The new EP street lights are SO bright!!!!!

I HATE them! They shine a horrible light into the apartments in the front and the trees are only blocking out a little. The winter will be MUCH worse. Fiance and I were driving on the Parkway Sunday night and it was like a airport landing strip! Looked like daylight! It was so bright that it actually hurt my eyes! Then right at the corner of the museum on Washington, they go back to the dim yellowy-pink ones. WTF? Why do they have these obnoxious bulbs just in our section?!?!?

switched to CFL bulbs?

That's it exactly. It will take some getting used to but its supposed to save a ton of money for the city.

It's light pollution, pure and simple. While I'm glad that the city's doing something good, like saving energy, did the people that invented this bulb consider how much unnecessary light it would create? I mean, it's really over the edge, IMO.

Whatchuwant wrote: It's light pollution, pure and simple. While I'm glad that the city's doing something good, like saving energy, did the people that invented this bulb consider how much unnecessary light it would create? I mean, it's really over the edge, IMO.

Agree that these lights are surprisingly bright. Noticed them this weekend. It's a bit like Vegas over there.

Well, on the bright side—har—at least this will increase the safety of walking down that stretch. On moon-less nights, that street can be dark as a cave.

JoshB wrote: Well, on the bright side—har—at least this will increase the safety of walking down that stretch. On moon-less nights, that street can be dark as a cave.

I disagee- I always thought it was fine the way it was. I never felt like it was too dark.

I just got interviewed by a reporter from the NY Daily News about this. I'm hoping that the city will explain themselves and find out what the future brings for the rest of the city- certainly these few blocks won't be the only ones to get these "glare bombs".

It's light pollution, pure and simple.

haha, take it easy

I hate when a car behind me has those damn lights for their headlights it practically blinds me - it would drive me crazy to have them outside my home.

I haven't been over there at night, but I like really bright lights. It definitely makes me feel safer when I'm walking.

Maybe now we can see the hasidm as they run across the parkway at night.

ParadeRest wrote: Maybe now we can see the hasidm as they run across the parkway at night.

Whatch it now!!!

Hahahahaha.

The reporter just left. He said he hadn't spoken to the DOT as of yet, and the story will probably go up this Friday. He agreed that the light shining into my apartment was ridiculously bright.

I know some people think that the brightness is such a great thing- but when you live with it shining into your face, trust me, it ain't all that. And you know what? The SKY, people! STARS! I know living in the city you forget that your little planet is floating in SPACE! Never see enough sky in this city- 'tis a shame.

Whatchuwant wrote:

And you know what? The SKY, people! STARS! I know living in the city you forget that you're little planet is floating in SPACE! Never see enough sky in this city- 'tis a shame.

I feel ya , babe. When I'm visiting my family in the D , I love sitting on my back porch staring up at that star filled night sky.

Also , the moon.Beautiful.

WYW is right about this, imo. light pollution sucks, and e pkwy was already pretty bright. (plus, while bright lights may make you feel safer, i believe research suggests that's more feeling than fact.)

what about saving money and energy? isn't that what's important here?

i'm all for that. but clearly CFL bulbs (assuming that's what these are) can be made in different strengths.

surely there can be more than one important thing.

Well, it was interesting- last night with the reporter, I called my neighbor who's a doorman for another building on EP. He says that he likes the birhgt lights and that the drunk chicks coming home at night like it better "because they can see." Granted, where this building stands is covered in beautiful shade at night- yes it's dark, but its also on the corner of a major thoroughfare (EP and Washington). Dunno- growing up in an area that was pretty damn dark at night, I don't really have a problem with it, nor feel unsafe. A desolate street makes me feel unsafe, not darkness.

just adding a little technical info

the yellow lights are HPS - high pressure sodium
the white lights are MH - metal halide (not CFL)

When EP was renovated back between 1987-1993 ish (what a disaster that contractor was) the goal was to replicate the old style gas lantern look and the DOT specifically put in metal halide lights even though the NYC standard has and is HPS.

Over the years as they broke DOT changed them to HPS because thay is what they usually carry on the truck.

For some reason they recently went bach to the MH - metal halide, possibly the latest version - PULSE START METAL HALIDE which is slightly more energy efficient.

Lamps (of any size) are brighter when new than after they have been burning for a while; also the lenses are cleaned when they make a repair