photo by Boyd Loving
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, UPDATE: The Ridgewood Blog has learned that since these photos were taken, small red reflectors have been installed on some of the blocks. Despite this installation, we believe that more needs to be done to ensure the safety of drivers who will be passing by these large obstacles
In an increased effort to ensure the safety of outdoor restaurant patrons, the Ridgewood Street Department recently placed dozens of concrete blocks weighing several tons each at “dining corals” throughout the Village’s Central Business District.
The blocks replaced water filled, orange & white colored traffic control barriers, which many Village officials believed were unsightly, and had not offered an adequate level of protection against the possible incursion of motor vehicles into outdoor dining areas.
Unfortunately, while the blocks offer an increased level of protection to diners, they clearly present an absolute hazard to all drivers and to their passengers.
As evidenced by the photos accompanying this article, none of the blocks are affixed with any sort of reflective paint/tape nor illuminated warning devices.
The Ridgewood Blog’s staff strongly believes these blocks present an “accident waiting to happen” situation that Village officials must address immediately.
In the meantime, we suggest our readers us EXTREME CAUTION when driving downtown.
These are even more unsightly than the ones they replaced. Holy moly!
Ugly as sin.
I agree; an accident waiting to happen.
Heaven forbid someone do anything to ensure Ridgewood’s infamous problem with awful drivers hitting pedestrians doesn’t take out a family during their dinner!
Can’t wait for Jeanne Johnson to organize the “Decorate Dining Corrals” initiative. These look like shit.
How about it Jeanne? Can you handle it, or should we leave it up to Mayor Knudsen?
Who runs this town. This is ridiculous I almost hit the ones outside park west. They are very low and blend in more than the orange ones. So stupid. And I am an experienced driver with a perfect record. Wait for a new driver! Dumb idea. Move them to the top of the garage and have people eat inside or safely in the side walks. The covid ride is over
Bad idea
My God you don’t even wanna tap one of these with your car. Yes they will protect the people that are behind it but they are ugly. At least paint them white or put plants on them this is getting to be ridiculous The town is looking like Hackensack.
I’m not sure how you drive, but they present absolutely no hazard to me as I drive safely in my lane.
How is this any less safe than cars parallel parked in the same parking spots? It’s the same footprint. And it keeps diners safe and supports our local businesses. Stop complaining about every new change.
Anybody know where the Cooling Center is in the Village?????????????????????????????
They should have free parking at the garage.
What is the difference instead of these corals protruding a little they are parked cars? How about reducing the number is parking spaces at the corner of broad and Hudson street. That is a real hazard to see if crossing or making a turn in your car.
Drivers should slow down. Everyone in a big rush to do nothing.
Sidewalk tables are good enough now that Murphy has opened up everything. why do we allow corrals in the street, ugly and dangerous. parking is even worse now – and many residents are just eating elsewhere.
who’s paying for this ????
Who paid for the concrete barriers?
Vehicles have red and amber reflectors at all four corners. That’s the difference. And it’s a big one.
The town drunks won’t be expecting these in their way in the middle of the night. There are no cars parked on downtown streets overnight, these will be.
The CBD looks very dirty.
By town drunks do you mean Roberta, Gwen and Paulie
Someone is playing a big joke on the village replacing the “unsightly” barriers with these hahaha
What barriers protect people eating at a table on the sidewalk. Instead of reverse you can go forward and jump the curb. Are we over thinking this
How many parking spaces do these restaurants want?
Can you say dirty!
Shut the CPD down like you do for the parade. At least Friday Saturday and Sunday. Let them park in the garage for free and let them park at Village Hall And have a shuttle running back-and-forth. Give it a try think out of the box because this looks like shit. And get the New Jersey transit buses out of the CBD. Having the bus station up at the park is a pain in the ass. What is the village getting out of it.
Beyond hideous and dangerous. Truly a terrible idea. Sorry for restaurant owners but not to the extent that these are acceptable.
Are you people complaining about these being unsightly and invisible at the same time? If you can’t see these boulders while driving, I’m damn glad we have them, because you sure as heck wouldn’t have seen the person dining either.
Open your eyes while driving and no accidents will be waiting to happen. Jeesh.
Glad to see these installed. With all the vehicle ramming attacks in our history, even in NYC, you have to worry about these things. So glad we are driving more business by enabling these corrals and finding creative ways to protect the patrons. Restaurants should decorate the blocks with covers! Maybe red and white checkered picnic blanket covers or what not. We can be creative and safe!
Is it that hard to put them in a straight line?
You’re telling me that these things are going to stay out until the fall
The ugliest blocks! Wow
HOW TO MARKET RIDGEWOOD’S CBD: (a “crazy” idea…)
1- Make ALL street parking on E. Ridgewood Ave. from Maple to Broad into dining corrals and widened “sidewalks” during the good weather season.
2 – have free VOR open-air bus/trolleys run one way around the CBD (like SanFran cable cars)
3 – have “1st 2 hours free” parking at the Monster Garage, trolleys will circle past.
Make the main drag different and people will come!
The pandemic is over.
Get rid of them
I want to park.
With the valet spots and these I’ll just go spend my money elsewhere and be able to park
You know it’s amazing in the past some of the old time village residents we make fun of other towns who did this, they were so against sidewalk eating cafés so on now lock. What a bunch of fucking hypocrites. And I’m not even doing it right looks like shit half fast. At least when you go down to Hoboken or new York city they are building nice little huts enclosed lighting not this shit. What a joke so embarrassing. I seen better shit in Newark, How can you properly sweep the streets, I wouldn’t be surprised that those blocks are illegal in the road.
“Who paid for the concrete barriers?”
YOU are.
REMEMBER…
We are RICH and STUPID
Just waiting for the lawsuit when someone ploughs into one and gets killed or seriously injured.
remember we had concrete barriers and divider on the highway. they were deemed too dangerous and now we have water filled barrels for head on collisions and “Jersey Barriers” for dividers.
these are just blunt concrete walls….
…there will be an accident
…there will be a lawsuit.