This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/24/nyregion/nyc-bridge-bike-pedestrians.html
The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| A Bridge From Queens to Manhattan, but No Cars Allowed | A Bridge From Queens to Manhattan, but No Cars Allowed |
| (7 days later) | |
| New York City has taken street space away from cars for dozens of pedestrian plazas and for hundreds of miles of bike lanes that make up the largest urban bike network in the nation. | New York City has taken street space away from cars for dozens of pedestrian plazas and for hundreds of miles of bike lanes that make up the largest urban bike network in the nation. |
| It has significantly expanded those efforts during the coronavirus pandemic, adding more than 40 miles of open streets for pedestrians and cyclists, some of which may become permanent. | It has significantly expanded those efforts during the coronavirus pandemic, adding more than 40 miles of open streets for pedestrians and cyclists, some of which may become permanent. |
| Now, a new proposal calls for the city to build the first new bridge to Manhattan in decades — one just for cyclists and pedestrians. | Now, a new proposal calls for the city to build the first new bridge to Manhattan in decades — one just for cyclists and pedestrians. |
| The car-free bridge would connect Midtown Manhattan to Long Island City in Queens, near the site that Amazon had planned to build a headquarters before pulling out under intense community opposition. | The car-free bridge would connect Midtown Manhattan to Long Island City in Queens, near the site that Amazon had planned to build a headquarters before pulling out under intense community opposition. |
| The bridge would also link to Roosevelt Island, where Cornell Tech is nurturing a new generation of tech entrepreneurs. | The bridge would also link to Roosevelt Island, where Cornell Tech is nurturing a new generation of tech entrepreneurs. |
| Called the Queens Ribbon, the $100 million bridge would be narrower than one designed for cars and would resemble a relatively thin line across the East River, according to the proposal, which was developed by a group of transportation engineers led by Samuel I. Schwartz, a former city traffic commissioner. | Called the Queens Ribbon, the $100 million bridge would be narrower than one designed for cars and would resemble a relatively thin line across the East River, according to the proposal, which was developed by a group of transportation engineers led by Samuel I. Schwartz, a former city traffic commissioner. |
| London, Paris, Singapore and other cities have built car-free bridges as part of a global movement to make more room for people in urban streetscapes. In New York, several major bridges carry only pedestrians and cyclists, including the High Bridge connecting Washington Heights in Manhattan and Highbridge in the Bronx. | London, Paris, Singapore and other cities have built car-free bridges as part of a global movement to make more room for people in urban streetscapes. In New York, several major bridges carry only pedestrians and cyclists, including the High Bridge connecting Washington Heights in Manhattan and Highbridge in the Bronx. |
| The Queens Ribbon would serve the growing bike and foot traffic in Manhattan’s central business district. As New York City has begun reopening after a three-month shutdown, city officials have warned that the streets could be jammed by cars, and have urged commuters to take mass transit or alternatives, such as bikes. | The Queens Ribbon would serve the growing bike and foot traffic in Manhattan’s central business district. As New York City has begun reopening after a three-month shutdown, city officials have warned that the streets could be jammed by cars, and have urged commuters to take mass transit or alternatives, such as bikes. |
| City officials have stepped up efforts to make cycling safer after a spate of deadly crashes last year. Twenty-eight cyclists were killed in 2019, the highest number in two decades. This year, there have been eight cyclist deaths, compared with 12 during the same period a year ago. | City officials have stepped up efforts to make cycling safer after a spate of deadly crashes last year. Twenty-eight cyclists were killed in 2019, the highest number in two decades. This year, there have been eight cyclist deaths, compared with 12 during the same period a year ago. |
| Cycling has surged in recent months as people have traded in the potential health perils of subway and bus rides for those of bike lanes. Citi Bike, the city’s bike-share program, averaged 63,481 daily rides for June 15-17, up 45 percent from June 1-3, according to Citi Bike data. | Cycling has surged in recent months as people have traded in the potential health perils of subway and bus rides for those of bike lanes. Citi Bike, the city’s bike-share program, averaged 63,481 daily rides for June 15-17, up 45 percent from June 1-3, according to Citi Bike data. |
| Bike rides over four East River crossings — the Ed Koch Queensboro, the Brooklyn, the Manhattan and the Williamsburg Bridges — that are popular bike routes for commuters increased to an average of 21,033 trips per weekday in 2018 from 12,206 in 2008, according to city data. | Bike rides over four East River crossings — the Ed Koch Queensboro, the Brooklyn, the Manhattan and the Williamsburg Bridges — that are popular bike routes for commuters increased to an average of 21,033 trips per weekday in 2018 from 12,206 in 2008, according to city data. |
| “Covid-19 has drawn tremendous attention to walking and biking as increasingly safe modes of transportation,” Mr. Schwartz said. “We know there will be future epidemics, superstorms, blackouts and transit strikes.” | “Covid-19 has drawn tremendous attention to walking and biking as increasingly safe modes of transportation,” Mr. Schwartz said. “We know there will be future epidemics, superstorms, blackouts and transit strikes.” |
| The Regional Plan Association, an influential planning group, recently unveiled a master plan for a Five Borough Bikeway: a 425-mile continuous network of protected, priority bike lanes. It would build upon the city’s current bike network, which includes sections that are not connected and do not have physical barriers separating cyclists from drivers. | The Regional Plan Association, an influential planning group, recently unveiled a master plan for a Five Borough Bikeway: a 425-mile continuous network of protected, priority bike lanes. It would build upon the city’s current bike network, which includes sections that are not connected and do not have physical barriers separating cyclists from drivers. |
| Still, the bridge proposal faces big hurdles. It would require city and state approvals, and a hefty investment at a time when the pandemic has plunged the city into its most dire fiscal crisis in generations, which may require other transportation infrastructure projects to be put on hold. | Still, the bridge proposal faces big hurdles. It would require city and state approvals, and a hefty investment at a time when the pandemic has plunged the city into its most dire fiscal crisis in generations, which may require other transportation infrastructure projects to be put on hold. |
| City and state officials said they would review the bridge proposal. City officials added that they had made expanding cycling and mobility options a priority. “We appreciate the engineers’ hard work in crafting a proposal to reimagine mobility in our city,” a spokesman for the mayor said. | City and state officials said they would review the bridge proposal. City officials added that they had made expanding cycling and mobility options a priority. “We appreciate the engineers’ hard work in crafting a proposal to reimagine mobility in our city,” a spokesman for the mayor said. |
| Andrew Rein, the president of the Citizens Budget Commission, a nonprofit watchdog group, said the bridge’s potential benefits must be weighed against the city’s competing transportation needs. “There are trade offs,” he said. “When you weigh these projects, something has to give. If the city were to do this, what project would it decide not to do?” | Andrew Rein, the president of the Citizens Budget Commission, a nonprofit watchdog group, said the bridge’s potential benefits must be weighed against the city’s competing transportation needs. “There are trade offs,” he said. “When you weigh these projects, something has to give. If the city were to do this, what project would it decide not to do?” |
| Updated June 30, 2020 | |
| Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days. | |
| Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles. | Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles. |
| A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico. | A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico. |
| The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth. | The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth. |
| The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave. | The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave. |
| So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement. | So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement. |
| Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks. | Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks. |
| A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study. | A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study. |
| The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April. | The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April. |
| If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.) | If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.) |
| If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others. | If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others. |
| Other things to consider, Mr. Rein added, would be where the bridge fits into the city’s overall plan for cycling and how much it would cost to maintain the new bridge once it was built. | Other things to consider, Mr. Rein added, would be where the bridge fits into the city’s overall plan for cycling and how much it would cost to maintain the new bridge once it was built. |
| Mr. Schwartz said the new bridge could potentially be funded with private money through a public-private partnership. | Mr. Schwartz said the new bridge could potentially be funded with private money through a public-private partnership. |
| His group sees the Queens Ribbon as the first of three pedestrian-and-bike bridges. The other two, which are still being developed, would link Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn, and Manhattan with New Jersey across the Hudson River. Each bridge would be 20 feet wide, and could carry up to 20,000 people a day. | His group sees the Queens Ribbon as the first of three pedestrian-and-bike bridges. The other two, which are still being developed, would link Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn, and Manhattan with New Jersey across the Hudson River. Each bridge would be 20 feet wide, and could carry up to 20,000 people a day. |
| The Queens Ribbon was designed by T.Y. Lin International, an engineering firm. It would be a slender, flexible suspension bridge modeled after industrial bridges that carry pipes for gas or electrical power, said Michael Horodniceanu, a professor of civil engineering at New York University who helped develop the bridge proposal. | The Queens Ribbon was designed by T.Y. Lin International, an engineering firm. It would be a slender, flexible suspension bridge modeled after industrial bridges that carry pipes for gas or electrical power, said Michael Horodniceanu, a professor of civil engineering at New York University who helped develop the bridge proposal. |
| Dr. Horodniceanu said the bridge would expand biking and walking options, and would also help the city’s economy recover by creating new construction jobs. “There are so many ways that this will be a winner,” he said. | Dr. Horodniceanu said the bridge would expand biking and walking options, and would also help the city’s economy recover by creating new construction jobs. “There are so many ways that this will be a winner,” he said. |
| Polly Trottenberg, the city’s transportation commissioner, said at a news conference this week that the Koch Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge had been “pinch points for cycling in and out of Manhattan.” | Polly Trottenberg, the city’s transportation commissioner, said at a news conference this week that the Koch Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge had been “pinch points for cycling in and out of Manhattan.” |
| The Koch Bridge, which opened in 1909, is the only direct connection for pedestrians and cyclists between Midtown Manhattan and Queens. It becomes crowded partly because cycling is banned across another major bridge crossing nearby, the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, which connects East Harlem in Manhattan to Astoria, Queens. | The Koch Bridge, which opened in 1909, is the only direct connection for pedestrians and cyclists between Midtown Manhattan and Queens. It becomes crowded partly because cycling is banned across another major bridge crossing nearby, the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, which connects East Harlem in Manhattan to Astoria, Queens. |
| Mr. Schwartz said he had called for new pedestrian-and-bike bridges in Manhattan for more than a decade as the city’s population grew, tourism boomed and development spread to practically every neighborhood. | Mr. Schwartz said he had called for new pedestrian-and-bike bridges in Manhattan for more than a decade as the city’s population grew, tourism boomed and development spread to practically every neighborhood. |
| “We never learn that we have to fit all the pieces together,” he said. “We can build up to the sky, but if we can’t get people in, we will never fully use what we build.” | “We never learn that we have to fit all the pieces together,” he said. “We can build up to the sky, but if we can’t get people in, we will never fully use what we build.” |