Fixing Grand Army Plaza by Danish Expert & Death-O-Meter

1.

it is hazardous to drive thru as well. I work in central brooklyn and it one of the main reason that I chose to take the subway over driving to work during weekdays. It is too busy for the crossing streams of traffic. southbound is worse than northbound-

2.

A re-design won't make the slightest bit of difference when the Ratnerville scam brings in thousands more cars. No painted lines or curbs can change the fact that his area is practically a parking lot as it is, already severely overcrowded with cars. Sorry for the downer post, but I live here and am getting so tired of breathing excess exhaust and playing dodge-em just trying to cross the street.

3.

When you cross here its like cars come from all angles. It causes me so much anxiety...terrifying...
maybe a foot bridge...

4.

I would say that an underground walkway is the most attractive scenario, but then the problem of security will kill that idea as soon as it hits the table.

A footbridge is better, security-wise, but totally destroys the character of the plaza. I'll bet we see some interesting ideas come out of it.

5.

Any traffic calming would be a blessing. Even posting a cop that isn't too busy with reading the NY Post an issue a traffic ticket might dissuade drivers from treating GAP like a raceway.

6.

We looked at an apartment on Eastern Parkway between the Eastern Parkway/Brooklyn Museum and GAP subway stops (much closer to GAP), and one real negative in our calculations was the dodge-a-car game we'd have to play every day at GAP. And the Richard Meier building is going to add how many more pedestrians into the mix? Can't believe some bright-spark urban planner hasn't figured out a good pedestrian walkway, either overpass or underpass, around this traffic nightmare.

7.

Another problem for newbie crossers is that there isnt a clear indication of how to cross. They should have a designated crossing area that the lights cooperate with peds, like lights that stop ALL traffic at once, instead of some traffic on one side. The first time i crossed it, I felt like I was back in London and didnt know which way to look. They might even want to paint "Look this Way" on the street like London does.

8.

I think baloons would be good...

9.

Just got back from London and I must say that in the last few years they have done wonders with some of these crazy, car choked intersections. We need to start pedestrianizing some of these areas and limiting cars. I say wider sidewalks, close off some of the side streets and well defined cross walks would make a huge difference. We need to get NYC DOT out of the 1970's and stop looking at the needs of drivers over all other forms of transportation.

10.

...or a zip line.

11.

whee.

12.

It's easy-peasy to cross over to the Soldiers & Sailors' Monument. Just pretend you're playing Frogger.

And run like the dickens.

13.

The cross walks that take you from the Parks entrance to the library are nuts. There isn't enough time to cross so you are always left stuck in the middle. What hey need is less trafic control. People can sit on the new steps of the library and watch and wait for accidents like a NASCAR

14.

Perhaps the best example of NYC's long-standing official policy of putting motor vehicles ahead of pedestrians, cyclists, stroller-pushers, dog-walkers and pretty much everything else. Thank god people are finally stepping up to fix this hell hole. Why in the world do we need -- count 'em -- seven lanes of road around each side of the circle? It's absurd. Everything just funnels into 2-lane Flatbush Avenue and gets jammed up anyhow....

15.

The problem with a foot bridge for peds is that it's still putting the car first. It's getting peds out of the way for the benefits of the cars. I say let's get the cars out of the way for the benefit of the people.