As Ridgewood residents look ahead to 2023, here are two of the top stories to follow in the new year — both of which concern transportation.
New Citi Bikes in Community Board 5
The inclusion of Citi Bikes in the Community Board 5 area has been hot topic since the Department of Transportation announcement (DOT) announcement of the addition of the ride-sharing program back in March.
There has been a considerable debate on whether adding bikes would be necessary for Community Board 5. QNS reported that many residents felt the bikes would be an essential addition, making it easier to get around. Meanwhile, others were worried about the loss of parking spaces as the stations would be built on the road.
Councilman Robert Holden has criticized the DOT for moving forward without considering local input — including his requests and those of the Juniper Park Civic Association.
Currently, there is a pause in adding more bike stations in Ridgewood, Maspeth, Glendale and Middle Village, with Community Board 5 sending a letter to the DOT for more input. The Juniper Park Civics Association released its latest proposal to the DOT that would reduce the number of stations in roadbeds from the DOT’s proposed 33 to just 20.
It will be interesting to see how the Citi Bike expansion unfolds in 2023.
More traffic regulations in Community Board 5
In 2022, there have been a number of intersections in Ridgewood to receive much-needed safety regulations in the form of a crosswalk or a new traffic light.
In the past months, a new crosswalk was added to the intersection of Stanhope Street and Fairview Avenue in Ridgewood. The new crosswalk is largely thanks to organizations like Crosswalk Fantasy, which spent months advocating for safety additions for the notoriously dangerous intersection, as well as the lights on Grandview Avenue and Armory Court. Can that trend continue in 2023?
Holden has been vocal about adding traffic regulations in other intersections, including the intersection of 69th Street and 60th Street, which has seen a number of car accidents this year.
It would be interesting to see what other intersections will receive much-needed traffic regulations in the new year.
