The proposal by the city of Long Branch to remove the section of Ocean Avenue that borders the boardwalk from Brighton to Bath avenues from the Green Acres program is ill-conceived, and I wonder if all of the possible ramifications have truly been taken into account.
As a resident of this stretch of Ocean Avenue for nearly 10 years, I’ve watched out my window and seen this portion of roadway serve as a de facto addition to the boardwalk. People ride bikes, walk their dogs, run, push strollers and play soccer, catch and other sports here. And children play there without concern.
Not only would vehicular traffic on this portion of Ocean Avenue adversely affect the quality of life for those of us who live here – replacing the sound of the ocean with automobile noise and producing soot and other pollution – it would endanger those who routinely (and for years) have used this portion of roadway as kind of pedestrian mall.
Old habits die hard. Those who have regularly crossed Ocean Avenue in this “linear park” without fear of traffic won’t automatically adapt; there will inevitably be pedestrian accidents. The roadway is too narrow to accommodate both cars and bikes; there will inevitably be bicycling accidents. And I hesitate to even imagine the potential for accidents involving the myriad children and pets.
Let’s do what we can to make certain this proposal never becomes a reality.
Cynthia Gaston
Long Branch