The tragic scene unfolded early Sunday morning when a 26 year old Greenpoint woman on her way home was callously struck by a hit and run driver. The unfortunate incident occurred at the intersection of Meeker and Manhattan Avenues beneath the rumblings of the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The woman was taken to Elmhurst Hospital and is considered in serious condition. Continue reading
A stretch of Kent Avenue in south Williamsburg is being updated to include a two-way bicycle greenway, along with improvements to calm motorists and conform the roadway to traffic patterns above and below the area.
Around 7:30pm last night a B48 driver had what NBC is describing as a “medical emergency” that caused the driver to lose control of the bus, which crashed into over 15 parked cars along Nassau Ave near Kingsland Ave in Greenpoint.
Instagrammer @tonyluib’s feed this morning described his medical emergency as a “seizure” and NBC reported that the driver along with 6 bus passengers were taken to Woodhull for treatment of their injuries.
Were you there to witness the wreck?
It is with extreme sadness that we report that 32 year old Nicole Detweiler was killed last night on McGuinness Blvd and Nassau Ave in Greenpoint after being struck by two vehicles, a BMW and a box truck. The driver of the truck was arrested for driving without a license.
Our hearts are with Nicole’s family and friends at this terrible time. Continue reading
Update #3: According to DNAinfo, Christopher Meyer was NOT the victim of a hit and run because, “the NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad later found that Meyer fell under the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway when his bike’s front tire hit a curb, throwing him to the ground.”
Update #2: There is video footage from The Brooklyn Kitchen which shows Christopher hitting the curb before crashing into the northbound lane, according to Gothamist, but NYPD has not yet commented on the investigation.
Update #1:
Funeral Service
Friday 2-4 & 7-9
Marinello Funeral Home
493 Middle Country Road, Coram, NY 11249
Reader Jeff Conklin wrote in to let us know that his friend Christopher Meyer was the cyclist who was struck and killed by a hit and run driver on Meeker Ave on Monday around 4am. Continue reading
This isn’t a joke. Crossing McGuinness Blvd. can often be a near death experience and for some deadly. A speed survey confirmed that speeding cars are out of control with over 66% of cars going over the speed limit with accidents averaging at over one per month involving mostly cars and pedestrians. According to the DOT report:
From 2005 to 2009 there were 57 crashes on McGuinness involving pedestrians or bicyclists … Of those, 44 crashes involved pedestrians, with one resulting in death. The remaining 13 crashes, involving cyclists, resulted in three fatalities.
Some of the more dangerous intersections are getting a make-over, with narrowing lanes and countdown signals, plus speed cameras are going to be tested. It’s a start.
Still, McGuinness is a very anti-pedestrian street. The very location of the roadway, flanked by the LIE and BQE, leaves drivers in highway speed mentality and the lights don’t give pedestrians much time to cross.
Even though safety measures are being created, as pedestrians we need to look out for ourselves and carefully cross the street.
I hung out on McGuinness Blvd at Driggs Ave with a stop watch at about 10am on a Friday morning, when there is a decent amount of foot and car traffic, then went again at 10pm the same night.
How much time do you really have to safely cross McGuinness Blvd?
GREEN LIGHT: During the day, cars on McGuinness have about 1 min. 5 sec. to pass before it turns red, and about 1 min at night.
Meanwhile…
RED HAND: Pedestrians, wait over 1 minute.
I know it’s obvious, but we are all guilty of running against the light. Don’t be an idiot! It’s better to be late than dead. When you see that red hand, don’t risk it – even if there is no traffic.
TOTAL TIME TO CROSS FOR PEDESTRIANS = *45 sec. in am, 55 sec. in pm
*includes white hand signal plus countdown
WHITE HAND: Lasts 20 sec. before countdown signal begins in am, 30 sec. in pm
25 SECOND WARNING: At a normal pace, you can make it safely across the two lanes without having to wait on the dangerous divider.
17 SECOND WARNING: At a fast paced walk, you can make it safely across.
9 SECOND WARNING: At a fast jog you can make it across, but don’t risk it.
What if you trip?
RED HAND BLINKING: 3 sec. DO NOT CROSS
The most appalling moment I ever witnessed in Greenpoint was a man who ran to make the light while pushing a stroller in front of him.
DON’T WAIT ON DIVIDER
If a car skips the curb you are dead meat. Don’t risk it.
WAIT ON THE SIDEWALK, NOT IN THE STREET
Impatiently standing on the street is just as dangerous as waiting on the divider. Stay on the sidewalk as far from the edge of the curb as possible. In the event of a crash be as far away from McGuinnes Blvd. as possible.
This article was created with pedestrian safety in mind, but I hope drivers who read this realize that they pedestrians, too. As drivers, if we keep that in mind, and as pedestrians if we safely follow street crossing guidelines, McGuinness Blvd. can be a much safer place for everyone.
How about we rip up the pavement and replace it with sod and turn McGuinness Blvd. into a pedestrian walking mall, with a lane for bikes and emergency vehicles?
