Friday, June 16, 2017

What's a Sidewalk For?

We all know that property owners in Hudson are responsible for maintaining the sidewalk in front of their buildings, but most understand that doesn't mean they get to repurpose the sidewalk for something other than a pedestrian walkway. This morning, however, a bike rack was installed on North Fifth Street, in front of the Galvan Armory, right in the middle of the sidewalk.




When a bike is chained to the rack, the sidewalk is completely obstructed.

Thanks to Bill Huston for bringing this to our attention.

Bike Rack Update: Now You See It, Now You Don't
Rob Perry, superintendent of public works, just sent Gossips this photograph of the spot where the bike rack was located briefly this morning.

COPYRIGHT 2017 CAROLE OSTERINK

8 comments:

  1. It might be more productive to bring attention to sidewalks that have gone without repair for years, a clear violation of our city code. I agree that the bike rack placement is awkward, but the property owner is one of the very few that has replaced many sidewalks at his properties.

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    1. He's replaced the sidewalks as part of his construction projects -- in other words, as a condition of his building permits. Not aware that he's put in new sidewalks around the Apartments of Distinction (yet anyway). The placement of the bike rack is merely a reflection of the owner's general disdain for the actual inhabitants of the city of hudson. He's not interested in providing a common good for bikers, he's interested in being able to say "I put in a bike rack as a common good for bikers." The thought put in to its unfortunate placement is indicative of the amount of thought he gives to Hudsonians. On the bright side, he didn't ask for $100k to remove it . . . yet.

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  2. This week there was a disagreement in front of Hudson Terrace about who had the right-of-way on the Front Street sidewalk.

    Is it pedestrians or electric carts?

    The latter are used for maintenance by the Terrace, but driven by people who speak no English.

    I assume that's a public sidewalk, so should motorized carts be driving where people walk?

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  3. This afternoon, Gossips received this comment from Rick Scalera, special adviser to the Galvan Foundation:

    Bike racks are much needed around the library and chaining a bike to a very expensive , attractive fence is not an option either. That said here's the question I have. Why didn't someone instruct the bike owner to chain his/her bike parallel to the bike rack one on each side of the rack as opposed to the completely obstructed way they did. Seems simple enough. As I recall the site plan was approved by planning to include two bike racks with the understanding directions for chaining a bike to the rack was self explanatory.
    Rick Scalera

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    1. If there's a question of how bikes are meant to be attached to such a bike rack, this product information may offer some insight: http://www.parkitbikeracks.com/br-07-super-wave-bike-racks?st-t=pibrgoogshop&gclid=CM3vwaihw9QCFYpMDQodqsIEfA.

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    2. Isn't the code for sidewalks for a 4 foot clearance? Bike rack in the middle of sidewalk is just plain dumb. How can anyone view it as otherwise?

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  4. why not have an "A" frame bike rack similar to all those storefront sidewalk signs up and down Warren.
    Just what is a sidewalk designed to offer?
    Too many tourists and no where to walk.

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