The East Side Streets Coalition

The East Side Streets Coalition is the first community-driven organizing initiative aimed at reducing motor vehicle crashes and improving pedestrian, bicyclist and transit rider safety on Manhattan’s East Side, from East Harlem to Chinatown. Between 1995 and 2008, 148 pedestrians and bicyclists were killed and 15,235 injured due to vehicle crashes on the East Side. Funded by the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC), the Coalition’s goal is to reduce pedestrian and bicyclist injuries and fatalities on the East Side by 50% over the next ten years , 2009-2019.

Streets and sidewalks are 80 percent of New York City’s public space and the Coalition is based on the concept that streets are more than just car corridors. They are valuable civic spaces, a precious resource which must be wisely allocated and made safe for pedestrians, cyclists and transit riders. The Coalition helps to re-imagine the East Side of Manhattan as a place safer for people traveling by foot, stroller, wheelchair, bike or bus.

East Side and citywide organizations and elected officials joined the Coalition during the spring of 2010. Organizations, institutions and businesses that want to advocate for safer streets are invited to join. Join here or download a list of current Coalition members.


The East Side Action Plan

Transportation Alternatives will release its East Side Action Plan on Jan. 27, 2011. The plan outlines design, policy and legislative recommendations for city agencies for reducing crashes and making the East Side’s streets safer for pedestrians, bicyclists and transit riders. It also provides a series of short, medium and long-term “take action” items for East Side community members and stakeholders. The recommendations were developed in response to New York State Department of Transportation crash data and community feedback shared during six East Side neighborhood workshops in spring 2010. At the workshops, community residents, students, families and elected officials identified safety concerns and brainstormed potential solutions using the NYC Street Design Manual and Active Design Guidelines. Download the East Side Action Plan.


Why Take Action

There is a high crash rate on the East Side

  • Between 1995 and 2008, 148 pedestrians and bicyclists were killed and 15,235 were injured due to motor vehicle crashes.
  • Between 1995 and 2005, two of New York City’s five community districts with the most injuries per square mile were on the East Side (Community District 8 (Upper East Side), 4,976 and Community District 6 (Midtown East), 4,738).
East Side residents frequently ride transit, walk and bike
  • Of the 376,430 people who commute by foot in all of NYC, 22 percent (82,935) live on the East Side, though the East Side makes up only 8 percent of the City population.
Speed Kills
  • T.A. research on speeding found that citywide, 39 percent of motorists drive above the 30 mph citywide speed limit. On East Houston Street, in the Lower East Side, 70 percent of drivers sped through a school zone.
  • A pedestrian hit by a vehicle going 40 mph has a 70 percent chance of dying compared to a 20 percent chance at 30mph and a 2 percent chance at 20mph.
Crashes are preventable
  • The most frequent causes of motor vehicle crashes are driver inattention, speeding and failure to yield right of way to pedestrians.


What it means to be a Coalition member

The East Side Streets Coalition is the first community-driven East Side organizing initiative aimed at reducing vehicle crashes and improving pedestrian, bicyclist and transit rider safety. The Coalition is focused on carrying out the Action Plan. Joining the Coalition is an exciting opportunity to make the East Side safer for the millions who live, work and visit each year.

Coalition Members will build support for the recommendations made in the East Side Action Plan and advocate for design, policy and legislative change to make our streets safer.


How does T.A.’s East Side Volunteer Committee differ from the East Side Streets Coalition?

The East Side Streets Coalition is focused on reducing pedestrian and cyclist crashes on the East Side by getting institutions to sign on to the East Side Action Plan. If you work with an organization, institution or civic association on the East Side and would like to learn more or get involved, e-mail: essc@transalt.org. The Transportation Alternatives East Side Volunteer Committee is comprised of individual volunteers committed to improving walking, biking and transit on the East Side. The T.A. East Side Volunteer Committee meets the first Tuesday of each month to discuss and strategize grassroots efforts on a wide range of transportation issues facing Manhattan’s East Side. Meetings are free and open to the public. If you are an individual who would like to get involved, please e-mail volunteer@transalt.org.

Take Action