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Taking on the NYPD’s cars on sidewalks
The Twitter account @NYCBikeLanes got a discussion going there and on Reddit about the NYPD’s constant use of the sidewalks to park both private and police cars. They photo above is from their account; the ones below are just a sampling of mine over the years. But it is especially infuriating on West Broadway, which is actually the headquarters for Transit District 2.
PIX11 also did a story once they saw the dozens that chimed in. (Thanks to Charlie Komanoff for sending that.)
NYC Bike Lanes had instructions:
1. Submit photos to @nyc311
2. If any vehicle has missing/obscured plates or illegal tints, send an email to internal affairs: iab@nypd.org
9 Comments
Comment:
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It’s totally unacceptable that the folks we hire (and pay) to maintain law and order in this city can’t themselves be bothered to lead by example (and oftentimes are the worst offenders).
Traffic violence is the hidden American scourge so few of us talk about: while humans are (perhaps understandably, if irrationally) terrified of air travel notwithstanding its relative safety, auto collisions and reckless driving take the lives of tens of thousands of otherwise healthy Americans each year with nary a peep from politicians, policymakers or the media.
It’s really something.
Agreed. Road injuries and deaths are the ongoing epidemic which is bizarrely just accepted as “normal’.
The lifetime odds of dying in a car crash (USA statistics) are around 1%. Serious injury rates are much higher.
“There were 2,282,015 injuries reported in 2020 — that’s 6,252 per day, or four per minute.”
https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/all-injuries/preventable-death-overview/odds-of-dying/
https://www.valuepenguin.com/car-accident-statistics
Why is this accepted as normal? I see so much reckless and distracted driving on the roads, that surely these death and injury rates could be drastically reduced through safer driving norms, and enforcement of these when common sense and concern for life and limb of self and others is inadequate motivation.
This kind of behavior was very predictable.
NY Politicians: “We’re not really going to enforce any laws in NYC unless somebody is dead or bleeding (and then only maybe).”
Cops: “Cool.”
It’s time to change the political culture and set the expectation that all people (police and non-police) need to follow all the laws. If a law is dumb and should be broken then politicians should get rid of it not ignore it.
(And good luck calling 311 expecting the police to ticket themselves!)
I had an incident with a fireman driving on the sidewalk near the firehouse on Duane between Broadway and Church. Massive jacked up SUV, couldn’t see my 3 year old walking next to me on the sidewalk and nearly hit him. I complained to the FDNY, they were very responsive (to their credit). I was told that NYPD and FDNY have the right to illegally park near their station houses, including the sidewalk. This is to ensure they have adequate parking since most live outside the neighborhood and drive to work. So don’t waste your breath or time.
Good for you for pursuing the (terrifying) matter, but I think it’s more correct to say that FDNY were courteous but not at all responsive. You were gaslit. Neither NYPD nor FDNY personnel have any legal right to park illegally, much less to drive illegally AND dangerously. I’ll bet dollars to donuts the FDNY rep who replied won’t put their words to you in writing.
While I dearly appreciate Pam’s post and your and the other comments, hard experience teaches it’s futile to report illegal NYPD or FDNY parking to Internal Affairs. The only effective action IMO is to support advocacy groups and/or journalism — Trans Alt and Streetsblog come readily to mind — that have the clout, visibility and staying power to keep pressing this issue.
FWIW, they were lying (or misinformed) when they told you they are allowed to park on the sidewalk. The law is very clear on this.
These are the people who run into burning building to save lives when called on to do so. Parking on a sidewalk seems unimportant in light of that.
Additionally, the FDNY. Have you noticed how Battalion 7 on Duane between Church and Broadway has turned into a double parking parking lot? All large SUV’s. Many from out of the state parking for free. Using FDNY plaques for free parking for work. In the meantime, if you are trying to haul some groceries or what have you from a taxi , the honking begins with cars who can’t get by.
After a recent grand jury service, all things considered, I am OK with the police parking on the sidewalk.
There are worse things.
As for daily NYC life relating to transportation/land-use etc, I am concerned with near daily hits by folks on Citibike, continuing MTA cuts in bus service and that the City has continued to allow Open Streets on bus routes forcing bus detours.
Will save the subway concerns for another day….
I guess I’ll add that as a pedestrian, bus and subway rider, TransAlt and Streetsblog do not represent my interests at all.