Some random musings…
What’s the rationale behind closing this road? Too many auto accidents? Too many vehiclular deaths? Too many pedestrian injuries? Too expensive to maintain? Too many stuck trucks? Who benefits from the closing? Remember, It’s ALWAYS all about the money. Figure out who’s making more money or who’s spending less if the road’s been closed, and you’ll know why it happens.
How many vehicles successfully navigate this road every day? And how many vehicle-miles are saved, how much time is saved, and how many accidents don’t happen because a driver went this way instead of another, longer, more trafficked way. In this “let’s save the whales from choking on plastic bags” world these considerations really should count for something.
Now, just for fun, let’s review some previous comments:
All those who have posted ad hominem attacks should spend a week in the Mayor’s shoes. Same goes for all those who conflate issues… all of them are Monday-morning NIMBY quarterbacks with no spine when the fight needs to be fought, but plenty to say after the final score is posted. Either say or do something constructive when it counts or forever hold your peace.
As to “The state did us a favor…” Hmmm… no doubt posted by a Millennial – this is their typical perspective that puts the cart in front of the horse – they never learned in school that the State is supposed to serve the People, not the other way around! So if the People want a Road to Nowhere, the State should make it happen, not come up with a dozen studies as to why it isn’t feasible.
Commenters #’s 15 and 16 nail it – the road is fine! But it’s the drivers with their HumVees that are @ssh@les- if you can’t fit your 10 foot wide vehicle into a 9 foot wide lane, don’t go there! But because of these fools, the 98% of the drivers who do use that road get shut out. Again, the cart before the horse…
You go, Mr. Mayor!
Thanks Mayor for writing the above article.
It’s about safety. That’s who. The so called road was built in 1900
Its about protecting incompetent drivers. That’s who.
People who can drive have no problem safely negotiating that road.
Yes if you’re experienced driver and you’re driving safely you can maneuver up and down the road. But the road is still way too narrow. It’s not a legal size road. Dept transportation, New Jersey transit, and the railroad Association can supersede the village of Ridgewood in the borough of Hohokus at any time regarding road safety. They will squash any mayor right between their fingertips like it or not. Yes we installed signs but it’s not working. You Gotta be a moron if you’re driving a large truck or a bus Do you think you can navigate up or down that road just by looking at it.
Lots of roads in Bergen County are narrow. To close this road is a gratuitous stick in the eye to many faithful Ridgewood homeowners. Bureaucratic bullying.
Its safe…. Until people like ‘driver’ poster above in their oversize SUV freeze like a deer in the headlights when they see an oncoming car, or cross over into the opposite lane on the turn. Here’s a thought, if its beyond YOUR capabilities… don’t use the road. I don’t see the state closing the narrow bridges from RT 20 to River road…or the one in haworth. If all road sizes were matched to the competence of the drivers, we’d need every street here widened by 20 feet. It may not be a scientific fact, but generally those of us who grew up in the suburbs know how to drive. When you move here from NYC and have limited or no driving experience, its very evident. Like watching some fool try 15 times to parallel park in the CBD causing traffic to come to a stop. Some of you should take the bus.. or use the bike lane
It’s time to make that road a one-way street. As a state engineer for over 30 years the system that’s in tack right now is obviously not working. It’s time to make a change for the future and safety.