Clearly, RIOC must do much more before it gets out of its deep rut, but there are three easy things it can do today. So, why not get them done right now?
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
The Three Things
For this article, we picked three very easy things RIOC can jump on today. Two could be done within an hour or two, but the third might wait a few days for delivery.
Number One: Drop the Ego, Do the Safety.
For reasons that either don’t exist in reality or are just bad, RIOC assembled a 20-foot long patch of hideous yellow fencing where a parking place would otherwise be.
Not only does it block access to a fire hydrant, it serves as a sludge trap in front of Main Street’s oldest surviving business.
Although we are not aware of RIOC or its Public Safety Department ever explaining this outburst of ugly, workers in the store report that they were told that it has something to do with keeping people from parking there and going across the street into Roosevelt Landings.
Of course, this makes no sense at all, but it’s all we’ve got. RIOC doesn’t do this anywhere else, although we have plenty of other fire hydrants.
What became of “Seconds count in an emergency?” How many will be wasted and how many lives at risk while FDNY struggles with this barricade if a fire breaks out?
So, let’s make the community safe and infinitely more attractive by taking away this eyesore? Easy-peasy. Let’s do it.
Number Two: Set a Good Example. Identify Yourself.
This is the one that may take a few days, but the commitment can happen today.
A nagging concern all along the Main Street canyon is the absence of signs designating businesses. Added up with blank, empty spaces, it creates a hollowed out feel from the street level at Island House to Rivercross.
The worst offender, though, is RIOC. Its headquarters location (above) lacks visible signage. And the frosted over windows reinforce the refusing look.
RIOC repeats the offense, just steps away, at the Youth Center. It also lacks a sign and has its windows blocked out. Yes, there’s a single directional sign facing in one direction, but that’s not anywhere near enough.
So, RIOC, set a good example. Invest in some signs. Nothing fancy. Just something.
Number Three: Reverse the Bad Judgment. Reopen the Promenades.
In the fall of 2021, three people, including a child, were struck by cars on Main Street. RIOC President/CEO Shelton J. Haynes jumped into action. There would soon be, he promised, a traffic safety plan.
That never came, as we know now, but instead, RIOC banned motorized vehicles from both promenades. It needlessly hamstrung housing complexes, denying even emergency access, and evidence suggests RIOC knows it’s absurd.
But still in force.
And RIOC didn’t just waive the rules for the West Promenade, the East Promenade got its share.
The big problem with the Motorized Vehicles ban on both promenades is that it severely restricts access to Westview, Island House and Rivercross. These buildings don’t have open spaces facing Main Street where service vehicles can park nor alleys as Roosevelt Landings has.
In other words, if any of them needs plumbing work, the once reliable access for the plumbers and their tools is gone. Appeals from building managers fell on deaf ears. That is, not only would RIOC not listen they also wouldn’t return the calls.
The other big problem is that the RIOC solution does nothing to enhance safety for pedestrians on Main Street. Or on the promenades really. No one’s ever been struck by a car or truck on either side.
So, let common sense prevail. Yank out those NO MOTORIZED VEHICLE SIGNS and make the community more business friendly.
This could be done by noon today. Then, a pleasant advisory noting the end of the ban can circulate through the community.
That’s three easy acts that will make things more pleasant and RIOC more respected.
Let’s go!
Before I Find the Eggs
Trader Joe’s has its own choreography.
Unfortunately the delivery people on scooters are the real problem. When children ,joggers and walkers are on the promenade , they speed by. This is very dangerous for all concerned.
I agree. I’ve seen that for years, but it seems impossible to get RIOC PSD to do anything about it.
The best part of the promenades is no traffic. There’s so few car cree spaces in this city. A dog was killed by a vehicle a while back on the west promenade despite this ban.
Cars should be restricted but not banned because the promenades were always intended as access roads, but RIOC took another brainless shortcut, too lazy to get out and walk or bike ride the promenades for safety. Other e-vehicles should be banned, of course. They have not reason for being there.
By the way, just for the record, the little dog was hit and killed before the ban.