HRP Greenway Safety CB2 Manhattan

Carter Booth, Chair Antony Wong, Treasurer
Daniel Miller, First Vice Chair Valerie De La Rosa, Secretary

Susan Kent, Second Vice Chair Amy Brenna, Assistant Secretary
Bob Gormley, District Manager
COMMUNITY BOARD NO. 2, MANHATTAN

3 WASHINGTON SQUARE VILLAGE
NEW YORK, NY 10012-1899
www.cb2manhattan.org
P: 212-979-2272 F: 212-254-5102 E: info@cb2manhattan.org
Greenwich Village ❖ Little Italy ❖ SoHo ❖ NoHo ❖ Hudson Square ❖ Chinatown ❖ Gansevoort Market
May 13, 2020
Hon. Andrew Cuomo

Governor, State of New York
State Capital Building
Albany NY, 12242
Marie Dominguez
Commissioner, State Department of Transportation
50 Wolf Road
Albany, NY 12232
Erik Kulleseid
Commissioner, State Department of Parks
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12207
RE: Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety in Hudson River Park
Dear Governor Cuomo and Commissioners Dominguez and Kulleseid:
Thank you for your leadership navigating New Yorkers through the COVID-19 pandemic. On behalf of Community Board
2, Manhattan (CB2), we are immensely appreciative of your herculean efforts.
CB2 borders Hudson River Park (HRP) from Canal Street to 14th Street. With only .58 acres of parkland per 1000 residents,
our district has one of the lowest ratios of public open space in New York City. The city standard is 2.5 acres. Hudson
River Park accounts for the largest portion of active and passive open space for CB2 residents. The Hudson River Park
Greenway, under the jurisdiction of NYS DoT, is the busiest bicycle highway in North America.
Coronavirus restrictions have placed even more pressure than usual on Hudson River Park and the adjacent bikeway. More
people are heading to the park to escape their apartments. The park is now filled with parents pushing baby strollers, dog
walkers, leisure walkers, and slow moving cyclists mixed in with runners, racing cyclists, and electric bicycle messengers
fulfilling orders. This sizable increase in users has created unsafe conditions. The barriers set in place at intersections in the
Greenway to prevent terrorism do not allow for safe passage even in the best of times. Now that more people are using the
park to exercise and get some fresh air, multiple use congestion adds not only to the potential for collisions but also to the
potential spread of COVID-19, as these crowded conditions reduce the possibility for adequate and safe distancing space.
What's more, social distancing may be effective at 6 feet when walking leisurely, but safe distance requirements expand
many more feet when considering the spray of mask-less fast moving runners and cyclists. Some park goers, particularly the
fast moving runners and cyclists, are blatantly disregarding orders of the Mayor, Governor, and CDC regarding wearing
masks and practicing physical distancing while outside. VIDEO
Rather than deny residents access to the park (as maximum occupancy rules in NYC Parks which is currently under
consideration) we believe that more stringent measures need to be undertaken to facilitate social distancing and enforce mask
wearing . Steps must be taken to accommodate this new reality that threatens people's health and even their survival by
providing dedicated infrastructure so that it can happen safely.
Clearly, this situation calls for a reallocation of the limited space available in the Hudson River Park's current configuration.
Therefore, Community Board 2, Manhattan (CB2) asks that the Hudson River Park Greenway be moved into the western
most lane of Route 9A, protected by jersey barriers and cones to accommodate two way cycle traffic. This will free up space
on the Greenway for runners and roller-bladers and provide more room for pedestrians to move within the Park.
CB2 understands that pavement restoration of Route 9A/West Street is currently underway. But we ask that areas not under
construction are made available for the expansion of the bikeway on to West Street throughout not only CB2, but through the
connecting catchments of Community Board 1, and Community Board 4, Manhattan, as well. We also recommend the
added West Street (9A) lane be reserved exclusively for cyclists, and the Greenway be reserved exclusively for runners and
roller-bladers.
As the weather continues to get warmer, greater pressure will be placed on HRP to provide respite for those wishing a
reprieve from cramped city apartments. Manhattan may seem empty now because many are heeding orders to stay home,
but as the weather warms and reopening phases are implemented, workers will begin to return to their offices and will need
transport to get there. Studies have indicated workers will consider avoiding public transportation, opting instead for
alternative methods of transportation like cycling and personal vehicle transport. Adding a dedicated bike lane on 9A/West
Street for cyclists, with the greenway dedicated for runners and roller-bladers, and the interior park areas reserved for
pedestrians and leisure activities, should contribute significantly to ensuring public health, safety and safe social distancing.
CB2 is thankful for Hudson River Park and the stewardship of the State and City providing measures that keep our residents
safe. We look forward to designing solutions in partnership now and in the future. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Carter Booth DanielMiller

Chair, CB2 1st Vice Chair, CB2
West Streeet (9A) Proposed Bike Lane Hudson River Park Greenway
Cc
Hon. Bill De Blasio
Commissioner Polly Trottenberg
Ed Pincar, Manhattan Borough Commissioner
Hon. Jerold Nadler
Hon. Gale Brewer
Hon. Corey Johnson
Hon. Brad Hoylman
Hon. Robert Jackson
Hon. Brian Kavanaugh
Hon. Linda B. Rosenthal
Hon. Richard N. Gottfried
Hon. Deborah J. Glick

HRP Greenway Safety CB2 Manhattan

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Carter Booth, Chair Antony Wong, Treasurer

Daniel Miller, First Vice Chair Valerie De La Rosa, Secretary

COMMUNITY BOARD NO. 2, MANHATTAN

May 13, 2020

Hon. Andrew Cuomo

RE: Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety in Hudson River Park

Dear Governor Cuomo and Commissioners Dominguez and Kulleseid:

Carter Booth DanielMiller

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