By Josh Rogers
“Plane ditches at Pier 25 but pilot walks ashore”
Downtown Express
Dec. 4-17, 1996
California pilot Ronnie Donohoo flew a single-engine jet from Long Island to get a good view of the Statue of Liberty and other Downtown sights on Thanksgiving 1996. When his engine suddenly lost power, he had to make an emergency landing near Pier 25 in Tribeca.
He and passenger Indira Seepersad walked along the wing of the plane and hopped onto the pier unhurt, while the plane sank in the water.
“He was so incredibly cool,” said Jim Gallagher who owned the Yankee ferry docked at the pier.
The Army Corps of Engineers spent most of the next day, Nov. 29, diving to locate the plane, which was in fairly good shape when it was found.
“Bike lane on part of Hudson St. appears likely”
Downtown Express
Dec. 5-18, 1995
Around the time that the construction of Hudson St. from Chambers St. to 14th St. was nearing an end, the prospect of a bicycle lane on part of the north-south thoroughfare looked increasingly promising.
Community Board 2 had recently approved the proposal, requesting the lane run from Dominick St. north to Bleecker St. and up Eighth Ave. to 14th St. The proposal, which had been circulating for a year, called for a five-foot bike lane “sandwiched” by a ten-foot parking lane and a four-foot buffer, along with two lanes for cars. [The lane was built not long after, but a buffer area on parts of Hudson St. and Eighth Ave. was not finished until this year.]
Many people, including environmentalists and street merchants, were in favor of the Class 2 bike lane in 1995, speaking in favor of it at the public hearing held that January; 40 people sent letters and made calls in favor of the lane since the hearing.
The bike lane was part of a broader plan by the Dept. of Transportation to create 500 miles of bike lanes in the city.
Prepared by Helaina N. Hovitz
