PandaJ108 t1_j6idnv1 wrote on January 30, 2023 at 3:35 PM

“abruptly swept vendors off the bridge — even if they had permits — and told them they could no longer do business there.”

Like how this sentence suggest that having a permit would make it OK to be on the bridge. Having a permit does not mean one can set up camp anywhere they want.

P0stNutClarity t1_j6imh9w wrote on January 30, 2023 at 4:32 PM

I hadn't been on the bridge in years and happened to foolishly think I could add a jog across on my run.

360 degree selfie vendors, photographers, artists, folks selling license plates...vendors LINED the bridge. I don't remember this being the case pre-bike path removal.

I ended up walking 80% of the way it was so crowded with tourists and vendors. That was my fault. Sticking to the touristless Manhattan bridge from now on.

thefirstnightatbed t1_j6k9ih5 wrote on January 30, 2023 at 10:40 PM

It was definitely at least somewhat of a problem pre-bike path removal. I remember being annoyed at the annoyance of bikers because the pedestrian path was full of vendors and they HAD to use the bike path for large chunks of the bridge. You can’t be mad at pedestrians for walking where they can at that point.

krugo t1_j6njaqh wrote on January 31, 2023 at 4:23 PM

Just gotta make sure you have headphones that block out the clattering of the subway right next to your head on the MB

pixel_of_moral_decay t1_j6ioqsc wrote on January 30, 2023 at 4:47 PM

Yea, and half of them are like Times Square "vendors" trying to hussle tourists with photographs and selling their garbage. They're aggressive, annoying and give NYC a bad reputation.

Less of them the better.

romanssworld t1_j6j6nsm wrote on January 30, 2023 at 6:38 PM

the ones on the bridge dont seem too bad tbh mostly paisas just chilling. i never had any trouble with them

[deleted] t1_j6ifa9g wrote on January 30, 2023 at 3:45 PM

[removed]

nybx4life t1_j6ihvld wrote on January 30, 2023 at 4:02 PM

Wouldn't it mean the city failed to establish where those with permits are allowed to set up?

cdavidg4 t1_j6imhmf wrote on January 30, 2023 at 4:32 PM

It's mentioned in the article but DOT is working on a rule change clarification explicitly calling out the bridge as a place that is not legal for any vending. Currently the rules for vending only call out streets and sidewalks. Is the bridge a street or a sidewalk? That clarification is being proposed to allow for clearer enforcement.

It's been in limbo for years as the previous administration didn't want to touch anything vending related due to politics.