Tuesday, August 12, 2025

Hudson Streetscape

The street furniture that is part of Arterial's design for the DRI (Downtown Revitalization Initiative) BRIDGE District has started making its appearance. This is what has been installed on Allen Street, beside the top of the Second Street stairs--a trash barrel, a bike rack, and a bench.


It's not entirely clear why these items are needed in a basically residential neighborhood. A trash barrel is always a welcome convenience for people walking their dogs. Maybe the bench is there so out-of-shape people can sit and catch their breath after climbing the stairs. The bike rack may be meant to compensate for the runnel that was supposed to be part of design for the stairs but was eliminated at some point to reduce costs.


Instead of taking your bike with you down the stairs, you can leave your bike in the bike rack at the top of the stairs. It's hard to imagine, though, why a cyclist wanting to get to The Wick or Kitty's wouldn't just ride there on the street, avoiding the stairs altogether.

Addendum
Rob Perry, who as Superintendent of Public Works probably had something to do with the decision to position these items of street furniture at the top of the Second Street stairs, provided the following explanation of why they are there:
It's on the Empire State Trail. A relais for someone to set their bike, maybe to relax or walk around, &/or visit Talbott & Arding or likewise for a cool beverage or snack.
Now we know. 
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4 comments:

  1. BILLAugust 12, 2025 at 8:55 PM

    Another unnecessary trash can, with more soon to come on Front Street. Each one requires a little more effort and, of course, money from DPW to attend to them. It's not smart. And they're certainly not "free" as part of the DRI project, not in the long run.

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  2. MSAugust 13, 2025 at 9:59 AM

    Wow, really? It's bad to have a trash can so people coming from the train, Kitty's, the Wick etc. can throw out a bottle, can, wrapper, napkin, or whatever and don't throw it on the ground? And the bench. Out of shape people? What about old people, people with a disability, mothers carrying small children? They don't need a rest too? There are plenty of things to complain about in Hudson, as can be seen on this blog. I don't think this is one. But for some people it seems that bitching and whining is all they can do.

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    Replies
    1. BILLAugust 13, 2025 at 1:45 PM

      Is there a litter problem at the top of the stairs? If not (which there is not), then there is no need for a trash can to collect the non-existent trash.

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  3. Union JackAugust 13, 2025 at 12:14 PM

    The bike rack will definitely be used by Talbott & Arding patrons.

    My only “complaint” about the stairs, if I have any, are just the weird spacing and pacing down the steps. You can’t find a consistent stride or pace. But I guess it would have been more expensive to regrade the ground underneath.

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