34th Avenue "Open Street"

[Benoit]

I’m not sure what universe you’re from, but I have a window looking out 34th Ave.

[itsit]

 Traffic on Northern Blvd was very bad yesterday around 5:00. It took 20 minutes to get through
about 1 mile of Jackson Heights. The Open Streets program has to take a look at the impact on
the other avenues at different times of day before something goes off here. Any traffic analysts
out there?

[dssjh]

we live on 35th avenue, and i expected a huge uptick in traffic, but haven't seen one yet, thank goodness.

[theplanesland]

we live on 35th avenue, and i expected a huge uptick in traffic, but haven't seen one yet, thank goodness.

Ditto. 35th is pretty quiet.

[Matt]

I rode my bike through Sunnyside over the weekend and I came across two streets that were "closed" to vehicles, 39th Ave. and a section of Skillman Ave. "Closed" is in quotes as there were plenty of cars weaving in and out of the barriers. There were also very few people making use of the street closures on a beautiful day. A big difference from the large number of people making use of 34th Ave. during the vehicle closure here in Jackson Heights. The difference demonstrates how badly we need something like this.

Has anyone else seen how other neighborhoods are utilizing the closures (or not).

[toddg]

I was also in Sunnyside this weekend, and I had a similar impression.  I didn't see any cars driving on the "open streets" (as the city calls them), but I didn't see anybody walking on them either.   A big contrast with Jackson Heights, where I saw people of all ages enjoying the additional open space.

[Yankswun98]

34th is packed with people to the point where social distancing is not happening.  The garbage is beginning to pile up on the median and on both sides of the street.  Cars need to be moved and sweeping must occur on both sides.

[CaptainFlannel]

A big difference from the large number of people making use of 34th Ave. during the vehicle closure here in Jackson Heights. The difference demonstrates how badly we need something like this.

I think it also demonstrates how often people just don't leave their comfort zone. I'll do the loop on 34th Avenue in the mornings, when the weather isn't ideal, or if I'm walking somewhere in the neighborhood (like to drop off a donation to Covid Care Network), but mostly if I'm out for a walk for exercise, I'm not heading there because of the crowding. While it's not so crowded to cause me great anxiety inducing concern, cross Northern Blvd., and the neighborhood isn't nearly as dense. You don't encounter a lot of people on the sidewalks, it's easier to let down your mask to air out, you can find some grass to rest on over at Landing Lights park, and it has the benefit of hills.

I see why people with kids and limited mobility might stick to 34th Ave., but I'm a little puzzled why adults out for a solo jog during peak usage would pick it.

[itsit]

The 34th Ave Open Streets has calmed down quite a bit. Lot's of people are finding the sidewalks less busy than the street and are using them for better social distancing. My info on a few other areas with street closures is that they are not well used or all that popular. It will be interesting to see when the playgrounds open, along with the dog runs and the gyms, who will be the biggest users of 34th Ave? The bikers have mostly moved off the street and are possibly are on 32nd Ave?, not sure. Going around the barriers now doesn't make for a good biking experience. It would be good to know what the potential plans are going forward, even what is on the table, so that the community can weigh in the ideas before anything just appears.

[80JHer]

Cars need to be moved everywhere.  Being back alternate side parking rules! The streets of JH are disgusting. I’ve never seen it so dirty

[JHMNY]

Great video from Streetfilms on the 34th Avenue Open Street.

YouTube:

Miracle on 34th Avenue: NYC's Best Open Street is in Queens

[itsit]

 The amount of political messaging here, including actual electeds and candidates, t shirts, etc. feels weirdly propagandist. Nothing but sunshine about the Open Streets? Is this film a political reel for someone? As pleasant as it is, feels imbalanced in it's point of view unless it was supposed to feel this way as a sponsored piece.

[dssjh]

The amount of political messaging here, including actual electeds and candidates, t shirts, etc. feels weirdly propagandist. Nothing but sunshine about the Open Streets? Is this film a political reel for someone? As pleasant as it is, feels imbalanced in it's point of view unless it was supposed to feel this way as a sponsored piece.

give a rebuttal, then. i've not heard anything negative from any of our neighbors. if you have an axe to grind, grind it. this is an open forum.

[abcdefghijk]

YES! Keep 34th Ave OPEN.

Brilliant. 

[Benoit]

One silver lining to all of this, no repetitive parades all summer long.