Potential disaster by Seton Park

To the editor:

Hey neighbors, come along on a walk with me — if you dare.

Our sojurn is spitting distance from Seton Park and the other glorious walkways of Spuyten Duyvil. But please remember to wear bright clothing, and I suggest a flashlight and safety vest. There’s nothing like it anywhere around!

This stretch features no sidewalks, poor lighting, potholes, and two-way traffic on a narrow, winding stretch without curbs or street signs, with dreadful sightlines at each corner. You may note how southbound drivers use it to bypass the highway, or how northbound drivers ignore the stop sign at the inclined turn at West 232nd Street.

Or, you just might not notice because you have to look down constantly to watch your step on this uneven, dangerous, unmarked walkway and road.

I should mention the children — escorted or not — ambling home from P.S. 24, and nannies with strollers, and the elderly, too, of course.

Wait, there’s more!

Since some portions have no shoulder, be prepared to dive into the hedges, or duel it out with the vehicles for any walking room. Throw in a few scooters, bikes, dogs and delivery guys, and you may get the idea.

You might have trouble finding this block because there are so few signs, but it’s no secret.

On the map, it is Independence Avenue, between West 231st and West 232nd streets, just south of Seton Park, and one block west of the highway. Many drivers don’t need or look for signs. They just barrel on through, pedestrians be damned.

Trucks? Sure, right this way. 

We can’t blame the homeowners, though. I doubt if they are happy with the arrangement, unless this little lane is meant to be a nod to Riverdale’s “country” roots.

To be fair, there is a fireplug handy. But that can’t fix this jumble of a street.

I have walked this block for 20-plus years and seen many close calls. I can’t fix it, and now we have a new addition: the southbound MTA buses, forced to divert here by construction on the Henry Hudson Parkway access road.

So, hello authorities, please take note. This is a frightening situation — and a potential disaster.

James O’Connor