The Latest on Shared Streets
On Friday, August 14, Mayor Kamal Johnson issued a new emergency order regarding Hudson Shared Summer Streets. Beginning on Monday, August 24, sharing the streets will happen only on weekends.
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| Photo: Hudson Hall |
The new hours for Shared Streets are Friday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. During those hours:
- Avoid driving on Warren Street whenever possible
- Traffic is slowed to 5 mph
- Cars, bikes, and pedestrians share the roadway. Cars must yield to pedestrians.
- Pedestrians are encouraged to maintain 6 feet between themselves and others on sidewalks by walking the street
- Vehicles and pedestrians must observe traffic signals at intersections
- Public transportation runs on a regular schedule at 5 mph
When it is not during the hours of Shared Streets:
- The maximum speed on Warren Street is 30 mph
- Pedestrians must walk on the sidewalk and use designated crosswalks
- Businesses that have built out their parking spaces may continue to operate in those parking spaces during their normal business hours throughout the week
- Businesses may continue to operate on the sidewalk
Why the crackdown? I was just beginning to see how Shared Streets could work--and was working. Tourism is now Warren Street's biggest business and in the summer it's 7 days a week! Why stop a good thing now? The Mayor at least owes us an explanation.
ReplyDeleteCarole why not post Mayor Johnson’s WAMC interview you take quotes from his Facebook page and posts but never speak about the young man in a positive manner. I don’t get why he’s exceeding all expectations of him good grief.
ReplyDeleteI am very disappointed to hear that the Shared Streets program is being drastically scaled back. Almost every day, I have enjoyed a leisurely bike ride down Warren Street from Worth Avenue to the river. It was possible to relax because I didn't have to worry about being doored or forced into the gutter by aggressive, impatient motorists.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame that other people failed to take advantage of this great opportunity to get around by bicycle instead of by car. Unless we change our ways now, climate change will get even worse, and we'll destroy the planet that sustains us. Bike sales have soared during the pandemic, but I don't see more bikes on the road. It's a bit of a mystery.
Perhaps the city should explore the Shared Streets program as a way to encourage tourism in Hudson. Bicycle tourism is big business, especially in places like Vermont during autumn. Here in Hudson, hotels should offer three-night packages that include bike rentals, guided bike tours to Olana and Catskill, meals and hotel accommodations. By marketing Hudson as a mecca for bicycle tourism, we could create many jobs and generate more tax revenue, even during this pandemic. Food for thought.
ReplyDeleteNot to mention the Empire State Trail, which will be finished soon!
ReplyDeleteI think that Radio Row's ideas re: promoting bicycle tourism are excellent, and very much in tune with the direction I believe our town should be heading in. In contrast to this, am I the only one who has become increasingly oppressed by the growing number of very aggressive motorcyclists crowding Hudson's streets, particularly on weekends? Below 3rd sometimes seems like a speedway, with ridiculously reckless riding and revving going on all day. Is this an activity Hudson wants to promote, or discourage? It seems like we're near a tipping point...
ReplyDeleteThere is a small city in northeastern Pennsylvania called Jim Thorpe (formerly named Mauch Chunk). After the decline of the coal mining industry, the town fell on hard times.
ReplyDeleteThe town revived its economy by capitalizing on its beautiful scenery. Today, it is a mecca for mountain biking, whitewater rafting and rides on historic steam-powered trains. It is a case study for Hudson. How about train rides on steam engines from Hudson to Chatham? Raft trips down the Hudson River from Hudson to Catskill and Kingston? Or, scenic bike tours on Mount Merino Road and Spook Rock Road? Why don't we capitalize on these assets to build a robust tourist economy? Antiquing is great, but there is so much untapped potential. Let's think outside the box and get our collective ass in gear!
Like Hudson, Mauch Chunk has an opera house. Maybe we should reach out and make it a "sister city."
ReplyDeleteI strongly agree with the idea of bike trails and other related ideas to attract visitors. I would encourage the tourism board to take a look at the amazing things that are happening with the Harlem Valley Rail Trail which will eventually run from Ghent all the way down to Wassaic. I spent all day yesterday riding segments of the trail that are already open to the public including the stretch from Millerton to Wassaic, I highly recommend it to anyone interested in biking. The rail trails are flat, off road and family friendly.
ReplyDeleteI also think that the Greenport Conservation Area is a wonderful resource which seems to be under appreciated. Maybe there would be some way to create hiking trails of bike trails that make it easy for people to access the conservation area directly from the north side of Hudson? Make Hudson a destination for hiking and biking.
ReplyDelete