RIDE A BIKE

(FOR ANY OF THE MANY GOOD REASONS)

Goods News the Trucks are now gone from the Bicycle Path of the Siundview to Ferry Point greenway

ENJOY THE RIDE DOWN BRUSH AVE.

Click on Greenway to link to the original design under Madeline Provenzano proposed back in 2000:

GREENWAY SOUNDVIEW TO FERRY POINT

Click on the Bicycle Lane Map Link below then zoom in to the area you want:

BICYCLE MAP

Click on Bicycle/Greenway Program for info:

INFORMATION PROGRAM STARTS 1995

Click on the link for all your Bicycle information ( events, repairs )

http://www.transalt.org/takeaction/bronx

View from entrance to Ferry Point Park looking across to Zerega Ave./ Castle Hill YMCA

Memorial Forest Trees are planted along Greenway in May 2007, group of trees

dedicated to Philip Roublick to be made into a garden in the future.

GirlScouts Paint BBQ Tables along Greeway.

Ferry Point Community Advocates

716 Brush Avenue Dorothea Poggi, President

Bronx , New York 10465

718-892-7303 Fax: 718-829-7165

dpoggi@ferrypointpark.org

www.ferrypointpark.org

www.ferrypointcommunity.org

11/12/2007

Bronx Times Article

In answer to the conflicting opinions on the intense markings for Bicycle Lanes that now “decorate”

Program Participants:
Since 1994, the year of its inception, the Bicycle Network Development Program has been a joint project between the Departments of City Planning (DCP) and Transportation (DOT). Through the team effort and the helpful input of a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and volunteers, a 900-mile bicycle network of on- and off-street routes was identified and planned.
In 1996, the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) joined the BND Program. The goal of this federally-funded project is to promote cycling and to increase public awareness of existing and planned bicycle paths and bicycle-related projects.
Benefits of Bicycling:
The bicycle is one of the most environmentally-efficient modes of transportation. By using a renewable energy source, the human body, the bicycle, in contrast to the automobile, is non-polluting. The bicycle also uses much less space than the automobile, and is considerably quieter than other modes of transportation. These benefits are especially attractive in New York City, as we struggle with noise and congestion issues, and are attempting to meet the federal mandates of the 1990 Clean Air Act.
The bicycle also has tremendous health benefits. Cycling is ranked among the top three exercises for improving cardiovascular fitness. According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control, the most effective activity regimens are moderate in intensity, individualized and incorporated into daily activity. Cycling to work, school or shopping as part of ones regular daily routine can be both a sustainable and time-efficient exercise regimen for maintaining acceptable levels of fitness. Studies have shown that bicycle commuters work more efficiently, arriving to work eager and alert and, due to a cyclists improved health, have fewer job-related injuries. Cycling can also generate a sense of liberation and pride. Traveling by bicycle, the rider becomes a part of the environment rather than isolated from it, getting to know different neighborhoods in the city and finding attractions that could be missed in an automobile, bus or subway.

Catherine Poggi tried for 25 years to keep a Green “Belt” along Westchester Creek, it was to no avail. Deals were made though various elected officials (some who have spent years in jail since) that allowed our Waterfront Community to be turned into a mixed use area. Streets were demapped and end of streets were usurped. We are now labeled as part of the “Zerega Ave. Industrial Zone”. We are losing our status as the residential Community of “Ferry Point” and instead are referred to as the area around “ Brush Ave.”

The mass of brick buildings which eliminated our access to the waterfront has made this a neighborhood of typical land locked homes. The Bronx Bulk Mail Facility was the worst thing for our neighborhood because of the endless corridor of illegal Tractor Trailer parking (by the subcontracted Drivers) on the street. Until then onsite parking was required in this mixed use zoning. These trucks have down graded the visual appearance of our community. You can not see past them. These trucks now down grade the appearance of Msgr. Scanlon and they are being allowed to destroy the tranquil appearance of St. Raymond Cemetery and St. Josephs School for the Deaf. When you drive through our neighborhood instead of seeing glimpses of waterfront and Historic Schools, all you see is Truck bodies. There has been one abandoned Trailer Body for over 4 months on Brush Ave.

The Greenway will encourage more people the opportunity to use Ferry Point Park where we have a magnificent view of the water. Catherine and I attended a meeting around 10 years ago to include Ferry Point Park in the Greenway Master Plan. As the waterfront was sold off to industry we increased our commitment to preserve the right of the community to have waterfront access. Catherine succeeded in keeping on record with EDC and Com. Bd 10 one access along side “Safety City” (with a light and 2 benches) to be constructed in the future. I attended the scoping meeting for the 3million dollar connection from Castle Hill to FP. I added what I could to the decision process. Luckily the first thing Park Dept. did was to create and pave a partial Greenway in the Park. I say luckily because for 2 years this has been a very useful addition to the park. This is the only paved area of the park for strollers, handicapped or bicycling. Although it is a short distance, it is a beginning. This year they marked the path and then put up signage. The DOT has just put the markings down on the streets. I would imagine there will be some changes after Pepsi puts their sidewalks in and remove the obstructions on the street (such as the cement block barriers) that actually take away parking spaces near UPS.

We have attended many Greenway Meetings over the years and can answer most of your questions. If we do not have the information we would be glad to research the answer for you. Feel free to call (718-892-7303) email (friends@ferrypointpark.org) or“Blog”us.

One of the interesting plans for the Bicycle path was to widen the walkways and or the addition of a 5 ft platform attached to the Unionport Bridge to accommodate Bicyclists who now have to walk the bikes across the narrow walkways. The re-striping of the roadway’s lanes to accommodate the new bicycle lanes will serve to channel traffic and reduce speeds

We no longer can take a walk to the (now polluted?) waterfront and watch the children splash, swim and fish. Only 30 years ago, Playgrounds were boring to the children of Ferry Point. We had the real thing. We climbed trees not monkey bars, we swam in salt water not chlorine, splashed each other instead of sprinklers, we pushed huge truck tire swings instead of flat wood ones, we slid down Tarzan ropes from tree to tree instead of slides. We ran on rock jetties to test our balance, and drew hopscotch grids with chunks of chalky plaster board from the dump. What a ball! Talking about balls, we didn’t have a candy store near by and families only had one car so we scoured the floatables in the creek for Spalding’s whenever we wanted to play stick ball.

The waterfront was our playground and now more children can have access to view it at least, at the park. In the mean time, we should be working on letters to enhance this program. Now that we are part of this Greenway we can ask for more greening of the area. There will be more opportunities to beautify out neighborhood and park. The last “end of street” can become a community garden. Our letters to our representatives should ask to install the drain basins and sidewalks that are lacking on

I have ordered copies of the present Bicycle path map to distribute to our neighbors. But as always there is one on display at our Meeting Hall. This map shows the connection of these seeming haphazard markings to the “Larger Picture”. It is possible that because we are so far from our local schools, children may be able to bicycle to school, UPS workers and pick-ups can travel by bike instead of car or cab. Many of the park visitors may travel by bike, thereby reducing vehicles and emissions.

There have been many changes in the Greenway/Bicycle Path over the years. The present markings on

The proposed route includes this paragraph at the end.

(If impacts preclude development of a new path, which involves the elimination of

a travel lane on the northbound service road, marking bicycle routes on either

or the southbound and northbound service roads should be considered as alternatives to bring

greenway users to Ferry Point Park.)

If you are interested in the very intricate pathways that the Greenway takes throughout the Bronx, NY and the country in general, you can access information and links to our favorite sites on our “Greenway Button” www.ferrypointpark.org website

Thank you for your interest in the Ferry Point area

Of your Community….Dorothea Poggi