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Now that we're buried beneath snow and ice, my recent run on an atypically warm March day seems like ages ago - ice ages! Sun warming my face, I passed more pedestrians that day than recently and that got me wondering - How many people use the OCA and why do they use it? And so - began the tally of pedestrians and the types of pedestrians encountered.
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Always researching and seeking data to enhance pedestrian safety, I have created an online poll about local usage of the Old Croton Aqueduct. On a recent run during one of these last warm days, (video/blog to be posted soon) I wondered how many of our local residents use the OCA on a semi-regular basis. I certainly see an uptick in other pedestrians on the warmer, sunny days than the not-so nice days.
Help me, help you - take the quiz and share via Facebook! The more we know the better we can face the facts and present our case to the local BOT's that the OCA needs attention in the form of signage, crosswalks, and more!
(Blog Photo Credit - Nadia Fante)
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The above video documents the only, severely narrow sidewalk along Broadway in Irvington that services pedestrians coming to and from Dows Lane.
Problem: The only sidewalk available for pedestrians to use along this portion of Broadway is so severely narrow that even passing drivers feel too close and merge into the next lane to give pedestrians their much needed elbow room.
Solution: This one is a bit of a toughy with that stone and iron fence along edging the length of this narrow sidewalk. According to the Highway Design Manual the relationship between walkway width and pedestrian volume at the bare minimum of 20 people/minute/meter should be 1.525 meters in width.
This is not a Manhattan sidewalk, it is not heavily populated, however it leads into an elementary school and should feel easily accessible, safe, and wide enough for a parent holding their child's hand to walk side-by-side which is possible at 1.525 meters (approximately 60 inches). There were numerous comments on a previous Facebook post about this section of sidewalk, they ranged from running groups needing to run single file with elbows tucked in to moms walking their kids to school a couple times, and then giving up because they felt it was too dangerous.
SO - Jogging Jeweler - what could be done? Well - let's look at Broadway, how wide are the lanes? Our friends over at Planetizen indicate that there is a sweet spot for lane widths, measuring in at 10-10.5 feet.
If the lanes along Broadway are wider than necessary perhaps the State of New York could spare the inches needed to make this sidewalk better, wider, safer, and more useful to our community.
Did you know?
Continue readingWalking one mile to and from school each day is two-thirds of the recommended sixty minutes of physical activity a day. Plus, children who walk to school have higher levels of physical activity throughout the day.
In this series of videos, we capture Broadway for what it is to pedestrians - an obstacle course - one that requires weaving in and out of large trees, holes, telephone poles, with curb-less sidewalks so narrow that a stroller does not fit. Not to mention the portion of sidewalk in such dis-repair that the curb looks like crumbling cookie and has begun to eat away at the sidewalk itself.
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