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Avalon Fort Greene

It’s T time for Ridge cars

By Ben Muessig
The Brooklyn Paper
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Thanks to Councilman Vince Gentile, cars can now park in curb cuts (circled) at some T-intersections in Bay Ridge, a move that will add an few dozen spaces in the parking-deprived neighborhood.

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Finding a parking spot in Bay Ridge is about to become as easy as crossing your T’s.

The city is giving drivers a green light to park in front of curb cuts at T intersections — so long as they are not marked with crosswalks, stop lights or other traffic signals.

Rico Furniture

The move, pushed by Councilman Vince Gentile (D–Bay Ridge), will create more than 50 new spots at three-way intersections in the parking-starved neighborhood.

Traffic cops will no longer be on the prowl along Shore Road between 60th Street and 99th Street, issuing $165 summonses so long as spots are “not marked with a crosswalk and not controlled by all-way stop signs or traffic signals,” said Department of Transportation spokesman Scott Gastel.

Gentile, who tried to get such legislation in 2006, was pleased.

“This new rule will make dozens of new spots available at locations that aren’t currently safe for pedestrian crossing, so this really is a win-win for our neighborhood,” said Gentile.

When Ridgites started receiving costly tickets for parking in front of the sloped sidewalks, Community Board 10’s office was inundated with calls, according to District Manager Josephine Beckmann.

“There was outrage because they weren’t marked and you couldn’t tell you were doing something wrong,” she said. “This is really a big victory.”

But not all Bay Ridge residents are celebrating.

Wheelchair user Jean Ryan is furious that cars will be able to obstruct certain sidewalk ramps.

Brooklyn Bridge Realty

“When a car block a curb cut, I won’t be able to cross the street,” said Ryan. “They say it would be dangerous for anyone to cross there, but that’s patronizing to us. We can look both ways and cross just like anyone else.”

©2009 The Brooklyn Paper

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