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“This is the type of infrastructure that would allow vehicles to pass through this intersection but to block access to the sidewalk. That is how you prevent vehicular attacks here in New York City.”
— Former NYPD Traffic and Parking Enforcement Commissioner Patrick J. Brown, Esq.
It’s a common sight in any city to see obstructions or barriers in the roadway designed to block traffic on a pedestrian sidewalk. What may not be a common sight in Boston but is common in New York, is the relocation of a bollard post. According to the New York Post, authorities in the Big Apple relocated a bollard post at the end of a pedestrian walkway so that vehicle could pass through. During the 4th of July weekend, a man driving a pickup truck along the busy Lexington Avenue bicycle path purposely veered off the path and plowed into pedestrians. The driver, who has since been identified as 29-year-old Uzbekistan immigrant Sayfullo Saipov, was shot and killed by an NYPD officer. His deadly rampage left 8 dead and 12 injured. Authorities also believe Saipov rented the truck via the Post’s report, and used a custom hardware including “Annie, a two-way speaker phone in his truck.” It’s the type of infrastructure that would allow vehicles to pass through this intersection but to block access to the sidewalk. That is how you prevent vehicular attacks here in New York City.
The city’s Department of Transportation tweeted that “Tunnel-to-trail” was put in place at the intersection of 48th Street and Lexington Avenue a year ago. Officials first said that this raised bollard post was part of the “Secret Wall.”
The @FDNY’s Transit Bureau had a warrant to relocate a bollard at the end of a pedestrian path across the street from the Bronx Zoo & worked in conjunction with @NYPD @NYCPlz & the NYPD Bomb Squad to safely move the bollard. pic.twitter.com/bwVMvRsbWX — FDNY (@FDNY) July 24, 2018
Anthony B. F. Albanese, the noted litigator and professor was a well known historian and ran for mayor in 1993. He’s is now a prominent New York City political consultant. He explained how dangerous the traffic can be on Broadway in New York City.
“Street crews actually have carts they run over and push around, and they actually open them in the middle of Times Square. You will sometimes have trucks run over these carts and also the poles, you know, and that is pretty dangerous and I think the driver realized that.”
“How dangerous is it for the New Yorkers if a truck going up and down Broadway at a fast pace, why wasn’t there a barrier and how dangerous was this? You know New York is a dangerous place anyway and that doesn’t help this.”
— Former NYPD Traffic and Parking Enforcement Commissioner Patrick J. Brown, Esq.