Alphabet Soup of Bike Agencies Needs Chef

Thirteen New York City and State agencies are involved in building or managing the Hudson River Greenway. Of these, seven city agencies make and enforce rules on the path. Yet, there is no coordinating body. As a result, these agencies issue a mish-mash of bicycling rules and policies, some contradictory.

The Hudson path is just one example how the City's many bicycle efforts exist in isolation from each other and other city agencies. Do these agencies know that there is an official NYC Bicycle Master Plan, which codifies the City's cycling goals? The Plan, produced by City Planning and DOT in 1997 and approved by Mayor Giuliani says on page one:

"New York City is committed to making cycling part of the City's transportation system and encourages individuals and communities to help implement this plan."
There are innumerable examples of this mandate being ignored. For example, as we write, the DOT is attempting to build a highway off-ramp across a major access way to the Shore Parkway greenway. Likewise, for years, EDC supported a plan which blocked the Hudson Greenway Path at 130th Street.

Given the huge growth in cycling, the City's big investment in bike paths and bike lanes, and Mayor Bloomberg's call for a 'round Manhattan Greenway, now would be a very good time to end the confusion over where the City's cycling programs are going.

What is needed is for City Hall-probably Deputy Mayor Doctoroff-to convene a working group of agencies and stakeholder groups (like T.A.) to establish uniform policies that encourage bicycling. The Giuliani, Dinkins and Kotch administrations all had bicycle advisory groups, and so should Bloomberg's.

Write Deputy Mayor Dan Doctoroff and ask him to convene a Mayor's Bicycle Advisory Committee consisting of representatives from government agencies and public stakeholder groups like T.A. who work to advance bicycling in NYC.

Deputy Mayor Dan Doctoroff
City Hall
New York, NY 10007

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Secure Parking's 2nd Chance At Grand Central

According to the DOT, there is space available under the Park Avenue viaduct at 41st Street to build enclosed secure bicycle parking. The DOT's Bicycle Program should seize this opportunity immediately before the space is claimed. T.A is asking the city to concentrate its efforts on creating public secure bicycle parking at transit hubs, such as Grand Central Station and Whitehall Ferry Terminal, and at cultural destinations and universities where there is a big public demand.

Write to DOT Commissioner Iris Weinshall and tell the DOT to take advantage of these secure bike parking opportunities.

Iris Weinshall
Commissioner, NYC DOT
40 Worth Street, NYC 10007

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