foot tape measure?
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Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills
Posted by displaced angeleno on Fri Aug 1 20:39:30 2014, in response to Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills, posted by Henry R32 #3730 on Fri Aug 1 08:49:39 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Who cares if it's more dangerous. The pedestrian struck by a vehicle s/he does not expect to be turning from the non-turning lane. But I guess many drivers' really don't care if they injure or kill pedestrians...
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Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills
Posted by TheHat on Sat Aug 2 00:49:12 2014, in response to Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills, posted by Spider-Pig on Fri Aug 1 10:21:24 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d usually immediatley in front of the bus in the bus lane, bouncing pass. off the farebox...
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Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills
Posted by displaced angeleno on Sun Aug 3 10:33:55 2014, in response to Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills, posted by Spider-Pig on Fri Aug 1 13:02:21 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d They really should. One of the main problems with crossing the street in New York is the limited visibility at intersections due to cars parked so closely to it.
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Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills
Posted by RailBus63 on Sun Aug 3 10:51:44 2014, in response to Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills, posted by Gold_12th on Wed Jul 30 20:08:16 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d I don't get the point these people are making. If Garretson is a one-way and Masterson couldn't turn onto it, why did he enter the bus lane so soon? One wonders if he was so forgiving during his NYPD career when dealing with citizens who broke the law. Also love the legislators saying 'they' would pay Masterson's fine - like that money is coming out of their own pockets and isn't taxpayer funds.
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Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills
Posted by BusMgr on Sun Aug 3 16:09:38 2014, in response to Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills, posted by Terrapin Station on Thu Jul 31 09:11:13 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d According to the rule adopted by the New York City Department of Transportation, available at the New York City Rules website, 34 RCNY § 4-12(m): "Bus lane restrictions on city streets. When signs are erected giving notice of bus lane restrictions, no person shall drive a vehicle other than a bus within a designated bus lane during the hours specified, except that a person may use such bus lane in order to make the first available right hand turn where permitted into a street, private road, private drive, or an entrance to private property in a safe manner . . . ." The text of the rule makes no mention of the 200 feet "rule" (which I suspect is either an informal understanding as enforcement, or something that may later be proposed). The right turn onto Garretson Avenue would not count as "the first available right hand turn where permitted since right turns are not permitted onto Garretson Avenue off of Hylan Blvd. However, the rule does not limit the obligation to make the first available right hand turn into only a street, but also includes private roads and private drives. Immediately before Garretson Avenue is a private drive leading into Virginia Funeral Chapel, and immediately after Garretson Avene is a private drive leading into a used van lot. Both of these private drives are permitted right hand turns off of Hylan Blvd., and depending on where the motorist actually entered the bus lane he would have been obligated under the rule to turn right into one of these private drives. In order to have complied with the rule as written, the motorist should not have moved into the bus lane until he had passed the driveway for the used van lot, for only then would Seaview Avenue have been the first available and permissible right hand turn into a street, private road, private drive. There is approximately 100 feet between the end of the used van lot driveway and the beginning of the intersection with Seaview Avenue. All that being said, the unworkability of the rule if strictly construed should be obvious. There are private driveways immediately before street intersections, leaving virtually no distance between the two in which a motorist could move into the right hand (bus) land to make the right hand turn into the street following the private driveway. Moreover, private driveways are not generally mapped, and it is virtually impossible for a motorist to know if he or she has passed the last private driveway before any particular intersecting street. Because of these practical difficulties, I would re-write the rule to read as follows: "Bus lane restrictions on city streets. When signs are erected giving notice of bus lane restrictions, no person shall drive a vehicle other than a bus within a designated bus lane during the hours specified, except that a person may use such bus lane in order to make the first available right hand turn where permitted into a street in a safe manner; or to make a right hand turn into a private road, private drive, or an entrance to private property located before the next permissible right hand turn into a street . . . ." A bit clumsy, but probably closer to the original intent. I think the motorist was in violation of the rule as strictly construed, but not in violation of the rule as intended.
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Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills
Posted by Henry R32 #3730 on Mon Aug 4 00:04:51 2014, in response to Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills, posted by displaced angeleno on Fri Aug 1 20:39:30 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Sarcasm isn't your strong suit isn't it... I'm saying, the turn lane fine is disproportionately high for how easily it is enforced. Simple economics, there is a slightly more dangerous but significantly harder to enforce way of accomplishing the same goal. Let's say you don't know exactly where your turn is. On normal roads, you can "prepare" by getting into whatever lane corresponds to your turn when you think you are close. However with these stupid bus lanes, by the time you see the road name it's too late to get into the correct lane. Here you cannot do that, so turning from the travel lane is the only way to accomplish this without a lot of doubling back. As for your pedestrian comment, the driver has this thing called a brake, it allows him to slow down the car when a pedestrian (or anything else) is in his path. And, by being one lane over, he has about 10 extra feet to do it! Pedestrians who are aware of their surroundings will be looking that direction for left turners anyway...
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Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills
Posted by displaced angeleno on Mon Aug 4 00:13:29 2014, in response to Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills, posted by Henry R32 #3730 on Mon Aug 4 00:04:51 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d It's not, but I usually figure it out by the sixth read. I guess this time, it sailed right over my head time and time again... In all seriousness, I almost got hit by a car yesterday, turning left from the 2nd lane from the left curb (on 1st Avenue at 59th Street) after I deliberately maneuvered my bike between the left turn lane and the straight lane to not be in the path of left turns (and to line up with the bike lane on the other end of the intersection). He definitely did not brake for me. As for pedestrians being aware of their surroundings. It's not the responsibility of a pedestrian to be watching for a non-yielding driver. A good idea? Yes, but drivers have the utmost responsibility to not make illegal maneuvers that may injure or kill people. Something that seems lost on a fair amount of drivers in the Northeast.
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Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills
Posted by Henry R32 #3730 on Mon Aug 4 00:26:08 2014, in response to Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills, posted by displaced angeleno on Mon Aug 4 00:13:29 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Sorry to hear about your close call... I actually did get hit by a left turner once as a pedestrian. Was knocked over but ok (continued walking home)... the driver was apologetic but her initial reaction was "you're wearing dark!"... it was raining so I had my hood up, which also blocked my peripheral vision. I later remembered it was Halloween and hoped that the incident made her mindful of all the pint-sized people wearing dark that night... Yesterday while driving in the city at night I saw a few bike riders in the left lane of Horace Harding... wearing dark and with no lighting whatsoever, I almost pulled right out in front of them (of course they ran the red light) but I waited for the unidentifyable fast moving shadows to pass...
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Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills
Posted by Michael549 on Mon Aug 4 12:32:43 2014, in response to Re: Pols protest S79 SBS bus lane camera 'entrapment' on Hylan Blvd in Dongan Hills, posted by RailBus63 on Sun Aug 3 10:51:44 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d From the day it was created, with the restricted bus lanes and the ticketing cameras all for the SBS-79 bus - there has been a campaign to get rid of what has been seen by car drivers as an intrusion upon their sacred congested crowded Hylan Blvd! In their appeals to the "everyman" some Staten Island politicians love to rail in from of the cameras about the tickets, and the hassles - and about how the "freedoms" of the car drivers has been curtailed. It is in their interest to promote the idea that the ticket cameras do not work, that the wrong folks have been ticketed, etc. If in the fine print the guy was actually in the wrong - it does not really matter because few folks will actually see that kind of stuff in the summarized news articles banded about these days! It is the impression that was made, and that impression of the "wronged man" is what the pols wanted! Remember they are also the folks that have tried their best to wittle down the SBS-79 service as much as possible without actually getting the service ended. Car drivers on Staten Island are the majority of voters here. The numbers of folks who have to DEPEND upon transit is much smaller - hence few pols take transit issues seriously because the pols themselves drive, and do not use transit unless they must. Then there is almost universal idea that most folks want to get where they are going with the least amount of hassle. All of the talk about parking regulations, distances on the road before making a turn, etc. - all good points - do not take into account the political agenda. The agenda is that the SBS-79 is too often seen as an intrusion by folks who really do not want it there and they do not use it. Mike
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