Volunteer of the Month: John Lindsay

Age: 24
Occupation: Paralegal
Neighborhood: Greenpoint, Brooklyn
T.A. Member Since: 1997
Volunteer Activities: Wednesday Volunteer Nights, NYC Century Marshal, Operation Hazard ID
How did you first hear about T.A.? When I lived in Buffalo, I took part in demonstrations with Act Up! and started doing research on advocacy groups. Since I was interested in biking it wasn't long before I started hearing great things about T.A. Once I moved here, one of the first things I did was join. When I got my first magazine I discovered the listing for volunteer nights.
What keeps you coming back? I want to help and be involved -after all, it is in my best interest.
Your first reaction to volunteer night? That's a lot of mail!
Describe Operation Hazard ID: We go out as a group and identify major routes used by cyclists. Then we do a survey of the road - looking for potholes, loose sewer grates, sinkholes, anything that's not cyclist-friendly. We write down the location and mark it with spray paint. T.A. then reports the dangerous conditions back to DOT. If they aren't fixed and someone has an accident the city can be held liable. The coolest part is getting to legally spray paint the road.
Commuting - NYC vs. Buffalo: NYC is much more bike-friendly. In Buffalo, I'd ride my bike 45 minutes each way to go to school in the suburbs. One night, I got off my bike to walk through a busy intersection and got hit by a car. I got pretty messed up. Despite the fact that the car ran a red light, nothing happened. No one was there to take my side. A big city without an advocacy group is at the mercy of politically appointed planners. People don't realize how lucky they are to have an organization like T.A.
Kryptonite Plus: I've had two bikes stolen as a kid so I'm always been very aware of theft. If my bike is not in my hand it is locked - always. The first year I lived here, I even locked it up in my apartment when I'd go out at night.
The paradox of traffic: When you're riding in the stream of traffic it is such an exciting adrenaline rush. I enjoy that. But it's also a drawback. When drivers start to get aggressive and switch lanes without warning, it gets scary.
Where do you ride for leisure? My favorite spot is going up the Palisades on the other side of the GWB. But I must profess that I love all the parks, especially Central & Prospect Parks. I couldn't believe that in the middle of NYC there were huge parks you could ride a bike in! That's why it's important we make them car-free so people can use them without feeling endangered.
Volunteer highlights: Helping with the NYC Century. It was a great event to be part of. Everyone had so much fun and I got to enjoy the entire day by assisting others by riding as a Marshal. I can't wait 'til the next one.
You've been elected Mayor in the year 2002. What's the first law you pass? A ban on all personal automobiles in Manhattan. For instance, if you're commuting from New Jersey, you would have to leave your car there. Only buses, cabs, and commercial vehicles would be permitted. There are so many mass-transit options available to everyone in the city and surrounding area...you don't need a car to get around.