Articles and Actions
Events and Alerts
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| Momentum Builds Behind PlaNYC 2030 | |||
The clock is ticking in Albany. There are only a few weeks left for the State Legislature to hold hearings on Mayor Bloomberg's sustainability plan: PlaNYC 2030. Transportation Alternatives and the other 80+ public health, environmental, labor, civic, business and neighborhood groups who make up the Campaign for New York's Future are calling on our state officials to not waste another moment, and schedule the hearings as soon as possible: Our health and the environment are at stake. Over the past two weeks, NYC's sustainability plan has received support from elected officials like City Council Members John Liu, Eric Gioia, and David Yassky, major public interest groups like the Drum Major Institute, and the editorial boards of the New York Times, New York Post and Daily News.
New site launched
Upcoming Events
If you want to know more about what PlaNYC offers for your neighborhood and you live in Astoria, please join us as we present to residents, workers and business owners.
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| April Showers Bring... Bike Lanes | |||
In case you haven't noticed, bike lanes are sprouting like spring shoots. Closely following the striping of Willoughby, Carlton, Washington Park and Cumberland in Brooklyn, the DOT recently laid down bike lanes on 20th and 21st Streets in Manhattan (PDF). The 20th and 21st Street bike lanes show smart planning on the part of the DOT, not only because of the myriad connections that they create with existing North/South bike lanes and between the greenways on the east and west sides, but also because of the local traffic-calming impact that they have.
The 20th and 21st Street bike lanes are the kind of common sense cycling improvements that the City is making to achieve Mayor Bloomberg's PlaNYC goal of adding 200 miles of bike lanes by 2009 and another 160 by 2015. Continuing to extend the bicycle network and promote bicycle use is also essential to realizing the Mayor's goals of reducing emissions by 30% and achieving the cleanest air of any big city in the U.S., all by 2030. |
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| New Pedestrian Space Springs Up in DUMBO | |||
The DOT recently unveiled plans to transform a parking island at the Pearl Triangle in DUMBO, Brooklyn into a new pedestrian plaza. The triangle, which sits on the north side of the Manhattan Bridge, will be cleared of cars to make way for seating, tables and planters in the next month.
This project arrives on the heels of the Mayor's PlaNYC announcement to create a pedestrian plaza in every neighborhood. Initiatives that transform underutilized street space into pedestrian-friendly destinations like Willoughby Plaza and the Pearl Street Triangle, both in Brooklyn, are exactly the kind of public space improvements that T.A. and community groups support and desire: They are quick, low cost and bring more livable streets. Thanks DOT! We hope more are coming soon. |
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| A Partnership for Healthier Communities | |||
The healthy transportation movement in New York City is gaining speed. On May 22nd, Mayor Bloomberg announced the launch of the Kellogg Foundation sponsored New York City Food and Fitness Initiative and confirmed what health and transportation advocates have known for quite some time, that safe streets are essential for New Yorkers to lead healthier lives.
Transportation Alternatives will partner with the Office of the Mayor, the City Council, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Food Change and Project for Public Spaces on the Food and Fitness initiative to improve walkability and bikability in the three areas of the city with the poorest community health--East and Central Harlem, Central Brooklyn and the South Bronx. The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has identified these neighborhoods for the great health disparities that their 1.25 million residents face because of high rates of pedestrian crashes and high volumes of truck traffic in conjunction with higher rates of obesity, diabetes and other diseases. These neighborhoods are also home to some of the poorest New Yorkers. In the next two years, Transportation Alternatives will work with the communities in these three regions to improve the walking and bicycling environment with a focus on improving access to healthy food and recreational destinations. Are you a public health advocate who is interested in becoming a leader in the healthy transportation movement and in improving New Yorkers access to healthy food? Food Change, the lead organization for the New York City Kellogg Food and Fitness initiative, is hiring a full-time project coordinator. For more information, click here (PDF). |
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| Sunday: Tour de Brooklyn | |||
Haven't registered yet? Don't miss this kick-off to the summer bicycling season. Register online and save time or you can register on the day of the event at Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Park North Entrance from 8-9 am.
This 18-mile, leisurely paced tour will take you through beautiful Brooklyn neighborhoods including Park Slope, Sunset Park, Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights and back to Prospect Park. And did we mention it's FREE? The tour will begin at Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Park Westside Drive. The ride will end at the Carousel in Prospect Park. Riders can park their bikes and stay to enjoy music, miniature golf and dance at the Brooklyn Best Festival. Later on join us at Habana Outpost for a Tour de Brooklyn after party at this hot eco-eatery in Fort Greene. |
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| Rolling for Peace Bike Tour | |||
East Harlem youth are invited to hop on their bikes, put on their helmets, and join "Rolling for Peace," the first-ever youth-violence prevention procession & street fair. Organized by Hope Community Inc.'s, Ortiz-Wittenberg KidsClub, the bike ride will take place along 3rd and Park Avenues between 104th and 116th Street--ending at 109th Street with a street fair featuring food and other vendors, local programs promoting youth and community leaders speaking out against gang activity and violence. Click here for more details and for registration forms to participate in the bike ride.
Thursday, June 7th |
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| Pedestrian Safety Forum in Brooklyn | |||
From Atlantic Avenue to 65th Street, heavy and dangerous traffic on 3rd and 4th Avenues are endangering Brooklyn communities and degrading quality of life. If you live on or near these corridors, please join us as we hear from transportation experts on crash trends, pilot projects and the best ways to prevent crashes along 3rd and 4th Avenues.
This forum will be the first step in a community-led vision for safe, walkable streets around schools and other high risk locations on 3rd and 4th Avenues. Let the city know that planning for children's safety is more important than planning for motor vehicle traffic. Your input and expertise is greatly needed!
Saturday, June 9th
To RSVP or for more information, please call 718-935-4267, |
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| Governor's Island Is Open to Bikes | |||
Transportation Alternatives staff, boardmembers, donors and friends recently got a special sneak preview of cycling on Governor's Island. This will be the first summer that visitors will be allowed to ride bikes along the ring road that circles the island.
Just a seven minute ferry ride from lower Manhattan, Governors Island was the first European settlement when the Dutch established New Amsterdam in 1623. The Island is filled with historic buildings, tree-lined streets and amazing vistas onto Manhattan, Ellis Island and the Brooklyn shoreline. One thing the Island is not filled with--cars, making Governors Island an ideal location for car-free, family friendly cycling this summer. But don't just take our word for it, check it out yourself. Governors Island officially opens to the public on Saturday, June 2nd with the Governors Island Alliance's Opening Day Family Festival (PDF). Plan your visit and find out more about great programming all summer long. You can find out more about the future of Governors Island here. |
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| Hunts Point Hustle 5k (3.1 Miles) Run/Walk | |||
Start Fathers Day the healthy way with the Hunts Point Hustle, a 5k Run/Walk on the future South Bronx Greenway. Join us at beautiful Barretto Point Park at the corner of Tiffany Street and Viele Avenue. All ages are welcome. There is a $5 registration fee for local residents and $15 for everyone else. Stick around for the post-race party featuring live music from Neil Chastain and Descarga Soul, food and health information! ssbx.org or email Menaka Mohan at mmohan@ssbx.org for more information.
June 17th , 9 am-2 pm. |
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| George Washington Bridge Bike/Ped Path Update | |||
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Beginning Saturday, June 2nd, the South sidewalk of the George Washington Bridge will reopen to pedestrians and cyclists everyday form 6 am to 12 midnight. The North sidewalk will be closed at all times. This change will stay in effect until on or about July 9th, 2007, when the South sidewalk will be closed for additional repairs. The North sidewalk will repone when the South sidewalk is closed.
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| Car Free Sundays Return to the Grand Concourse! | |||
Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, Jr. presents Bronx On The Move, a series of family fitness events. Power walks led by Health People, Inc., dance workshops instructed by Contemporary Ballet Theatre, relay races and other games offered by Montefiore School Health, tips on healthy cooking and eating, jump rope contests, hopscotch, roller skating and other kids' activities, and free health screenings.
Date: Sunday June 3rd
And Save the Date! |
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| T.A. Members Win Big | |||
T.A. membership has its privileges including knowing you're contributing to a greener, healthier, more livable New York City. Members also get great benefits like discounts at 100+ area bike shops, a copy of our quarterly Transportation Alternatives Magazine, discounts on T.A.'s NYC Century Bike Tour and more!
And thanks to the generosity of Fuji Bicycles we can offer one of our members who joined during Bike Month NYC even more. Congratulations to Brunilda Fernandez, winner of a brand new Fuji SE Draft Bike. A great bike for commuting and riding to all sorts of fun summer destinations. Enjoy! And... congratulations to renewing member Martin Ahlgren who won our monthly raffle for a beautiful Crumpler messenger bag. Your membership support means the world to us, so thank you to our members. If you're not already a member, join T.A. today! |
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| Job Postings | |||
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| T. A. In The News | |||
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Brooklyn Heights Leads in Parking Fines, New York Sun, 5/29
Popular Gadgets Not Without Risks, Vallejo Times-Herald, 5/28 Parking, Pollution and the Pricing Zone; TriBeCa Tennis Court: Open to All Players, New York Times, 5/27 Well-Balanced Bikers, The Villager, 5/23 Fastest Mode of Travel in New York: The Bike, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 5/22 Mayor Pushes Pedal on Traffic Plan, New York Observer, 5/22 Bicycles vs. the Rest, The Hindu, 5/20 Getting a 'Pass', New York Post, 5/20 Nassau Residents Shy on Red-Light Cameras, Newsday, Bicycles Beat Subway in New York, Gulf News, 5/20 Lane Hugging on Willoughby, Brooklyn Paper, 5/19 Winning an Amazin' Race, New York Post, 5/19 Bicycles is Fastest Way of Travel in New York City, Pravda, 5/19 Environmental Summit Comes to A Close, NY1, 5/18 Stop in the Name of Traffic Safety, Downtown Express, 5/18 Fastest Mode of Travel in NYC: The Bike, Newsday, 5/18 Fastest Mode of Travel in NYC: The Bike, WINS, 5/18 Fastest Mode of Travel in NYC: The Bike, am New York, 5/18 Fastest Mode of Travel in NYC: The Bike, Staten Island Advance, 5/18 What's The Fastest Way Of Getting Around NYC?, WNBC.com, 5/18 Fastest way around NYC: The bike, The Connecticut Post, 5/18 T.A.'s Annual Bike vs. Subway vs. Car Cammuter Race, gothamist, 5/18 T.A. Rides with the Mayors of Sydney & Copenhagen, StreetsBlog, 5/18 Events for May 18, 2007, New York Observer, 5/17 Bell May Toll for Booths on Hudson, New York Post, 5/16 Free Parking? Maybe Not for Much Longer, Detroit Free Press, 5/16 Lette of the Week: Congestion Pricing Diplomacy, StreetsBlog, 5/16 West Street Rally to Protect Little Pedestrians, Battery Park City BroadSheet, 5/16 Rock, Roll and Ride Through Bike Month, gothamist, 5/16 Sunnyside Chamber Marks Pizzuti's 6th Week at PBQN, Queens Gazette, 5/16 Not All Think Broadway Bus Bulbs are a Bright Idea, The Villager, 5/16 The Quick and Easy First Step to a "Greater, Greener New York", StreetsBlog, 5/15 Weiner: Don't Tax Motorists, Target Truck Traffic, am New York, 5/14 New York's Cheapest Rent -- a Street, New York Sun, 5/14 City Promotes Bike Month This May, NYU News, 5/14 Parking Placards Draw Ire, am New York, 5/14 Spin Some Wheels, El Diario, 5/12 May is Bike Month, eMaxHealth, 5/12 Early Reviews Mixed on Downtown Bus Lane Plan, Downtown Express, 5/11 Penn South woman killed on Ninth Ave. and 23rd St., Chelsea Now, 5/11 PlaNYC Quietly Introduces "Safe Routes to Transit", StreetsBlog, 5/11 Car Dataslam -- Activists Challenge Traffic Studies, Courier Life Publications, 5/10 Park that Perk!, Gotham Gazette, 5/10 Parking Permits = Traffic, The Villager, 5/9 Government Drivers get a Parking Pass, New York Business, 5/8 Coast of Bloomtopia: Three Ways of Looking at PlaNYC, New York Magazine, 5/7 Cycling Advocates And Transportation Officials Mark Bike Month, NY1, 5/7 Your 'Right' to Free Parking is Being Curbed, Chicago Tribune, 5/7 Residential Parking Permits May Accompany Congestion Tax, New York Sun, 5/7 Stop Driving While Dumb, Brooklyn Paper, 5/5 Congestion Pricing: Benefits for Queens, StreetsBlog, 5/4 Prospect Park In the Vanguard As Car-Free Hours Spread across U.S., Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 5/4 NYCPLan 2030 Supporters Target Weiner, New York Business, 5/4 Tuesday May 1, Bike Month Begins, Metro Sports New York, 5/1 5 Small Steps to a More Effective, Progressive DOT, StreetsBlog, 4/30 New Yorkers 'Go Green' with Bikes, Voice of America, 4/30 New Transportation Chief, Gotham Gazette, 4/29 Playing Hooky -- For a Cause, Brooklyn Paper, 4/28 Bike Lane Brouhaha Over What's Best Cross-Town Route, Downtown Express, 4/27 Sadik-Khan Has Two Things Her Predecessors Lacked, StreetsBlog, 4/27 The Last Messenger?, Current TV, 4/26 Transportation Alternatives is a member-supported non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Join T.A. today!
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