Comments on: Guerrilla bridge-makers save New Yorkers from scum river http://boingboing.net/2010/01/26/guerrilla-bridge-mak.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Fri, 24 May 2013 02:08:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Mitch http://boingboing.net/2010/01/26/guerrilla-bridge-mak.html#comment-698376 Mitch Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-698376 Its purpose is to draw attention to the fact that the pipe needs to be repaired. There's a flickr stream showing Amtrak workers finally fixing the pipe. Its purpose is to draw attention to the fact that the pipe needs to be repaired. There’s a flickr stream showing Amtrak workers finally fixing the pipe.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/01/26/guerrilla-bridge-mak.html#comment-697868 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-697868 The stream is so narrow at the point the bridge crosses it that the bridge is not really performing much function since it seems a person could just step over it there. The stream is so narrow at the point the bridge crosses it that the bridge is not really performing much function since it seems a person could just step over it there.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/01/26/guerrilla-bridge-mak.html#comment-698131 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-698131 guerilla zamboni anyone? guerilla zamboni anyone?

]]> By: freeyourcrt http://boingboing.net/2010/01/26/guerrilla-bridge-mak.html#comment-697896 freeyourcrt Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-697896 Anarchist! Anarchist!

]]> By: Avram / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2010/01/26/guerrilla-bridge-mak.html#comment-697901 Avram / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-697901 Keep in mind that this is 33rd Street in Queens, not 33rd Street in Manhattan. The city generally doesn't care as much about stuff that doesn't happen in midtown. Keep in mind that this is 33rd Street in Queens, not 33rd Street in Manhattan. The city generally doesn’t care as much about stuff that doesn’t happen in midtown.

]]> By: caitifty http://boingboing.net/2010/01/26/guerrilla-bridge-mak.html#comment-697921 caitifty Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-697921 Alternately, they should have gotten one of those bouncy ball ride toys (eg http://preview.tinyurl.com/ycjwjmo), deflated it, shoved it up the pipe as far as possible with an airhose attached via one of those basketball inflation needles, inflated it, and pulled the hose. The ball, being good thick industrial rubber, would completely block the pipe and whoever's shitty infrastructure was leaking sewage would shortly be swimming in sewage and suddenly deciding leak repair was a top priority rather than someone else's problem. Alternately, they should have gotten one of those bouncy ball ride toys (eg http://preview.tinyurl.com/ycjwjmo), deflated it, shoved it up the pipe as far as possible with an airhose attached via one of those basketball inflation needles, inflated it, and pulled the hose. The ball, being good thick industrial rubber, would completely block the pipe and whoever’s shitty infrastructure was leaking sewage would shortly be swimming in sewage and suddenly deciding leak repair was a top priority rather than someone else’s problem.

]]> By: MichaeltheG http://boingboing.net/2010/01/26/guerrilla-bridge-mak.html#comment-697925 MichaeltheG Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-697925 Hah! I suspect it cost more to log the commendation (it's gotta' be documented for posterity after all ;)than it did to build the "bridge" While I appreciate that someone did what they could to ameliorate the unsafe crossing, (Hooray for you Mr. DIYer) the drainage contractor in me is cringing like mad. That is a 4" schedule-40 PVC PE drainage (i.e. it's a stormwater runoff ya'll, not sewer) pipe and the leak is either being caused by A: the pipe is simply cracked right there, or B: it goes into the stormwater mains at that point in the sidewalk and is clogged or crushed. In one day, a drainage contractor could cut into the system, either repair/replace the connection (if it's simply a cracked pipe this would take about 30 minutes to do, fyi) or in a worst case scenario, cut the sidewalk, core the curb, run a drop into a 4" 90, extend the line to the curb, Set a concrete patch (note: not asphalt) on the sidewalk, and then the water runs from the street into the storm mains. One day job. If you don't have mechanicals for a foot beneath the sidewalk, that's a thousand dollar job to have it done right and to last for 30 years. If you do have mechanicals they have to be routed around or under the drain line and the price goes up around 500 bucks. Of interest, this is the price to do that sort of job in Ohio, Michigan, or Illinois (Yes, even Chicago). I imagine even if I added a cost of business in NYC surcharge of say 3 grand, we are still under 5k max. Municipal funds budgets allot more money for goddamn Whiteout correction fluid (which virtually no one ever uses anymore) than that. Now, does that mean you could get a city-approved contractor to bid this job in NYC that cheaply? Even in these economic conditions, I bet the lowest you would see is around 10 grand. Guess what tho'? That is still less than a single tort lawsuit against AMTRAK (it's their pipe) would cost if someone got hurt and sued. The nice thing about this is that hopefully the current "fix" and the associated public shaming that the "commendation" caused/is causing get AMTRAK and the City to fix this mess. Frankly, this looks like it was designed by either a plumber (No offense Fellas, you know your business and this ain't it) or some "maintenance guy" who did what he could with the tools he had available. Hah! I suspect it cost more to log the commendation (it’s gotta’ be documented for posterity after all ;)than it did to build the “bridge”

While I appreciate that someone did what they could to ameliorate the unsafe crossing, (Hooray for you Mr. DIYer) the drainage contractor in me is cringing like mad.

That is a 4″ schedule-40 PVC PE drainage (i.e. it’s a stormwater runoff ya’ll, not sewer) pipe and the leak is either being caused by A: the pipe is simply cracked right there, or B: it goes into the stormwater mains at that point in the sidewalk and is clogged or crushed.

In one day, a drainage contractor could cut into the system, either repair/replace the connection (if it’s simply a cracked pipe this would take about 30 minutes to do, fyi) or in a worst case scenario, cut the sidewalk, core the curb, run a drop into a 4″ 90, extend the line to the curb, Set a concrete patch (note: not asphalt) on the sidewalk, and then the water runs from the street into the storm mains. One day job. If you don’t have mechanicals for a foot beneath the sidewalk, that’s a thousand dollar job to have it done right and to last for 30 years. If you do have mechanicals they have to be routed around or under the drain line and the price goes up around 500 bucks.

Of interest, this is the price to do that sort of job in Ohio, Michigan, or Illinois (Yes, even Chicago). I imagine even if I added a cost of business in NYC surcharge of say 3 grand, we are still under 5k max. Municipal funds budgets allot more money for goddamn Whiteout correction fluid (which virtually no one ever uses anymore) than that.

Now, does that mean you could get a city-approved contractor to bid this job in NYC that cheaply? Even in these economic conditions, I bet the lowest you would see is around 10 grand.

Guess what tho’? That is still less than a single tort lawsuit against AMTRAK (it’s their pipe) would cost if someone got hurt and sued. The nice thing about this is that hopefully the current “fix” and the associated public shaming that the “commendation” caused/is causing get AMTRAK and the City to fix this mess.

Frankly, this looks like it was designed by either a plumber (No offense Fellas, you know your business and this ain’t it) or some “maintenance guy” who did what he could with the tools he had available.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2010/01/26/guerrilla-bridge-mak.html#comment-697933 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-697933 Does the maker call him/herself Pontifex Minimus? Does the maker call him/herself Pontifex Minimus?

]]> By: hadlock http://boingboing.net/2010/01/26/guerrilla-bridge-mak.html#comment-698213 hadlock Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-698213 Why not just sever the pipe at the building and run a downspout to the curb. Hell a trough in the concrete would solve this problem immediately. A masonry chisel and 20 minutes work - about the same amount of time required to build the bridge - would resolve the problem - concrete isn't terribly tough stuff when you go at it with steel. Bridge needs non-slip surfacing; someone's going to get hurt when that wood starts to mildew (get slick) in this winter weather. Why not just sever the pipe at the building and run a downspout to the curb. Hell a trough in the concrete would solve this problem immediately. A masonry chisel and 20 minutes work – about the same amount of time required to build the bridge – would resolve the problem – concrete isn’t terribly tough stuff when you go at it with steel.

Bridge needs non-slip surfacing; someone’s going to get hurt when that wood starts to mildew (get slick) in this winter weather.

]]> By: Bottlekid http://boingboing.net/2010/01/26/guerrilla-bridge-mak.html#comment-697961 Bottlekid Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-697961 Great! There goes the slip and fall lawsuit I've been looking for. Great! There goes the slip and fall lawsuit I’ve been looking for.

]]> By: Xopher http://boingboing.net/2010/01/26/guerrilla-bridge-mak.html#comment-697963 Xopher Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-697963 Blocking it so it backs up: win. Blocking it with something so easily removed by the assholes who've already been letting it spray the sidewalk for years: lose. I say build a tank around it, so all the water sits against that wall, until the wall of the building falls in. That'll teach 'em. Blocking it so it backs up: win.

Blocking it with something so easily removed by the assholes who’ve already been letting it spray the sidewalk for years: lose.

I say build a tank around it, so all the water sits against that wall, until the wall of the building falls in. That’ll teach ‘em.

]]> By: caitifty http://boingboing.net/2010/01/26/guerrilla-bridge-mak.html#comment-697982 caitifty Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-697982 Hmm, damn. Well, how about stuff a couple of bags of premix concrete up the pipe first. The balloon just holds them in place until it all sets nicely. They can cut the balloon up all they want after that. :) Hmm, damn. Well, how about stuff a couple of bags of premix concrete up the pipe first. The balloon just holds them in place until it all sets nicely. They can cut the balloon up all they want after that. :)

]]> By: Scott V http://boingboing.net/2010/01/26/guerrilla-bridge-mak.html#comment-697731 Scott V Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-697731 Any plans to make it ADA compliant? Any plans to make it ADA compliant?

]]> By: mneptok http://boingboing.net/2010/01/26/guerrilla-bridge-mak.html#comment-697993 mneptok Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-697993 <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?t=h&q=40.782652,-73.921937&ie=UTF8&ll=40.773764,-73.911577&spn=0.000745,0.002064&z=20&layer=c&cbll=40.773835,-73.911491&panoid=N0KBnGxM-biCqHBBzW8Qcg&cbp=12,181.58,,3,10.63">Scum Zoom</a>! Scum Zoom!

]]> By: Xopher http://boingboing.net/2010/01/26/guerrilla-bridge-mak.html#comment-697994 Xopher Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-697994 NOW yer talkin'! Big improvement. NOW yer talkin’! Big improvement.

]]> By: Chris Tucker http://boingboing.net/2010/01/26/guerrilla-bridge-mak.html#comment-697995 Chris Tucker Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-697995 caitifty, I like how you think. caitifty, I like how you think.

]]> By: Moriarty http://boingboing.net/2010/01/26/guerrilla-bridge-mak.html#comment-697748 Moriarty Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-697748 Nobody is stopping you. Nobody is stopping you.

]]> By: peterbruells http://boingboing.net/2010/01/26/guerrilla-bridge-mak.html#comment-697752 peterbruells Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-697752 Umm... Is this another New York in Haiti or so or why in heaven's name doesn't get that pipe repaired? Umm… Is this another New York in Haiti or so or why in heaven’s name doesn’t get that pipe repaired?

]]> By: vigodits http://boingboing.net/2010/01/26/guerrilla-bridge-mak.html#comment-697753 vigodits Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-697753 I just can't get over New Yorkers. They make a simple duck board over some sewage and they have a dedication and rhapsodize that they made it out of recycled materials. Well la dee da. That city is on another planet. I just can’t get over New Yorkers. They make a simple duck board over some sewage and they have a dedication and rhapsodize that they made it out of recycled materials. Well la dee da. That city is on another planet.

]]> By: Xopher http://boingboing.net/2010/01/26/guerrilla-bridge-mak.html#comment-698010 Xopher Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-698010 <em>*waterboards kimmi with ice-cold sewage*</em> *waterboards kimmi with ice-cold sewage*

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/01/26/guerrilla-bridge-mak.html#comment-698268 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-698268 I object to the use of the word guerrilla. Where I'm from the guerrilla BLOWS UP bridges. Call them what they are: responsible, concerned New Yorkers. It's inspiring to see normal people relying less and less on government and taking matters into their own hands. I object to the use of the word guerrilla. Where I’m from the guerrilla BLOWS UP bridges. Call them what they are: responsible, concerned New Yorkers. It’s inspiring to see normal people relying less and less on government and taking matters into their own hands.

]]> By: coaxial http://boingboing.net/2010/01/26/guerrilla-bridge-mak.html#comment-697757 coaxial Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-697757 While I praise the DIY effort to improve the neighborhood, it makes me sick that this pipe been broken for years, and yet the city hasn't fixed it. Hell, when a city council member praises the bridge, this deserves a municipality entry on thereifixedit.com . My god, I hate our infrastructure. It's just old and falling apart. Hopefully some of the stimulus money will be used to fix this stuff. While I praise the DIY effort to improve the neighborhood, it makes me sick that this pipe been broken for years, and yet the city hasn’t fixed it.

Hell, when a city council member praises the bridge, this deserves a municipality entry on thereifixedit.com .

My god, I hate our infrastructure. It’s just old and falling apart. Hopefully some of the stimulus money will be used to fix this stuff.

]]> By: Boba Fett Diop http://boingboing.net/2010/01/26/guerrilla-bridge-mak.html#comment-697762 Boba Fett Diop Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-697762 Well, when you live in New York, anything you do there is automatically being done in the most awesome way possible. So, any steps taken to ameliorate the the very real conditions of living in New York (poor municipal services, decaying infrastructure, filth) must be extra awesome! Well, when you live in New York, anything you do there is automatically being done in the most awesome way possible. So, any steps taken to ameliorate the the very real conditions of living in New York (poor municipal services, decaying infrastructure, filth) must be extra awesome!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/01/26/guerrilla-bridge-mak.html#comment-698274 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-698274 ...New Yorkers...make a simple duck board over some sewage and ... rhapsodize that they made it out of recycled materials. Well la dee da. That city is on another planet. Vigo, if that happened over here it would be ripped down as a 'Health & Safety' risk. See similar: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/editors-choice/2008/11/20/the-crazy-world-of-health-and-safety-rules-86908-20909703/ http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/jun/19/blu-tack-goggles-health-safety http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-446245/Dont-touch-office-chair-Health-Safety-demand-48-hours-notice-it.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2433513/Ridiculous-health-and-safety-rules-tell-carpenters-to-ban-the-broom.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-189126/Sun-cream-ban-school.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-318739/Council-axe-conker-trees-amid-safety-fears.html …New Yorkers…make a simple duck board over some sewage and … rhapsodize that they made it out of recycled materials. Well la dee da. That city is on another planet.

Vigo, if that happened over here it would be ripped down as a ‘Health & Safety’ risk. See similar:

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/editors-choice/2008/11/20/the-crazy-world-of-health-and-safety-rules-86908-20909703/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/jun/19/blu-tack-goggles-health-safety
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-446245/Dont-touch-office-chair-Health-Safety-demand-48-hours-notice-it.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2433513/Ridiculous-health-and-safety-rules-tell-carpenters-to-ban-the-broom.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-189126/Sun-cream-ban-school.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-318739/Council-axe-conker-trees-amid-safety-fears.html

]]> By: Moriarty http://boingboing.net/2010/01/26/guerrilla-bridge-mak.html#comment-697763 Moriarty Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-697763 Not Haiti. Just a place where tourists never go, so the city government doesn't care about minor inconveniences such as this. Astoria is great, though. (I happen to live there at the moment.) Not Haiti. Just a place where tourists never go, so the city government doesn’t care about minor inconveniences such as this. Astoria is great, though. (I happen to live there at the moment.)

]]> By: usonia http://boingboing.net/2010/01/26/guerrilla-bridge-mak.html#comment-697767 usonia Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-697767 You're damn right this city is on another planet. Between Portland & Western Mass, I don't think I'd physically witnessed another person simply wad up a McDonald's bag and DROP it to the ground without a batted eyelash. I saw this happen twice in Chelsea yesterday. Astonishing. You’re damn right this city is on another planet. Between Portland & Western Mass, I don’t think I’d physically witnessed another person simply wad up a McDonald’s bag and DROP it to the ground without a batted eyelash. I saw this happen twice in Chelsea yesterday. Astonishing.

]]> By: jimh http://boingboing.net/2010/01/26/guerrilla-bridge-mak.html#comment-697773 jimh Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-697773 Teh tongue in cheek, yr missing it. Teh tongue in cheek, yr missing it.

]]> By: vigodits http://boingboing.net/2010/01/26/guerrilla-bridge-mak.html#comment-697774 vigodits Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-697774 Well in your own mind. Well in your own mind.

]]> By: Zaren http://boingboing.net/2010/01/26/guerrilla-bridge-mak.html#comment-697778 Zaren Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-697778 This entry definitely qualifies as a Wonderful Thing. This entry definitely qualifies as a Wonderful Thing.

]]> By: Osprey101 http://boingboing.net/2010/01/26/guerrilla-bridge-mak.html#comment-697779 Osprey101 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-697779 We have better infrastructure in Iraq. I know because we're paying for it there. We have better infrastructure in Iraq. I know because we’re paying for it there.

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