Truck Stuck on Hicks and Pineapple

By on July 15, 2010 8:56 pm in Brooklyn Heights

6qf

@suave tweets us (@bkheightsblog) this photo of a truck stuck on Pineapple Street Thursday night around 8:45 pm.

Share this Story:

← 
Newer Comments  →
  • AAR

    Actually, the truck was stuck on Hicks between Pineapple and Orange – for many hours, until the dumpster was finally removed and the truck was able to move around 9:30 PM. Four cars on the west side of Hicks were pinned by the truck, which appeared to only damage one of them.

  • Heightsman

    Very funny. A guy was attempting to park across from the dumpster early last evening and blocking traffic which included the police. Everyone was freaking out because this guy didn’t care about traffic not moving for several minutes. Police got involved and we all stood across the street as this guy took his sweet time….KARMA!

  • Nancy

    I passed by that dumpster on Wednesday night. It was way too wide for this sreet and never should’ve been permitted to be placed there. I don’t believe a firetruck or an ambulance would have been able to pass by.

  • Curmudgeon

    This illustrates the danger of allowing ANYTHING of to be parked on the opposite side of the narrow streets of the Heights. This truck was there for hours and traffic was gridlocked behind it.

    There is a good reason that parking is restricted to one side – it is not safe. The local police station tolerates both doctor and handicap permit vehicles to be illegally parked- at all times, but that will be of small comfort when a fire truck or an ambulance cant get by and someone is endangered because of it. (It also does not allow for the streets to be properly cleaned.) I am all for giving the handicap permit vehicles special treatment, but not the carte blanche they currently enjoy. Something else should be done such as creating handicap zones throughout the neighborhood. I have noticed that there are many handicap permit owners and doctors who come into the Heights to park during the work day, take the train to the city and leave the heights in the evening. I have seen this on many occasions as I have taken the train with them to work. That is abuse that should not be tolerated. Our streets are too narrow and this is a danger!

  • Obama?

    @ Curmudgeon: I’ve witnessed yuppies & cop-looking types park in the Heights & then get on a subway to Manhattan, but I didn’t know doctors did this too. Is the Heights some sort of free parking lot for people who own houses in Queens & Long Island to leave their cars?

  • Alanna

    @Obama. Huh?

  • Ben

    Curmudgeon,
    The NYC Handicapped Parking Permit is for use by people who are unable to take trains, they are supposed to be disabled, can not take stairs, etc. Get the Permit # off of those placards and notify the DOT and Bloomberg office they will investigate, and prosecute. the lady who lives on Montague Terrace that was nailed for fradulaent use of the NYC Handicapped Parking Permit was arrested, thrown into jail with a bunch of whores, etc. for 24 hours and was prosecuted. This NYC Handicapped Parking Permit is fillied with corruption and Bloomberg is cleaning it up. Report them Curmudge

  • Ben

    Obama,
    And the people who work in MetroTech from Staten Island are another bunch that park in Brooklyn Heights all day

  • Andrew Porter

    This is the dumpster in front of 93 Hicks, a once beautiful but now sadly dumpy building whose owner took and took and never did any maintenance of the place. There’s a really nice stained glass window in the lobby which for years had a hole filled with wadded up newspaper. There were also gorgeous bronze balustrades on the front that were stolen in the 1970s, with the places where they were attached sticking out for decades.

    You can have a place in the Heights, but still treat it like it’s in the worst slummy neighborhood.

  • nabeguy

    The dumpster in question is now dumped on the south-east corner of Hicks & Pineapple. How this got a permit is beyond me, as it sticks out so much that you are forced to maneuver around it and the cars parked on the west/left side.

  • Curmudgeon

    Ben, wow I didn’t know they went that far to thwart illegal use of the permit. I will do as you suggest, but we still have the problem of the danger of narrowed streets from the ones who don’t abuse – hence we need special handicap spots on all blocks – sort of like those at mall and store parking lots.

  • T.K. Small

    Curmudgeon:Your proposal clearly comes from the perspective of someone who has no idea about the difficulty of getting around with a mobility impairment. In other jurisdictions where they have this type of parking regulation, the spots are ALWAYS occupied. So, if there was one or two spots on Pierrepont Street where I live, it would be probably useless. How far do you think it is reasonable for people with significant impairments to have to travel in subzero and inclement weather.

    On a practical note, if NYC does about your idea of making designated handicapped parking it will only take away from the rest of the parking available to the neighborhood. You will certainly win a lot of friends with neighborhood residents by reducing parking opportunities.

  • Curmudgeon

    TK Small. Sorry I can’t agree with you. Blocking the streets endangers everyone and can be fatal to someone in an ambulance on the way to a hospital. You wouldn’t block a fire exit with a wheel chair, would you?

  • T.K. Small

    No one has ever said anything about promoting the blocking of streets and killing people by recklessly preventing ambulances from getting through. Consequently I think your question/analogy is a little absurd.

    Although I have not committed the language on the back of my placard to memory, I recall something specifically prohibiting parking which impedes traffic and creates a hazardous condition. Also, again speaking practically, if I park in the type of situation you complain of, there is a good likelihood that my car will become damaged. Isn’t paying for expensive car repairs a pretty good way of discouraging people from parking in dangerous situations? If you’re really concerned about never creating any type of dangerous condition, are you willing to forgo all deliveries in Brooklyn Heights?

    Generally speaking the system works and this type of permit is very helpful to people with disabilities. It is pretty tough to get one of these permits and periodically they are reviewed. People are always going to take advantage of something somewhere. So, unless you want to create another bloated NYC bureaucracy to ensure that only legitimate PWDs park in specially designated handicapped parking spots, I vote for the status quo.

  • Joe

    Was going to dinner at noodle pudding and noticed the stuck truck. I drive down hicks everyday and I said to myself on Thursday morning, that something was going to get stuck there due to the width of the dumpster.

  • Curmudgeon

    TK Small. What, then is the reason for allowing parking only on one side of the street? A delivery truck does generally does not block the street for extended periods so again I can’t accept your analogy. And talk of extending the NYC bureaucracy is a red herring. Clearly your ox has been gored! I still don’t think you should have the ability to park ANYWHERE YOU WANT!
    Also, as far as my own understanding of mobility goes, I do understand it as I walk with a cane.

  • Robyn

    One more thing on the subject – if the DOT thought the sides of the streets should not be parked on for safety or any other reason they would have placed “NO STANDING ANY TIME” sign. I must admit Curmudgeon you sound rather pathetic going after the handicap people. Why do not you go after those with the security, police etc. permits – never know they might be frauds too… Well, I guess you do not want to have your head handed to you – much safer to go after the handicap folk. You sure sound like one of those bored with life, self-absorbed, neurotic geeks who still live in the neighborhood.

  • nabeguy

    Robyn, your closing insights were not really necessary…let’s try to keep it civil.
    Curmudgeon, the existing handicap parking statutes are, like many things bureaucratic, subject to abuse, but the underlying principles on which they’re based are sound. If you’ve ever had the honor of meeting TK face to face, you’d probably have a better understanding of the issue. As unfortunate as your own mobility problems are, I think I can safely speak for TK in saying that he would be delighted if his disability was limited to walking with a cane.

  • T.K. Small

    Nabeguy: Thank you for your kind words but I would not want to trade places with Curmudgeon. My disability has partially made me the person I am today, and I am completely comfortable in my skin. Further, I hope that my earlier comments were not intemperate or possibly suggestive that I want people to feel sorry for me. Really, all I want in life is a reasonable opportunity to do the things that the rest of society enjoys. The NYC handicap parking permit is simply an example of a reasonable accommodation.

  • Obama?

    Regarding the handicapped parking permits, people who are indeed qualified to have them certainly should continue to have them! Those who obtained them fraudulently & do not need them need to be relieved of them. It’s just common sense.

  • Obama?

    @Alanna: Yes, recently for example, I saw a car with 3 Long Island kinda people inside parking in the North Heights. A short time later, the 3 were standing next to me at the Clark Street subway station, talking about when they were going to open their swimming pools at home & other suburban stuff. They were not from the Heights. I guess it’s good they carpool together, but I’m not sure it’s good they use the Heights as their free park-and-ride drop-off point.

  • Ben

    Crumudgeum,
    This is an infastructure problem. NEVER will our City see Handicapped Parking Spaces like at a mall or in suburbs and so disabled drivers park as trucks, doctors, judges, “authorized only”, the disabled with permits are authorized. I see your point but our city was designed long before hadicapped parking, or automibiles. And so, T. K. Small and I will be excercising our NYC Handicapped Parking privilges here in the city. It is what it is. It is an infasturcture problem. Thank you for your attention Crumudge, and GO GET those scofflaws using the permit ilegally call DOT (718) 433-3100

  • Ben

    My NYC Handicapped Parking Permit, I had been examined by a NYC DOT Physican at Bellview Hospital every year for 5 years before my condition was determined as permanent. This permit is NOT easy to get. Yes, there is abuse of the permit, often a family member will use the permit instead of the disabled person — thats what happened on Montague Terrace a woman was nailed by NYPD she was using the permit frauduently and had been reported to DOT, and an investigation resulted in her arrest. This lady could not have dinner at the Heights Casino one night becasue she was in jail. This lady had been seen dancing up a storm at the “sneaker ball” with the honoree when the new YMCA was dedicated. She paid for her criminal use of a NYC Handicapped Parking Permit. Now when I see her on Remsen Street parking with every day folks — If looks could kill I would be dead under my black SUV. The NYC Handicapped Parking Permit is NOT EASY TO GET, but it can be easily abused.

  • Robyn

    Just one more thought. 99.9% of the permits are not fraudulent. Therefore Curmudgeon, one thing you may want to consider before you launch your campaign of seeking out and reporting the handicap people who, in all likelihood, have legitimate permits – you may end up being prosecuted for defamation, libel and wasting the government time and also slammed with personal injury lawsuits. All these will lead to big fines and possible, though unlikely, jail time. That is why, I think, Ben (who is of about the same caliber as you are, but a tad smarter) is sending you on the wild goose chase instead of doing it himself. So, good luck. But I assure you he will get a good laugh once he finds out what a pickle you got yourself in.

  • Ben

    Robyn,
    You are way off base here. A number of permits are used fraudulently, they are NOT fradeulent permits. DOT is very careful each permit is given to a person who is disabled. Prosectued for defmanation, libel? In your dreams Robyn that will never happen. Crumudhg has every right to file inquires, investigations about possible fraud regarding parking permits. Who the heck do you think you are telling Crumudg otherwise? You know nothing about DOT, SVI, Authorized Parking Only” Good luck to Crumudg in his effort to weed out fradulent use of this permit. Robyn, I have a bag that you could put over your head to make the world a better place would you like to meet me on Montague Street so that I may hand it to you? I am the guy on crutches easy to spot.

  • Ben

    Crumudgeon,
    Lets talk about NYC Handicapped Parking Permits. Find me at CowNeckBay@aol.com
    Ben

  • Robyn

    Yep. Good luck Crumudhg! Do as Ben tells you and also get together with him so you could put your two heads together to brainstorm and work out a solid plan for your invalid-hunting campaign. I am certain that something absolutely astounding and momentous will come out from a collaboration of such brilliant minds. By the way, these permits are also issued to individuals with debilitating conditions who may be transported by someone else who is not disabled. In addition, they are issued to people who may walk without crutches, canes etc. but be afflicted with a host of very serious medical conditions like congestive heart failure, neurological, urinary and other debilitating diseases that prevent them from climbing stairs or walking long distances (thus impair their mobility). How on earth are you going to know what they are suffering from unless you also request their medical records before reporting them… Probably only about .1 % of the permits are issued and/or used fraudulently – so go ahead and find that needle in a haystack. And how about MD, Security etc. permits. Do you really think the doctors are using them only when they go to see their patients!? Why do not you go after them as well? And by the way, defamation, libel and wasting government time and resources is quite real – you will find out about this very soon. You two sound ludicrous. Why don’t you get a life, do something useful for the society, go and volunteer at a local library, help underprivileged kids learn how to read & write … As far as the bag is concerned, you can save it for yourself. I am sure any size will fit your head…

  • Ben

    Robyn,
    Again, the NYC Handicapped Parking permit is to be used by those who can not ambulate, get on a train or bus. There may be a valid excuse now and then, i.e. a disabled person who may not use MTA trains is dropped by a spouse, who then parks and gets on a train to Manhattan. But, this would most likely be a rare unusual occuance. If Crumudge sees a person park with a Handicapped Parking Placard and hop on the subway THAT is due an investigation and the DOT is more than ready to investigate, i.e., the lady from Montague Terrace, my neighbor who was arrested, charged, thrown in jail with the whores and junkies overnight. Another point you are confused about here is your opinion – who cares what YOU think? If you feel that anyone around here is interested in your opinion, how you feel, what you think, you are incorrect. Have a nice day Robyn

  • Robyn

    Ben, why do not you station Crumudhg at the strategic locations with strict instructions on how to observe and spot those criminal schemers who drive all the way to Brooklyn Heights, then take a subway, then a bus, then a water taxi… sounds like some kind of a spy fiction. WHY WOULDN’T THEY JUST DRIVE WHEREWERE THEY PLAN TO GO AND USE THE PERMIT AT THEIR FINAL DESTINATION POINT instead of driving to Brooklyn Heights and then taking a subway … what you are saying is complete nonsense. As far as the opinions are concerned, you unfortunately have ample of them yourself. The only thing they do is clog up the internet. As a matter of fact, it would be to everybody’s benefit if you share your opinions exclusively with your lieutenant Crumudhg as you strategize and devise your tactics to hunt down those phantom permit abusers. Honestly, I think you fell off your rocker a long time ago…

  • nabeguy

    TK, that is exactly the way I knew you would respond … but it didn’t occur to me until the second after I hit submit. My apologies for putting words in your mouth.

←  
Newer Comments  →