Piermont: Cars on Pier Will Not Be Banned

A solution for has been reached—for now, at least.

The village board has decided to eschew legislation that would place limits on who could drive to the end of the scenic pier. The issue surfaced in May, when a number of residents and, at times, dangerous. Fisherman who frequent the pier quickly countered, noting their vehicles are necessary to transport equipment out to the peninsula.

Trustees made the decision after reviewing a traffic study carried out by . Michael O'Shea, Piermont's chief of police, said headway can be made through traffic-culling methods like stenciling the road and deploying a radar trailer.

The study, carried out over three day intervals, found that the pier sees approximately 200 cars each day. Peak traffic hours during the week are lunch time through 6 p.m.; during the weekend, 11 a.m. to noon and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The original, proposed legislation would have only allowed , handicap individuals and a handful of others to motor out—and since less permits would be given out, the village may have seen a decrease in the $10,000-a-year brought in through permits. Still, it was a policy several trustees endorsed up until seeing the traffic study results and hearing residents speak out at Tuesday night's board meeting.

"Maybe we come back in a month or two… we don’t have to vote on this right away," said trustee Audie Moran.

"Legislation won't eliminate vehicles out there, just reduce them," added Piermont mayor Christopher Sanders.

About two dozens Piermonters—along with a handful of fisherman who cast off from the pier, and New Jersey residents who often stroll or drive Ferry Road—showed up to Tuesday's public hearing. Their allegiance was split—some noted cars were at fault for speeding and putting walkers at risk; other noted pedestrians fail to obey the rules of the road.

"The problem is just as much pedestrians disobeying the rules as the vehicles," noted Piermont resident Richie Stark. "Every time I'm out there I see pedestrians all over the street... they have to be informed it's also a road."

Others disagreed, noting that although Ferry Road is a street that accommodates motor vehicles, pedestrians should have the right of way and ability to walk around.

This summer also marks the first time the village has taken steps to create car-free days on the pier. For one day each month this summer, . "I think closing the pier for once a month during the summer has been very successful," said trustee Joan Gussow.

The pier will be closed to traffic again August 14.