ALTERNATE SIDE PARKING RULES ARE IN EFFECT ALL WEEK
Protest gridlock from the Zimmerman acquittal is likely to continue through the week. The Brooklyn Bridge, City Hall and the Federal Building at Foley Square could become foci, so check for updates.
Get ready for a weekend-long closure of all Manhattan-bound lanes on the Brooklyn Bridge, extending from 12:01 a.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Monday. Detoured drivers will take the Manhattan Bridge and Battery Tunnel, sending traffic onto Canal St. and West St., respectively. Brooklyn-bound traffic will access the bridge from Pearl or Centre Sts., and additional access will be set up via the Park Row ramp from Frankfort St. during daytime hours.
A business expo will close West Broadway between Barclay and Chambers Sts. from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.
The Fulton Street Fair will close Fulton St. between Gold and Water Sts. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
The Mulberry Street Pedestrian Mall will close Mulberry St. between Canal and Broome Sts., and Hester St. between Mott and Baxter Sts. from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through September.
Due to cobblestone restoration, N. Moore St. is closed to through traffic around the clock between Hudson and Greenwich Sts. as of Monday, July 15. Work will also be performed on Hudson St. between Thomas and N. Moore Sts., keeping two lanes of traffic open.
The New Museum Block Party will take over Sara D. Roosevelt Park from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, likely spilling out onto Chrystie St. between Stanton and Rivington Sts.
In the Battery Park Underpass, one lane in each direction (between the F.D.R. and West St./Route 9A) will close 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday.
All lanes of the Manhattan-bound Lincoln Tunnel ‘helix’ (the spiral approach road to the tunnel) will close from 10:30 p.m. Tuesday to 5 a.m. Wednesday. This means a lot of the inbound traffic will be diverted to the Holland Tunnel, and onto Varick, West and Canal Sts.
For more street closures, follow @gridlocksam on Twitter.
From the mailbag:
Dear Transit Sam,
I parked on a street with one-hour parking signs but no Muni Meter and I received a ticket. My husband took pictures of the block as well as the clearly marked spot where the future meter was to go. He saw a police officer giving out more tickets and said, “There’s no Muni Meter on this block. What are people supposed to do?” The officer responded, “Go across the street,” meaning cross several lanes of Manhattan traffic to the other side where there was a functioning meter.
I know the law says that if the meter on the block is missing, you may park there for the normal metered time without paying. My understanding of “on the block” is on that side of the block, without needing to cross any streets. What if I had a small child with me? I intend to fight this ticket, but I was wondering what you think my chances are.
Shoshanna, New York
Dear Shoshanna,
Fight it! If I were still traffic commissioner I’d say no meter, no pay. But, I’m not and when I checked with the city, they didn’t think it was much of a burden to cross the street. I don’t agree. Feel free to use my response in your defense.
Transit Sam
Send me your traffic and parking questions: transitsam@downtownexpress.com.
