New York City's First Permanent 'Open Street' Leaves Seniors with Mixed Feelings on 34th Avenue in Jackson Heights.
A recent report by Selfhelp, a local organization specializing in services for older adults, revealed that the city's first permanent "Open Street" on 34th Avenue in Jackson Heights leaves room for improvement. The community audit, conducted by group walks along the 1.3-mile stretch from July to November, found signage confusion, insufficient trash bins, and inadequate seating areas.
Residents expressed concerns about the bike lanes, with some noticing inconsistencies between blocks. Paul Hellegers, a Selfhelp resident who participated in multiple walk audits, stated that "the number of motorized two-wheeled vehicles passing through there was a bigger concern than the changing bike lanes." Esther Curenton, another participant, had mixed feelings about the Open Street, acknowledging its benefits but expressing doubts about its accessibility.
Selfhelp's report recommends maintaining consistent bike lanes throughout the entire stretch and adding more trash bins and benches. The organization also suggested improving landscaping in certain medians and better surveillance of motorized bikes and mopeds.
The city Department of Transportation acknowledges the progress made with a 60% decrease in pedestrian crashes between August 2022 and July 2023. Will Livingston, a transportation department spokesperson, credited the community's input, including that from Selfhelp, as essential to the redesign process.
The 34th Avenue Open Street was initially created during the pandemic-era Open Streets program and has since become permanent, with local car traffic allowed only between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily. The audit walks provided a platform for older adults to express their concerns, many of whom felt left out of initial discussions.
The initiative comes as part of the city's efforts to simplify the corridor's design, add landscaping, and construct permanent plazas. Jim Burke, a street safety advocate, emphasized the importance of community feedback in shaping the Open Street's future development. As one of the cofounders of the 34th Avenue Open Streets Coalition, he praised the walk audits as an "eye-opening" experience, highlighting the value of diverse perspectives in shaping public spaces.
A recent report by Selfhelp, a local organization specializing in services for older adults, revealed that the city's first permanent "Open Street" on 34th Avenue in Jackson Heights leaves room for improvement. The community audit, conducted by group walks along the 1.3-mile stretch from July to November, found signage confusion, insufficient trash bins, and inadequate seating areas.
Residents expressed concerns about the bike lanes, with some noticing inconsistencies between blocks. Paul Hellegers, a Selfhelp resident who participated in multiple walk audits, stated that "the number of motorized two-wheeled vehicles passing through there was a bigger concern than the changing bike lanes." Esther Curenton, another participant, had mixed feelings about the Open Street, acknowledging its benefits but expressing doubts about its accessibility.
Selfhelp's report recommends maintaining consistent bike lanes throughout the entire stretch and adding more trash bins and benches. The organization also suggested improving landscaping in certain medians and better surveillance of motorized bikes and mopeds.
The city Department of Transportation acknowledges the progress made with a 60% decrease in pedestrian crashes between August 2022 and July 2023. Will Livingston, a transportation department spokesperson, credited the community's input, including that from Selfhelp, as essential to the redesign process.
The 34th Avenue Open Street was initially created during the pandemic-era Open Streets program and has since become permanent, with local car traffic allowed only between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily. The audit walks provided a platform for older adults to express their concerns, many of whom felt left out of initial discussions.
The initiative comes as part of the city's efforts to simplify the corridor's design, add landscaping, and construct permanent plazas. Jim Burke, a street safety advocate, emphasized the importance of community feedback in shaping the Open Street's future development. As one of the cofounders of the 34th Avenue Open Streets Coalition, he praised the walk audits as an "eye-opening" experience, highlighting the value of diverse perspectives in shaping public spaces.
. First off, I don't trust these city officials giving all the credit to Selfhelp's resident feedback like it's some kind of altruistic gesture 
. What if they're getting paid off or what? The fact that Paul and Esther had mixed feelings about it but still participated is sketchy too - were they just trying to get their 15 minutes of fame? 
And what's up with the inconsistent bike lanes? Sounds like a design flaw to me 
. And don't even get me started on the lack of surveillance... when are they gonna start installing those cameras, eh? 
I'm calling BS on this whole thing!
. And can we please have more benches?! 
The city should prioritize making it safe for everyone, not just cyclists. I'm all for community feedback, but we need to make sure that the voices of those who matter most are being heard 
.
I'm no expert, but it seems like a few more trash bins and benches would make all the difference. And what's with the inconsistency in bike lanes? It's like, we get it, you want to share the road with cyclists, but can't they just make sure it's consistent from block to block?
But sometimes it feels like they're not listening to everyone's concerns. Like, what about the seniors who can't just hop on a bike or walk 1.3 miles? It's like, we gotta make sure this Open Street is accessible for everyone, not just those with two wheels! 
. But I feel like the city could do more to make sure everyone's heard, you know? Like, they mention that locals had mixed feelings about the Open Street, but it would've been great if they'd included some more senior voices in those initial discussions 
. I mean, it's great that they got a chance to share their concerns and stuff through these walk audits 
. But at the same time, 60% decrease in pedestrian crashes is still pretty cool 
. Maybe we can just find a way to balance out all the different perspectives and make sure everyone's happy 
? I think adding more trash bins and benches would be a good start 
#OpenStreetDebate. I mean, bike lanes are great but u gotta think about accessibility too 
. Those seniors who took part in the walk audits had some solid concerns about signage & trash cans #GetItTogether. The city's trying to make it more livable but we need more listening ears 
especially when it comes to community feedback 
. I'm all for making those streets more pedestrian-friendly 
, just gotta do it right 
#SustainabilityMatters.
. Like, what if there's not enough seating areas or trash cans? 
It's like the city is all like "oh we did something good" but are we forgetting about the people who might need a little more help navigating this new setup? 
️, and if they can figure out the kinks, this could be a really awesome space for everyone 
but seriously tho, the city needs to listen 2 their concerns about accessibility & trash cans. its all good n all, but dont leave the seniors feelin left out 
. and btw, 60% less pedestrian crashes is def a win, so let's keep that momentum goin 
!
anyway i think it's awesome that the city is listening to the community's feedback and trying to make changes. but at the same time, idk how much more can they do without breaking the bank 
maybe adding more benches and trash bins would be a good start? 
. It's like, we need to make sure that everyone's voice is being heard, not just the ones who are most vocal 
.
. and the signage? its like they just threw some random signs up there and hoped for the best 
. It's like, we should be listening to everyone's ideas, not just some young folks who are always trying new things 
.
. I mean, bike lanes are one thing, but what about all the little things that people take for granted? Like trash bins and benches and stuff 
.