Committee News

Brooklyn Chapter
A few days after receiving awards at the T.A. Holiday Party, the committee sponsored an Operation Hazard I.D. in Brooklyn. A team of four Brooklyn Committee volunteers helped T.A.'s Project Director, Noah Budnick, to log dozens of bicycle safety hazards to send to the DOT. In addition, Brooklyn Committee members attended the Downtown Brooklyn Traffic Calming open houses on the Draft Area-wide plan. Finally, all members enjoyed a marathon showing of episodes of the cable-access program "The Bike Show" at our December committee meeting.

At press time, the Brooklyn Committee reported that the signal timing at the Flatbush Avenue crossing of the Shore Parkway bike path has been adjusted. Cyclists and pedestrians now have less waiting time and more crossing time at this busy greenway and roadway intersection. Thanks DOT.

Join our list serve: brooklyn-list-subscribe@topica.com, visit www.transalt.org/Brooklyn for more info on our campaigns or e-mail Clarence Eckerson at Brooklyn@transalt.org.

Car-Free Central Park
The Car-Free Central Park Campaign is gearing up for an active spring and summer. Its goal is to demonstrate to Mayor Bloomberg the City's overwhelming support for a car-free park by presenting him with 100,000 signatures on its petition. If you have not signed the petition yet, you can now do it online! Go to www.car-freecentralpark.org and click on "Sign the Petition." Better yet, join the campaign's e-mail list to hear periodic updates on campaign activities. Send a message to centralpark-subscribe@topica.com, or visit the campaign's web site at www.car-freecentralpark.org and click on "Join the Campaign."

In addition, Gifford Miller's recent election as City Council Speaker is great news for the Campaign. The Campaign also hopes to enlist the active support of another important petition signer - the City's new Public Advocate, Betsy Gotbaum.

Read the latest news about this issue.

Gowanus Project
As we went to press, the Gowanus Expressway Community Coalition was preparing to announce its community technical consultant. Thanks to a lawsuit settlement, the Coalition has won $300,000 in state funds to hire the advisor. T.A. urges members, especially those living in the Gowanus Corridor, to get involved with this important project. Please contact Gowanus Advocacy Coordinator, Michael Cairl, GCSG Vice-Chair, at gowanus@transalt.org.

Read the latest news about this issue.

New Jersey Chapter
T.A.'s efforts to connect the Palisades Interstate Park with the bicycle and pedestrian path on the George Washington Bridge are winning support from major players in the Garden State. The off-street link, which would eliminate two of the most hazardous bicycling intersections in the State, has been endorsed by three leading bicycling groups across the Hudson: The Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey, the Central Jersey Bicycle Club and Bike New Jersey. Other coalition members are expected to join the ranks soon.

In addition, Palisades Interstate Park Superintendent, James F. Hall, has pledged support. With the Park on board, only two other landowners are left: the New Jersey Department of Conservation and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Neither has expressed opposition to the link.

When built, the link would improve access to the only Hudson River bicycle crossing for thirty-five miles. Please contact Fred Kaimann, T.A.'s NJ Advocacy Coordinator, at newjersey@transalt.org to get involved.

Bronx Chapter
T.A. regrets to report that longtime Bronx Chapter T.A. member, Dart Westphal, was struck and had two legs broken by a car that illegaly failed to yield. Dart has been a leader in the fight to restore car-free Sundays on the Grand Concourse, helped make the Tour de Bronx a reality and was a major contributor to the pioneering 1993 Bronx Greenway Plan. T.A. sends Dart our best wishes for a quick and full recovery.

On the bright side, the Tour de Bronx was a rousing success. More than 1500 riders toured the beautiful course on October 21st. Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer rode the entire twenty-five miles. The Borough President noted that the ride is "always a fun way to see how our projects are coming along." The Bronx Chapter worked hard on the 7th annual free event, of course, and extends its thanks to the Parks Department, the Police Department and all of the volunteer marshals.

T.A.'s active volunteer advocacy committees give our members the chance to do important work on issues affecting New York. Pick one and join! For more information, send an e-mail to the chapter chair or call the T.A. office at 212-629-8080.