Comments on: VIDEO: Williamsburg Jews Threaten to Bring NYC Traffic to a Halt

By: veryinteresting

veryinteresting — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 05:49:47 +0000

#16, that is your opinion and you are entitled to it. Tznius, from passers by, is no less a problem for our communities than drug selling or other illicit activities that go on. To date, it looks as though our values work for our families. Family life in every other culture has sunk considerably. You may not care and you may have let the slippery slope of depravity affect you. Maybe not. I hope not. But added to this is the concern that New York prides itself on valuing and maintaining the ethnic richness of the values of various neighborhoods. So we set the bar high. So be it. G-d bless us! It is not easy to have principles and the city should be grateful for the quality of life it’s Jewish citizens abide by.

By: yismeicha

yismeicha — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 05:08:35 +0000

I have nothing against having bike lanes. But have any of you seen how narrow Kent Ave is?

By: stan the man

stan the man — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 02:46:53 +0000

Yassam frummies are ready to riot if their needs are not met.

By: yankdownunder

yankdownunder — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 01:35:35 +0000

I agree with #1. This unfortunately sounds similar to the street traffic on the main street in Mea Shearim. Bicyclists (if they would travel through Williamsburg)may upset the people who live in the community.

By: mechael

mechael — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 00:18:16 +0000

ANOTHER CHANCE!!!! At a Chilul Hashem!!!! Yay!! Let’s Grab It !!!! Apparently the Rubashkin scandal wasn’t enough ….. :

By: TOHIGHSCHOOLGUY

TOHIGHSCHOOLGUY — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 23:59:02 +0000

Satmer .. this is not your country … you do not make the laws … and the entire US does not have to follow your version of tznius

By: proud of KAJ WH TIDE

proud of KAJ WH TIDE — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 20:35:51 +0000

The streets belong to EVERYONE. They are not chassidic or Jewish. The USA and NYC allows EVERYONE,including Jews and Chassidim to live here and dress the way they like. Tznius is YOUR problem. YOU have to dress modestly and ACT modestly,not anyone else. You don’t have to look at the bodies passing by.

By: GoldAutoSales

GoldAutoSales — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:05:21 +0000

Any one who is tired of busy streets, no parking and bike lanes should come to South Bend, IN where the Torah is flowing and the housing is CHEAP….Imagine 3000 SF House for $100,000.00.

By: veryinteresting

veryinteresting — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:55:34 +0000

This is not just a matter of traffic. In the summer it is a matter of tznius. Better to protest now than have to deal with such issues and the problems they can, heaven forbid, cause to each individual during warmer months.

ALSO, New York City, in documentaries, and the Mayor, seem to pride themselves of how New York likes to retain the unique flavor of each “ethnic” neighborhood.

By: proud of KAJ WH TIDE

proud of KAJ WH TIDE — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:56:14 +0000

Bike lane directions clearly point to a sidewalk in Williamsburg. Around the corner, cops await!

Cyclists in Williamsburg had the rug pulled out from under them Tuesday when the DOT suddenly changed a bike lane leading towards the Williamsburg Bridge pedestrian path to direct riders onto a nearby sidewalk. Cops from the local precinct hadn’t gotten that memo quite yet, so they sat just around the corner of South 4th Street in Brooklyn ticketing cyclist after cyclist as they rode by.

A call to the DOT by Gothamist wielded some answers, as a spokesman explained, “We are in the process of designating the sidewalk along South 5th Street as a shared bike/pedestrian path. We will soon add appropriate signs and directional bike stamps along the sidewalk and we are reaching out to the local precinct with additional details about the project, which is not yet complete.”

Obviously! When you have cops taking advantage of a recent change in traffic law, perhaps it’s time to expedite your attempts at “reaching out” and start “calling everyone we know”. I’m just sayin’.

Despite the hiccups, this bike lane is definitely needed. As it was, riders faced two lanes of traffic tearing onto the bridge down Grand St., and one lane on South 4th and another leading away from the bridge on Roebling.

Wiley Norvell of Transportation Alternatives noted, “A cyclist was killed at this location back on 2007 (I think, or possibly 06), and I regard it as one of the more dangerous parts of the north Brooklyn bike commute.”

Riders had to hop on the sidewalk anyways for the last 25 yards or so just to get on the pedestrian path, and faced the same technicality upon exiting in Manhattan.

Just last week, FREEwilliamsburg got reports that cops were ticketing riders here because of orders from above. One tipster said a cop told him, “Everyone in this neighborhood has a bicycle, so we are starting to spend more energy on bicycle infractions. Expect to see more of this in the future and stay off the sidewalks.”