Welcome to the first T.A. StreetBeat of 2009. Because of your generous backing and continued commitment, T.A. is poised to improve biking, walking and public transit in New York City like never before. We've got the momentum, and now is the moment. Here are the nine ways that we'll get the job done this year--our Nine for '09

01 - T.A. Will Fight from Your Street to K Street

From the most local levels of New York City Government to the corridors of Albany to the U.S. Congress, 2009 will be the year that T.A. most aggressively informs legislators. We're working on getting members and supporters hooked in to their Community Boards, educating lawmakers at City Hall and the State Capitol about livable streets legislation like tougher penalties for killer drivers and better bike parking, and fighting hard for biking, walking and transit funding in President-elect Barack Obama's stimulus bill and the next Transportation Act.

02 - Get More People Involved in More Ways

As biking, walking and transit ridership have soared, T.A.'s membership numbers and influence have boomed too. In the next year, we'll be working to plug our members, volunteers and committed Street Activists into new arenas and actions. We'll also be piloting a very special program for our world-famous New York City Century Bike Tour. It's called TEAM T.A. and it's an easy way to raise money for T.A. while training for your ride. All of the proceeds go to supporting our advocacy, and every rider receives a T.A. bike jersey.

03 - Usher in 21st Century Streets

New York City has what it takes to be a global leader in street safety and urban design. We've already got leading car-free events like Summer Streets, cutting-edge pedestrian plans, groundbreaking bike lane designs and progressive neighborhood-wide traffic calming blueprints. In 2009, we're going to push the envelope even further and encourage the City to adopt the latest best-practices from around the world.

04 - Recognize Biking Rules!

There are lots of streets in New York City, but there's not a lot of unused street space. Cyclists, pedestrians, buses and drivers need to share what we've got and there are some sensible ways to make that happen. Better bike infrastructure, like more bike lanes and traffic-protected cycling routes, are one way. Better laws and a more comprehensive understanding of street-users' rights and responsibilities are another. We'll be working hard on both in 2009.

05 - Win Affordable, High-Quality Public Transit

T.A. will fight fare hikes and transit cuts and stand up for every New Yorker's right to affordable, high quality mass transit. To that end, we'll also fight for Bus Rapid Transit and a Bike Share program that works in tandem with New York City's other low-cost public transportation options.

06 - End the Free Rides for Drivers and Parkers

For years, city motorists have been subsidized by irrational pricing policies that make driving and parking in the five Boroughs almost free. Higher vehicle registration fees, curbside parking scaled to match demand, parking placard reform and East River Bridge tolls are all on the table in 2009, and T.A. will be working to support each and every one of those commonsense initiatives.

07 - Deliver Traffic Justice

Every year, roughly 150 New York City pedestrians and cyclists are struck and killed by drivers. Too often their killers walk away with a slap on the wrist. This year, T.A. will work with the NYPD, local District Attorneys, the City Council and the State Legislature to make sure that rigorous investigations, aggressive prosecutions and stricter laws are no longer the exception, but the rule, when a driver kills.

08 - Return Parks to the People

For 35 years, T.A. has been fighting for car-free parks. In 2009, we'll keep up the fight and expand our campaigns to include advocacy for more linear parks and on-street greenways, like the ones on 8th and 9th Avenue and Grand Street. We'll also start to apply our well-honed grassroots tactics to crown jewel parks in Queens and the Bronx and promote Governors Island as one of NYC's finest car-free recreational spaces.

09 - Seize the Day

In 35 years, T.A. has gone from a voice in the wilderness to a gadfly to a force to be reckoned with. No doubt this is because of your support, but it's also a result of opportunity: change is 2009's refrain; political opportunity is everywhere; environmentalism is mainstream; and biking, walking and public transit make more sense than ever in these tough economic times. Over the next year, we'll take advantage of all of these things to make sure that your voice is heard locally, nationally and around the world. We've waited for this moment, and we won't let it pass us by.

Take the 2009 Bike Report Card Survey

Transportation Alternatives is preparing its 12th Annual report on cycling conditions in New York City.

To make sure this report card is more informed and informative than ever, we are asking StreetBeat readers to provide their evaluations of New York City bicycling conditions, as well as their impressions of implementing and enforcing agencies like the DOT, the NYPD and City Planning.

Take the online survey.

Century Sign-up Starts Soon

Registration for the New York City Century Bike Tour opens on February 2nd. This year's ride is on Sunday, September 13th, and it'll be the biggest and best ever.

One of the most exciting new Century opportunities is TEAM T.A., a chance to train for the NYC Century Bike Tour and fundraise for T.A.'s advocacy at the same time. It's a fun and fulfilling program that brings dedicated cyclists together for a good cause and a great time! And every TEAM T.A. rider gets an awesome T.A. cycling jersey.

T.A. Volunteer University

Enroll in T.A.'s Volunteer University. It's the best way to get a thorough overview of all that T.A. does and some training in how you can help win better biking, walking and public transit in New York City.

Upcoming Volunteer University Sessions:
Thursday, January 22, 6:30 pm
Tuesday, January 27, 6:30 pm
Monday, February 2, 6:30 pm
Wednesday, February 4, 6:30 pm

T.A Office
127 West 26th Street, Suite 1002
Manhattan

Please RSVP to volunteer@transalt.org with your name and contact info (phone & email), specifying the session you want to attend.

Mailing Party

Help us stuff, seal and send out our membership packets and materials. We will provide snacks, beverages and good times!

Mailing Party
Wednesday, January 21st
6 pm
T.A. Office
127 West 26th Street, Suite 1002
Manhattan

Fare Hike Hearings

In order to close budget gaps, the MTA has proposed a number of actions including raising fares and cutting service. The Authority has already started holding hearings on these actions, and they need to hear from you that higher fares and fewer trains and buses are totally unacceptable. The suggestions offered up by the Ravitch Report (PDF), such as tolling the East River Bridges and raising vehicle registration fees are a far more sensible and sustainable strategy.

The hearing schedule is posted on the MTA website. We strongly encourage you to attend and speak out.

Recycle-A-Bicycle Roller Race Benefit

Join DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan for a very special Recycle-A-Bicycle benefit at Galapagos Art Space in DUMBO on Tuesday, January 27th.

There will be an auction, good times, great roller races and lots of laughs.
There is a $20 donation at the door.

Recycle-A-Bicycle Roller Race Benefit
Tuesday, January 27th
6:30 pm
Galapagos Art Space
16 Main Street
Brooklyn

Breakfast with Sustainability Expert Peter Newman

Start your day with a lively and hopeful discussion with Peter Newman, Director of the Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute (CUSP), on how cities around the world are achieving lasting and resilient sustainability. As part of his U.S. book tour "Setting the New Planning Agenda", Newman will share key lessons from his latest publication, Resilient Cities: Responding to Peak Oil and Climate Change.

Peter Newman Breakfast
Monday, January 26th
9 am
NYU Kimmel Center, Room 802
60 Washington Square South
Manhattan
RSVP

WE ACT Climate Justice Conference

On January 29th and 30th, WE ACT will convene environmental justice advocates, community leaders and stakeholders from New York City and other parts of the nation around issues of climate change at a groundbreaking two-day conference. It should be a landmark event.

For more information and registration details, visit weact.org.

Advancing Climate Justice Conference
January 29th and 30th
Fordham University Lincoln Center Campus
113 W. 60th Street
Manhattan
Registration is Required

Tour d'Afrique

Ever dreamed of biking through foreign countries in places like Europe, Africa, Asia or South America? Or how about crossing an entire continent on a bicycle with a small group of like-minded individuals?

Transportation Alternatives is proud to offer a unique opportunity to all of our volunteers, members and supporters. In partnership with Tour d'Afrique, Ltd., we'd like to invite you to join other fellow New Yorkers in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the world like never before.

For information about Tour d'Afrique's four tours in 2009, visit their website.

T.A. is Hiring

T.A. is looking for an experienced writer/researcher to work part time on our Traffic Justice Campaign. You can check out the job listing at transalt.org/about/jobs.