Submitted by lordleft t3_10yw2w1 in jerseycity
Seriously. Whether I'm driving, strolling or riding my bike, I feel unsafe. Not in terms of crime, but in terms of traffic safety.
Hell, even the light rail can feel dicey at times, given how often I have to cross tracks in front of a conductor.
I love JC, I just wish it felt less harrowing at times.
>it's the fault of humanity as a whole.
It's very much made worse by a small select group of giant assholes. Just the other day I told off a stupid ass soccer mom who was rolling quickly through every single stop sign in Paulus Hook including going past 2 schools in session. She didn't stop for people on corners walking, cars already stopped at other stop signs already, etc.
She is a serious danger to everyone especially children and if I see her roll through stop signs again I will 100% publicly shame her on repeat since I know where she parks.
You should certainly be aware, cautious and alert, but if you find yourself feeling continuously unsafe you may be suffering from generalized anxiety and should look into ways to alleviate that.
Robin.
Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you
Wouldn’t it be great if everyone followed the rules and stay in the paths specifically designed for their mode of transportation?
We all perceive this, the fact that the JCPD has basically abdicated on traffic stops means that a certain percentage of drivers and riders, that we call "assholes", do whatever they want with impunity, like the wrong way that u/DirectorBeneficial48 mentioned. I've posted videos of 'left on reds'. I think most people try to be considerate, but some just operate like everyone else in the world are NPCs in their game. The possible exception is Ebike riders who universally ignore every and all traffic laws.
Agreed. Especially in the evening/weekends/holidays when everyone feels free to drive drunk or high because they know literally no one will pull them over.
I feel the same way, like I take a gamble every time I cross Columbus and Marin
Not OP BUT I find myself feeling continuously unsafe because I see how people drive and it is blatantly obvious that they have no regard for human life. The lack of traffic enforcement has given sociopathic drivers a free pass to do whatever they please.
Wouldn’t it be great if the employees we pay with our tax dollars to enforce traffic laws actually did their job?
As a fellow neighbor, appreciate it. The intersections here are definitely scary as hell, especially at night when you really can’t be sure if someone is going to bomb through and kill you while walking.
I feel the same. I've lived here for 20+ years, and drivers are much more aggressive and careless in my opinion. Just one example: a few weeks ago, someone downtown *sped up* to try to hit me in the crosswalk as they were turning right. As for Robin's comment about generalized anxiety, as a pedestrian, I don't feel as unsafe in other places (Hoboken, Union City, even Manhattan) as I do here (and I walk *a lot*). And like the OP, I'm generally a big fan of JC.
Omg! I moved here in December and the drivers are NUTS
No, I've lived in NYC and Hoboken, and JC has the most reckless driving by a long shot. I've been nearly t-boned by people blowing stop signs 3 times in the last year and a half. It hasn't happened anywhere else.
I have a solution to all this if we could get buy in at the state level. My thought is that you should have a way for regular people to submit video of drivers doing something illegal, and anyone registered to drive that vehicle has to sit through boring ass lecture courses on responsible driving after a certain number of violations, after the class and more violations a driving test and after that a license suspension.
So many people have cameras on their car capable of getting evidence of illegal behavior, lets us have a way to snitch on these dipshits.
It’s technically possible. There’s also excellent software for detecting fake and modified video even beyond the stuff available commercially used by law enforcement and governments. So the argument of fraud is bullshit.
But a lot of people with deep wallets benefit from officer discretion. So it won’t happen. There’s no technical reason why all speeding and red light tickets can’t be 100% automated. Technology exists. The only reason is you can’t show a camera your PBA card or name drop your cousin, or your seat on the city council. And that’s a deal breaker for too many people.
almost got hit earlier in downtown because some dumbass doesnt know what yield to pedestrians means
I guess, but if people followed the rules there would be less need for enforcement. ¯\(ツ)/¯
I was ready to be snarky about this post and the 'wish it felt less harrowing' line but the more I thought about it, you're not even wrong. Drivers are aggressive when I'm driving and don't respect stop signs when I'm walking. Bikers are negligent or are dicks, especially the ones on sidewalks.
Kinda feel like blaming uber but feel bad that the people aren't making good money.
Why do you often have to cross tracks in front of the conductor? 🤔
Sometimes the walk sign will count down as the train pulls up, and you get within inches of the train. More disconcertingly, sometimes the sign will flash orange but the conductor will wave at you to cross the tracks anyway. It's well intentioned, but a part of me always worries a little bit.
Oh. I always just look both ways and cross when I don't see or hear a train. Many times a train will be approaching and I just wait a little back for it to pass.
Stay strapped on Jersey streets, they might come at you from anywhere
If you want to feel safe, you should never leave the Newark Avenue Pedestrian Plaza. It's the only place JCPD bothers to enforce anything.
https://safestreetsjerseycity.org/
You're not alone. People are working on these things. Get involved. Contact your councilpeople. Etc.
lol some ass that was stuck in a crosswalk literally backed into me and gave me the finger because my backpack slammed into his car. lmao ok buddy if I did it on purpose I would’ve aimed for your taillight or side window.
inb4 some carbrain says something like “never walk in front of a car unless it’s completely stopped” which, newsflash, is basically never because drivers don’t properly yield
just pointing out that every road in New Jersey is designated for bikes unless it’s a highway or some other regulation says so
I agree. I think about this all the time. What's even more frustrating is that if the city actually started enforcing this and issuing heavy fines, JC would be so flushed with cash they wouldn't need to raise our property taxes ever again.
They should have something where you submit a video of a car breaking the law, and then you get to split the money from the ticket. No need for new cops, the city makes more money, and people would just be camped out on Columbus making a fortune - thus creating more jobs.
I was walking in the crosswalk as I had the light the other day and got yelled at by a car for slowing them down as they turned right on red. Was completely thrown off by that.
It’s clear a lot of cities gave up on improving public transit/city planning and have decided they’ll just cater to a demographic that can afford to Uber themselves and their food everywhere. Imagine how many less cars would be on the road if people could actually walk to pick up their food or groceries instead of clogging the streets…
I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for a utopian society.
Obviously
Yep. I almost got hit there last week by a driver trying to beat the light turning red.
I’d agree that being a pedestrian in JC- probably the hardest place to be a pedestrian in Hudson County. But in Newark - I actually find Newark drivers to be more aggressive than JC drivers.
I used to ride my motorcycle everywhere as my primary vehicle and my bicycle for local trips to the grocery store, etc. I’ve pretty much given up on both with how bad things are.
Now I either walk or drive and regardless of which method I’ve chosen I have to assume that nobody will stop at stop signs, people will still be driving through lights after they’ve turned red and I now have the green, and that if I’m walking through an intersection at a crosswalk that I’m invisible to everyone, etc.
It is getting worse basically every year. Without a doubt.
This sounds silly, but NYC has been doing this! It's not for moving violations, but it is a start.
Say what you will about Hoboken, but their traffic enforcement works for a variety of reasons. One is because it’s so condensed, which jersey city can never replicate - I’ll admit. But two, it’s because the hoboken police and traffic authority are visibly auditing parking and driving enforcements on a regular basis, drivers have therefore been conditioned to be mindful of them. Everyone i know who lives in Hoboken knows the unofficial rules of parking / driving. I have never once seen a jersey city parking enforcement or regular police patrol in my two years living downtown - therein lies your issue. Why wouldn’t I do something I can get away with? Law enforcement here is an absolute joke.
+1 to this. Homeless people will be drunkenly accosting passerby’s, cops say nothing. But if someone on a bike comes within an inch of the entrance, they decide to give a shit. Absurd lol
That’s fine. 1/2 of the shitty drivers I find are people double parking in the middle of the road.
I TOTALLY agree. I have never felt as unsafe anywhere I've ever lived. I'm an avid walker, but lord knows I have almost been hit by speeding cars quite a few times (and I never jaywalk). I hate driving here, and biking? No way! I love JC, but the dangerous roads really have made me feel I can't stay forever.
It also means fewer police needed and less opportunity for police to arrest people on other things after initiating a traffic stop. I’ve heard that police unions are actually a major reason places don’t automate these things.
That was most definitely a braindead, entitled POS driver.
Law enforcement, parking enforcement, all of it is a joke. Couldn’t agree any more.
There’s not much evidence to back that up, and a lot to discredit that. Most obviously:
I agree 100%.
It's not us, but thanks.
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Couldn’t agree more. Anytime there are traffic calming efforts, there are so many loud voices in opposition. Case in point: see image.
Please get involved with these groups and your community associations to support these efforts.
Hoboken is just as bad lmao literally all of hudson county has shit aggressive drivers, this is not isolated to JC
Agreed. Have lived in many cities and neighborhoods. Jersey City feels very unsafe as a pedestrian — and also for cycling and driving. I almost wonder if every single person on this thread emailed the mayor this week at sfulop@jcnj.org along with Mike Manzella at mmanzella@jcnj.org and lit a fire under their assess calling on them to step up traffic calming efforts and traffic enforcement, if it would make some difference. Couldn’t hurt, right?
Didn’t say the drivers were worse or better but you can’t deny the enforcement is unequal??
2 weeks ago I was on my scooter driving down Cole's towards Newark Ave and someone ran the stop sign on 4th st and I had to skid and bail and hit the ground hard. The guy stopped got out and said I was fine to get up. Called me a pussy and laughed then drove away. All he cared to say was he didn't hit me. Which is true but he definitely caused me to fall and get hurt . It was the way he acted that really upset me. Totally uncaring.
> There’s no technical reason why all speeding and red light tickets can’t be 100% automated.
NYC has widespread red light & speeding cameras, and for a certain class of reckless drivers it’s useless because they will either use fake/obscured plates or simply not pay any of the tickets. Even suspending people’s license doesn’t really work because most people will just drive on the suspended license anyway.
These are the people behind me who lay on the horn because I won’t run over a fucking family of 4 crossing the street.
Not true at all. Hoboken has small streets that you can’t speed on, plus some of the drivers will actually stop for you to cross at a crosswalk which is unheard of in JC. And Union City is littered with like 3 speed bumps on every single block, and every stop sign is an all-way stop. The problem in Jersey City is there is nothing stopping people from driving insanely fast.
To be honest, I have sat behind someone unmoving at an intersection assuming that there was someone in front of them, only to realize after a while there wasn't. The drivers aren't only stupidly aggressive, they're stupidly timid too. This is why some people are quick to beep.
Nice sweeping generalization about e-bike riders. Would you rather they were driving cars?
Yeah, pedestrians should stay out of the bike lanes for sure
Yes. 80% of e bike drivers seem to be morons with a death wish.
80% is significantly less than “universally”.
Thank you for agreeing with me.
Here is an easy way to get started: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdPDicmcNa0fpxd-tTJGeF0-CPlLwQMd8y8KacD4FPAR9pWYw/viewform
City councilmembers are listening and they do respond (mostly). Their email addresses are here: https://www.jerseycitynj.gov/cityhall/CityCouncil
It's also an election year for all 9 county commissioners, and the county maintains 61 miles of roadways including the most dangerous ones, like Kennedy Boulevard.
I'm so sorry this happened. It's easy to be a bully when encased in 2,000 pounds of steel.
Why does that have to be the choice? I would rather they behave like the motor vehicles they are, and obey traffic laws. I have less sympathy for them blowing lights & stops than someone who has to hump on the pedals of a bicycle to regain their momentum.
The most baffling thing is seeing people walk in bike lanes that are right next to a sidewalk
Lmaoo. I deliver by ebike and agree. I see a lot of other ebike couriers ride on people's heels as they walk. Ride up on kids. It surprises me. No $8-$25 order is worth rushing like that. Or maybe caffeine intolerance. I can't fathom tbh.
I, otoh, got hit by a lady three weeks ago who was kind enough to run a stop sign on me. Now I have a fractured rib and an accident case (will likely edit or delete this comment).
But you have to consider, Hudson county has about 700k people in it. And we have mentioned the reality of JCPD's absence in local traffic patrol. I believe they don't patrol traffic because they can't afford to create hiccups. In terms of flow of traffic and even violence. A few months ago I was walking to my apt when a news caster stopped me to ask me if I knew about this accident he was reporting on in which two guys had some road rage argument about a parking spot. Once guy punched and killed the other actually in self defense and he was charged manslaughter. The hostility in Jersey city might be the real issue. and I understand why it exists but that can't be remedied so easily.
I think there will have to be a law that ebikes can not ride more than 9mph on the sidewalk. Or $75 minimum fine. Idk if ebikes will ever have to be registered but in 5 years bike lanes are going to invade like moss. Construction sucks but it would help. Jc is still in the infancy of it's development/gentrification. I used to live in Paulus hook 5 years ago. Completely different already. The city is already too wealthy to not be revamped and progressives don't want city miles. In 15 years I actually think it will become a bike city. Everyone thinks Texas is ridiculous, you need a car for what would be a 5 minute walk. It is still jersey though so there will always obviously be cars.
Man I could even speak on how ridiculous the car industry is. I drive too (not for work) and I personally believe only 2/5 of people who drive should be allowed to own personal vehicles. But it seems the auto industry is such a pillar of the country's credit that they'll let anyone drive. That and all the areas designed for car ownership... Like I popped a curb in my driving test when I was 16 and still got my permit.
I'm about to head out to deliver on my bike now and I am not looking fwd to it. I hate the cars, I hate the people, but I like it all a lot in other ways. I'm trying to dig myself out of my current financial hole atm. Delivering was only supposed to be a back up plan. There looks to be a surplus of delivery people right now. I do think the apps deserve some responsibility. Some of them put you on a wait-list but not for long. They function on revolving door hiring. You should read the NYT article about the billions Uber has poured into psychological research to keep their "freelancers" working around the clock.
Thankful this thread exists and for the links shared bc I think about this issue every day and spend many hours facing it's realities.
Thanks for such a long, thoughtful, and non confrontational response.
>I think there will have to be a law that ebikes can not ride more than 9mph on the sidewalk. Or $75 minimum fine.
Who's going to enforce this? Especially when these motor vehicles do not have any license plate identifying them, not that that's even very effective on cars these days when all sorts of clever methods of obscuring the plate are available, and even simple ones like a smoked plastic cover do not get ticketed by law enforcement.
I wish there was an answer other than law enforcement personnel. But it seems that we live in an era of entitlement where everyone tries to get away with absolutely every single thing they can, and the fact that it affects other people negatively seems not to matter, everyone is the star of their own movie, and other people are just extras at best.
More stop signs, more speed bumps, lower speed limit to 20.
Why are you in a rush, bro?
What's funny is you can really see the difference in the few places where Hoboken hasn't spent any time trying to improve the streets. Like try being a pedestrian crossing 15th street north of Willow (where there are no stop signs or lights, no speed bumps, gritty wide streets, poor lighting, etc., and so you get endless lines of cars just gunning it) and you'll quickly realize how much better it is on basically every other street.
The people who are just sitting there at a green light aren't being timid, they are on their phone. Often you can see them on it.
Obviously I wasn't in a rush or I would have beeped them sooner.
Absolutely, but I've sat there at a multiway stop while someone in front of me waves through 3 cars that got there after they did. Not 1 in 4 JC drivers actually knows the rules for multiway stops.
I've been thinking about this a bunch while driving and walking in the Heights the last few months (I walk it daily, drive a in and out a couple times a week, and ride a Citibike every once in awhile, so I feel I've been able to see things from a few different perspectives). What, exactly, is the issue? Yes, sometimes it's people doing crazy things like running reds. Those stick out in the mind though honestly when I try to think about how often I see that, it's definitely more than in most cities but still fairly rare.
What seems to create the senes of hazard for me as a pedestrian, sometimes-cyclist, and driver are:
the tight streets with poor delineation between "zones" of parking, walking, driving; the amount of constant double-parking on streets that have no room for them (Central, Palisade, Newark, etc.) which requires streams of drivers to snake around quickly;
poor and inconsistent lighting which is combined with the modern trend of inappropriately bright headlights make for totally shit visibility at night;
intersections that seem built for a lot less traffic than they usually have (the turn from New York Ave onto Ravine, for example, is ridiculous: it is nearly blind for the turner, competing against three different streams of traffic);
crossings that seem inherently anti-pedestrian (trying to cross from the 100 steps area into Hoboken, for example, is almost entirely done by people sprinting across the street at a different place than the actual crosswalk, because the visibility at the crosswalk is total shit and the traffic lights are hard to see and will sometimes not give a "walk" signal for several cycles);
unprotected left turns (a huge issue in Hoboken, too) that cause both big back-ups and drivers trying to "sprint" across between gaps in traffic or on the yellows;
pedestrian crossings that are inherently in competition with cars (people are trying to turn left into you, etc., and they have a small window with which to do it);
overly-narrow intersections that require very careful navigation and have too much going on (Central and Manhattan, Central and Franklin jump out to me — you have to just sort of hold your breath and lurch through them if you are trying to turn);
a general shittiness of the quality of the pavement which lends to a sense of it being a no-man's land (too many asphalt patches, too many repair areas, too many painted lines never used — I get that resurfacing is expensive and street maintenance is never-ending, but pretty much all of the street surfaces look like garbage, and that adds to a sense of disorder);
...and probably more. Anyway, the above is what I notice most of all. Every once in awhile you see someone do something totally absurd with impunity (I saw someone drive around someone else who was stopped at a red light in order to run the red — who does this?), to be sure. But I suspect that's as much of a symptom of everything else (and lack of any apparent interest in traffic enforcement by JCPD).
(Re: JCPD, I openly laughed at the Fullop "look how great everything has been in 2022" flier that came last week, when it bragged that JCPD was the largest it has ever been or whatever. I thought, you'd think this massive, expensive police force could clear the double parking at the very least.)
Parking enforcement used to be much more aggressive before the pandemic. They really slacked off and have somehow gotten lazier with the reduction in alternate street-side parking.
Traffic enforcement by the police has been shit for as long as I can remember.
I moved here a year ago and I can’t even begin to say how bad the driving is. It’s literally the first thing I noticed when walking around. Running red lights is so common it seems and even when you have the right of way walking (green light) people turning left absolutely don’t give af. I got into a screaming match because some lady almost hit me making a left turn on Newark. Apparently this is super common according to all my friends who have been living here. Sad.
It’s a pretty awful place to be all three. Pedestrian, cyclist and driver
DirectorBeneficial48 t1_j7zx34a wrote
The fact that you're aware of all the problems simply means you're a person cognizant of their surroundings. It's not the fault of a driver or a person on a bike, it's the fault of humanity as a whole.
Earlier this week, I was riding on my bike - in the bike lane (left side of the street) - getting close to an intersection (9th and Monmouth). A car speeds up in front of me, makes a left turn going the wrong way down a one way street (9th) to drive about 30 feet to pull into a parking lot.
People are fucking stupid. It shouldn't be this way, but it is.