Traffic Issue Of The Week — Car Wash At Coney Island Avenue

Our neighborhood traffic issue of the week comes from a reader:

“All day and night (especially during rush hour) Hollywood Car Wash at Coney Island and Church Avenues blocks one of the two southbound lanes [on Coney Island Avenue]  with cars that are drying from their wash.”

https://youtu.be/fl1I-ZTzNb0

The reader continues:

“Each night traffic stops in front of the…5 or 6 cars [at the car wash]  parked perpendicular to oncoming traffic, blocking the lane as commuters (and public buses) are forced to merge into the second lane.”

https://youtu.be/U53udFX1sj8

Just this afternoon, buses could be seen moving out of the way of drying cars that had exited Hollywood Car Wash — the cars sat half on the sidewalk and half in the inner lane of traffic.

The reader concludes:

“It’s really a travesty that this business is able to claim such a busy New York street for its own commercial use, causing traffic snarls, and the local police does nothing to remedy this illegal situation. Worse than that, you can see police cars occasionally be part of the problem, while their cars dry off in the middle of Coney Island Avenue after a wash….

I’ve called the 66th precinct a half dozen times and spoken to an officer several times who has repeatedly said he will send someone over there and promises to call me back. Neither has happened. I’ve also called the car wash several times trying to speak to the manager…who always seems to be out.

My simple question is ‘do the police allow you to take over the street in front of the car wash and obstruct a busy road?’ How is this even possible?”

The reader doesn’t mention this, but Hollywood Car Wash also dominates the sidewalk and inner lane of traffic in front of its entrance around the corner on Church Avenue.

https://youtu.be/GlYjVCK5mWg

We agree with the reader that the question indeed is how can a private business monopolize a section of sidewalk and a lane of traffic on two very busy streets.

We asked the office of local City Council Member Mathieu Eugene if they have been receiving complaints about this situation but have not yet heard back.

What do you think about how Hollywood Car Wash impacts the intersection of Coney Island and Church Avenues? Have you tried to raise the issue with the 66th precinct, Council Member Eugene’s office, or by calling 311?