“Yokel Bus Companies” From Out Of State Responsible For Dyker Traffic Chaos, Local Tour Guide Complains
A sit down meeting last night between officers at the 68th Precinct and tour bus companies confirmed the details of a plan to minimize dangerous levels of traffic congestion in Dyker Heights. The meeting followed a week of uproar from the community after “No Parking, Tour Bus Only” signs began appearing along 86th Street.
According to Tony Muia, owner of A Slice of Brooklyn Bus Tours, which has been doing tours of the Dyker Heights lights — extending to Bay Ridge and Bensonhurst — for the past 10 years, who was in attendance at the meeting, the parking restrictions will be as follows:
11th Avenue to 13th Avenue on 86th Street will be restricted for tour bus parking from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. through January 3.
Busses will pull in here (from 11th to 13th on 86th), drop off all their passengers, then go around to Poly Place until they need to return to pick up their passengers. Poly Place will thus be a holding area for the busses.
As well, an officer will be stationed on 86th Street between 11th and 13th Avenues to ensure busses drop off and leave, and an officer will be stationed at the Poly Place holding area.
This information will be distributed to residents through mailbox leaflets, Tony says. Bus companies, meanwhile, need to check in with the police department, who will call their drivers back from the holding area when they are ready to depart.
“I think the compromise that the 68th Precinct has put together is perfect,” President of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and Dyker Heights resident Carlo Scissura told us.
In addition to the local precinct the Dyker Beach Golf Course — which lies alongside the new tour bus drop-off zone — is involved in the situation and trying to ease the community’s traffic woes, according to Gregg Deger, General Manager of the Course.
Luckily, the Golf Course hasn’t been negatively impacted by the traffic issue with tour busses, Gregg said. In fact, last year the Course tried capitalizing on all the lights-generated traffic by renting out parking spaces on their property. The attempt was a flop, Gregg says. While he’d probably have a more profitable time renting spots to tour busses, “the busses can’t fit in there, and they’re a liability we’re not willing to take.”
The root of the traffic problem, according to Tony, stems from out of town bus companies coming to the neighborhood and disregarding basic rules of decency, like not obstructing side streets with 55-person tour busses and not using local trashcans to dispose of company trash.
“You can’t come to the neighborhood and think it’s Time Square and drive around willy nilly,” he told us with frustration, “Over the years I wanted these companies to not do what they’re doing and sure enough they’ve ruined it.”
“We live in the neighborhood, our families are there,” Tony went on of his business, which he runs with his wife. “We’re not coming to rape and pillage, like these other yokel companies are.”
“I think Tony and his tour are really the best,” Scissura told us, “They showcase Dyker Heights during this time of year in the best way, they’re respectful of the locals, of people’s home and property. They are the model the rest of the tour companies should be operating.”
Growing up, this reporter used to always to go to the lights around the holiday season. For anyone who’s shared the experience over the past few years, the increase in out-of-towners has been visible and ever-growing. I used to go with my whole family, now I go with whoever is down to brave the crowds with me.
People from out of state just don’t seem to understand that they’re in a residential Brooklyn neighborhood and this is a display put on for the community, by the community. If you’re coming in from out of state, or from anywhere really, be respectful.