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XIFOD1M OP t1_iy6z0nl wrote

Yeah you’re right. It’s foolish of me to expect there to be any mode of free transit between the country’s largest city and one of its most populous direct neighbors. Also, you’re gonna lose your mind when you hear that the solutions that allow a car to traverse that body of water (i.e. bridges and tunnels) also afford pedestrians the same ability under normal circumstances

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a_trane13 t1_iy7x5m9 wrote

You’re being sarcastic, but I am right. There is no feasible way to build a bridge below the George Washington, and a new tunnel would cost hundreds of billions. It’s just an entirely unrealistic expectation and would be a huge waste of money.

The amount of people that want to walk to Manhattan is tiny - We’d be better off using that money to literally make the path free for everyone for years.

There’s no room in the current tunnels for walking, and even if we could get a lane back in from vehicles, it would be obvious to make it a two way bike lane, not for pedestrians.

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MrPeanutButter6969 t1_iy82p8u wrote

I’m a pretty big anti-car guy but it’s not a new issue that you can’t walk across rivers. Any pedestrian bridge would have to be as high as the GW to let ships through. It’s just not practical. The ferry or PATH is inexpensive and convenient.

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Positive_Debate7048 t1_iy7wkj8 wrote

There’s not but getting from Manhattan to the other boroughs is not really any easier. The path does a very good job of connecting us to NY and it’s only 2.75.

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psynautic t1_iyadshc wrote

well on this point i disgree, there are several bridges between manhattan and other boroughs, i ride my bike over them all the time.

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pixel_of_moral_decay t1_iy8cq5k wrote

There’s a ferry.

I’m not sure why you think it should be free. Crossing rivers has rarely been free in the course of human history.

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RebeccaLoneBrook29 t1_iya5f2j wrote

It should be free because it would show responsible financial choices conducted by the government with the money you spent 3 months out of the year making.

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pixel_of_moral_decay t1_iyaak80 wrote

We’ve estimated the math here before. It would be more financially responsible to helicopter people across than build/maintain a bridge with even the most ambitious usage. And not even bothering with the realities of hot summers and cold winters which would impact usage.

The ramps alone you’d need to get to that height and be walkable/bikeable would be absolutely massive and consume multiple blocks on each side. And no, you couldn’t rely on just elevators as you’d have security/safety/maintenance issues.

The scale is just insane.

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