Remember the last time you walked across the Pulaski Bridge? You likely were almost run over by a cyclist, right? Or were you the cyclist coasting at a rapid pace with no time to break as you approached a halted pedestrian stopped to snap a shot of that breathtaking Manhattan skyline?
Lucky for us, this danger might soon come to an end.
The city is currently in talks to create a separate bike lane for the bridge, providing a more spacious walking route and a safer way for cyclists to cross from Greenpoint to Long Island City. A bike lane would reportedly replace one of the Pulaski’s three southbound car lanes. The current sidewalk is only eight-feet wide for cyclists and pedestrians traveling in both directions.
The only roadblock (pun intended) is the Pulaski’s drawbridge. According to DNAinfo.com, the Department of Transportation will announce a final decision this March. Maybe Greenpointers will have a safe way to head to LIC just in time for ideal spring bike-riding weather.
Five women in Bushwick have been attacked in the past week. The attacker is tall, medium build, Hispanic, wearing a hooded jacket. He grabs the women in the dark from behind and slams them against a building wall, covering their mouths so they can’t scream. He has attacked several women on Knickerbocker Ave., on White St, Bushwick Ave, & Moore St (near Roberta’s). We only know of 5 women attacked so far, but the actual number is quite possibly much higher.
There is nothing in the news or the police blotter so please help spread the word to keep you and your loved ones safe & do not travel alone in Bushwick after dark.
I also just heard about an attack on Wythe & N11th last week…we may have a loose cannon on our hands, thought you’d want to know & get the word out.
I forwarded the information to Bushwick Daily’s Katarina who reported that NYPD said, “there were no sexual crimes reported in Bushwick in the past week, which however doesn’t exclude other violent crimes.”
Bushwick Daily’s Advice: Call Brooklyn Bike Patrol if you are not feeling safe at 718-744-7592, they will escort you home.
Will keep you posted as we find out more information.
• NYC Public Schools will be closed tomorrow – Monday October 28, 2012.
• Check NOAA for updated storm information. (No drama weather information.)
• Make sure you have enough non-perishable food and water for 3 Days. You don’t necessarily need to buy cases of bottled water. You most likely have plenty of containers, like big pots to store water in. Fill your bathtub with water for bathing and flushing the toilet.
• Look out for your pets, make sure you have enough pet food and supplies for a few days.
• Make sure you have enough prescription medication for a few days.
• Look out for your elderly neighbors.
• In the event of power outage, make sure you have candles, flashlights and batteries.
• Charge all electronic devices, cell phones, computers, etc.
• Turn your lawn furniture on it’s side and clear your fire escape.
• It’s a good time to take your window A/C inside.
• Stay inside when the storm is at it’s worst. Don’t go into the parks or stand under big trees.
Sometimes I wish we had a neighborhood watch for this sort of thing. I wonder if it’s the same guy I have seen in plain daylight peeing with his you know what hanging out on Nassaue Ave by McGolrick Park, and no one (including me) did anything about it. But peeping into windows is a different story.
An anonymous tipster emailed Greenpointers:
“There have been several reports of a prowler/peeping Tom on Humboldt Street between Nassau and Norman. It might even go beyond the one block. The latest incident was on Friday but there have been multiple cases of a man looking into windows. In one instance from a few weeks ago he was seen masturbating on someone’s porch (but the eyewitness did not call the police). Everyone who has seen this guy failed to call the police. Word has been spreading down the block and all neighbors are now on alert to call the police immediately at anything slightly suspicious. Police seem to be aware of the situation but no official reports have been filed and I don’t know if they are actively doing anything about it. A common description of the guy (this includes the masturbator) a few people have seen is: white, Polish (someone actually spoke to him so this is not an assumption) and in his late 30s – mid 40s. He seems to be out and about around midnight-1am on weekends.
A pretty generic description, I know. So I guess the overall point is that people in the area should be aware of this, especially if they live on ground level apartments, and call the police if they see anyone suspicious.”
Last Saturday was a day on which my body cried out for the waterfront. The weather turned the simplest tasks into moist ordeals, so after my second mechanical failure of the day – the right pedal of my bike followed my sunglasses in simply falling to pieces during normal use – I was more than ready to view Brooklyn from afar for a couple hours. I headed up to the North Brooklyn Boat Club‘s space up on Ash street, where I met up with the group heading out for what was the club’s very first public paddle. Continue reading →
Do you find it ironic that Greenpoint features the environmentally friendly Rooftop Farms, the new McGolrick Park Farmers Market, a Clean Green Dry Cleaners on Nassau Ave, among many other “green” initiatives? Are you confused that the Earth Day Celebration in McCarren Park is sponsored by Exxon Mobil?
We live on top of an oil spill nearly as big as the Exxon Valdez spill, cause by Exxon Mobil that has rendered the Newtown Creek and the soil underneath our homes extremely toxic. Almost half of the city’s trash is stored and processed in North Brooklyn. Part of Greenpoint, near McGolrick Park, sits directly on top of the Meeker Avenue Plumes which releases the vapors of carcinogenic dry cleaning chemicals into the homes of residents. That all sucks!
It seems contradictory to be living in a very toxic place and at the same time celebrate so many eco-friendly things. It’s like eating organic kale in one hand and smoking a cigarette in the other hand.
So what is the point?
Photo: Bill Rhodes
The point is, we live here and we love it! And we can’t just give up on Greenpoint. Generations ahead of us will call this place home and it’s important we make sure it is cleaner and healthier for them and safe for us in the meantime.
Instead of being cynical about all of these exciting “green” developments in the community, embrace them and look at them as steps towards cleaning up Greenpoint.
A very important panel discussion called Is Greenpoint Safe? was held at Anella recently. Organizers created this important document to help you become more informed and understand how you can get involved, get educated and get Greenpoint on the right track.
A few important things to note: The Newtown Creek is a Superfund Site, if you live above or near the Meeker Ave plumes it’s important to get your home tested right away for harmful fumes, oil spills and bad odors are cause for action, houseplants can help improve air quality in your home, eating food from your garden may be contaminated with lead or other toxic chemical so test the soil, and composting, limiting the use of harmful cleaners in your home and adopting a tree are all ways you can directly act towards making Greenpoint a cleaner and healthier place.
Please discuss and share this information with friends and neighbors.
While walking up Franklin I stopped in to say hi to our friends at Silk Road Cyles. The boys were wearing these awesome logo t-shirts, which my cat seems to enjoy, too. As I was begging for a t-shirt I realized one of my TO-DOs is to get bike lights.
Bike lights are essential to safe night riding and THE LAW, but they are easy to lose and when you throw them in your bag the switch is easily pressed and the light goes on and drains the battery. Those darn watch batteries that most bike lights have are really expensive, not to mention environmentally UN-friendly. Because of these shortcomings, I sometimes find myself riding lightless, which is just stupid.
My two requests for the perfect bike light: they don’t turn on if I breathe on them AND they are rechargeable. Of course Silk Road Cycles had what I needed.
As opposed to those wrap around silicone lights, these Knog “Blinder” Lights are a pretty penny, at over $45/light, but can we really put a price on safety? These are our lives we are talking about, people!
You have to hold them to turn them on and they charge with USB. Check and check. And in the long run they are eco-friendly and wallet-friendly since we no longer need to buy those expensive and toxic watch batteries.
Spring is here and everyone is dusting off their bicycles and hitting the pavement. Here are some tips on staying safe and making your bike street legal from the dudes at Silk Road Cycles. This is your life we are talking about, so take it seriously!
GP: How do we make a bicycle street legal in NY? Silk Road Cycles: The three things we focus on are:
1. Working brakes (according to the law, a brake that is able to make your rear tire skid on level ground.)
2. Bell or other audible signal
3. Lights and reflective material – from dusk till dawn)
GP: Are there fines associated with not complying? Silk Road Cycles: Yes. You can be ticketed for any of the above issues.
GP: What lights do you recommend? Silk Road Cycles: Both front and rear are a must! Any light that is clearly visible to drivers, but the brighter the better (NYC has a lot of lights everywhere, so stand out). In the shop we have a penchant for USB rechargeable lights. Easier, brighter and they run about $80 for a pair. (They’ll also double as strobe lights for your next party.) Well worth it, if you ask us.
GP: Do you have to wear a helmet legally as an adult? As a child? Silk Road Cycles: After the age of 14 you do not have to wear a helmet legally. But everyone should!
Purchase a helmet that is bicycle specific and approved by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.
You should replace your helmet immediately after a crash and/or after 3 years of use. Over time the foam in the helmet deteriorates. Now and again, look over your helmet – make sure the plastic is still entirely connected to the styrofoam and check for cracks in the foam.
GP: Can you wear a skateboard helmet instead of a bike helmet? Silk Road Cycles: Legally: yes. With confidence in your safety: no. Bicycle helmets are made for single use high impact. Skateboard helmets are made for multiple impacts at much lower speeds.
