T.A. StreetBeat

T.A. StreetBeat

November 12th, 2009

Tickets, which cover admission and free beer from Brooklyn Brewery, are going quickly, so get yours now.
Proceeds benefit Transportation Alternatives.
You can watch one of the grand prize nominees on YouTube.
Image courtesy Lois Bielefeld.

Articles and Actions

Big Apple Short on Safety Green
Community Board Jammy Jam 2010
OMG! TLC TCB

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Events and Alerts

It's Pronounced Par-Tay!!!!!
Calling All Architects, Designers and Builders
$35k for T.A.
NYC Food and Fitness Partnership Now Hiring
It's a Girl!
Get Gabe Home (A.K.A. The Maietta Raffle)

T.A. in the News

"We need the State to step up to the plate and start funding lifesaving street designs. When it comes to safer streets, money talks." T.A.'s Executive Director Paul Steely White sounds off on New York State's meager funding for pedestrian safety.

-Fatalities Afoot, New York Post, 11/09

Big Apple Short on Safety Green

According to a new report, NYC is still well below the national average in pedestrian safety funding. Image courtesy Transportation for America.

New York City is used to being number one. We're the biggest, the brightest and the best at baseball. But when it comes to federal funding for bicycle and pedestrian safety, we're number 43.

According to a recently released report from Transportation for America and Surface Transportation Policy Partnership, New York City spends only $0.61 per person in federal funds for pedestrian and bike facilities, well below the meager $1.39 spent per person for metro areas nationwide.

That fact, coupled with the fact that 31% of total traffic deaths in the NYC metropolitan area are pedestrians, paints a troubling picture.

Much of the blame can be laid at Albany's doorstep. New York State's Department of Transportation, the Governor and the State legislature could combat this problem and save lives by designating more federal money to bicycle and pedestrian safety programs, passing a Complete Streets policy at the state level, increasing support for existing programs like Safe Routes to School and Safe Routes for Seniors, and adopting a Safe Routes to Transit program.

New York received $5.6 billion in federal transportation funds between 2005 and 2008, in the same period of time, there were 1,215 preventable traffic deaths in the state.

Community Board Jammy Jam 2010

Bike lanes, safe streets, better public transportation and car-free parks don't happen on their own. These improvements come about through the vision, commitment and hard work of New Yorkers who believe that the city can be safer and more sustainable -- and that their neighborhood is the place to start. On November 23, Transportation Alternatives invites you -- a New Yorker who has confidence in and high hopes for your city -- to be a local catalyst for change. We invite you to join your local Community Board.

Community Boards are the most local level of New York City government. They're where residents weigh in on land use and zoning changes, and transportation improvements like bike parking, bike lanes, wider sidewalks and bus rapid transit. In the past few years, proactive Boards were the force behind public plazas, protected bike lanes, progressive parking policy and pedestrian safety measures.

On November 23, you can learn about and apply for Community Board membership at the Second Annual Community Board Jammy Jam. This party is the best place to learn about making change through local government, chat with current Community Board members, pick up, fill out and notarize your application, and have a good time. We want to make joining your Community Board fast, easy and enjoyable.

We'll be providing dinner and drinks, so help us count heads and get neighborhood-specific materials ready by RSVPing by November 18.

Community Board Jammy Jam 2010
Monday, November 23rd
6-8 pm
The Open Planning Project
148 Lafayette St, Penthouse
Manhattan

OMG! TLC TCB

This hack seems nice enough to stay off the phone and keep his passengers safe. Image courtesy Roger Bits.

Cab rides could get a whole lot quieter, and a good deal safer, too, if the Taxi and Limousine Commission gets serious at its upcoming hearing on hands-free devices, texting while driving and other distracting technologies.

In the wake of a series of high profile news reports and horrifying crashes, the agency has decided to consider increasing the fines and penalties issued to drivers caught using distracting technologies and expanding existing prohibitions on previously-banned devices.

It is already illegal for for-hire vehicle drivers to talk on the phone, even on a hands-free device, but those laws are frequently disregarded. The new proposal would ban the use of any technology capable of making non-emergency phone calls or texting. Drivers would also be prohibited from wearing a Bluetooth device, even if it's not on.

Taxis are a vital part of New York City's public transportation network. They carry approximately 660,000 passengers per day, or 241 million people a year, each of whom deserves a safe and courteous ride. A 2005 study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported that a driver's likelihood of getting in a crash increases fourfold when talking on a wireless phone, whether handheld or hands-free, so we're a big supporter of the TLC's newly proposed plans and think you should be too.

For more information about the proposed rules, the upcoming hearing and to learn how you can speak during the public comment period, go to the TLC's website.

It's Pronounced Par-Tay!!!!!

You are cordially invited to T.A.'s Tenth Annual Holiday ~~Party~~ Par-Tay, a celebration of biking, walking, public transit and all of our amazing members, volunteers and supporters.

Join us for good company, great snacks and free drinks, as well as awesome raffle items.

You can even do some last minute holiday shopping at our gift shop!

T.A.'s 10th Annual Holiday Par-tay
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009
8:30-10:30 pm
Housing Works Bookstore Café
126 Crosby Street (Between Prince and Houston) Manhattan

$15 for T.A. Members
Join or renew your membership at the door ($30) and enjoy the party for free!
Volunteer your way to free admission! We have 1-hour valet bike parking, gift shop and membership desk shifts. Sign up in advance with volunteer@transalt.org and enjoy the rest of the party on us.

Valet Bike Parking available (rain and snow cancels bike parking)

Subway:
W, R to Prince Street
B, D, F, V to Broadway-Lafayette
6 to Bleecker Street

Calling All Architects, Designers and Builders

The Bike Access to Buildings Bill has succeeded its way into a problem: So many businesses now want well designed indoor bike parking that we're running out of people to recommend.

If you would like to be listed as a potential resource for building owners and tenants who are thinking of planning and installing indoor bike parking, then we want to hear from you. Email wiley@transalt.org with a brief bio and all your relevant information to be listed in a general resource guide.

And remember, you don't need fancy indoor bike parking to take advantage of the Bike Access Bill -- any old space will do -- but some building owners and tenants want to take this opportunity to do something nice for two-wheeled commuters. If you can help out, let us know.

$35k for T.A.

If you haven't done so already, please take a few seconds right now to vote for Transportation Alternatives as your cause of choice in LiquidNet for Good's Local Impact Challenge. Your vote could help T.A. win a $35,000 grant to win protected bike lanes on key streets in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens.

NYC Food and Fitness Partnership Now Hiring

The NYC Food and Fitness Partnership , which T.A. co-convened with City Harvest and Brooklyn Rescue Mission, is looking for a Project Director. If you're an experienced leader with a background in public health, social work, business administration or another relevant field, please go to cityharvest.org/contact/jobs to read more about the position.

It's a Girl!

"It's a Girl!" said T.A. General Counsel Peter Goldwasser at the birth of his first child. Congratulations to Peter, Marie Clare and baby Tessa Katigbak Goldwasser. Tessa is said to enjoy Century bike rides, traffic calming and lengthly memoranda on NYPD enforcement.

Get Gabe Home (A.K.A. The Maietta Raffle)

T.A. member and all-around great guy Gabe Allen was riding in San Francisco a few months ago when he was in a crash with a car. The collision knocked him unconscious for six-and-a-half weeks, during which time he was diagnosed with a severe traumatic brain injury to his mid-brain and brain stem.

After a long and scary couple of months, Gabe is awake and showing higher levels of cognition and awareness, however he has got a long road of recovery ahead. His family and friends are trying to raise money to fly him back to the East Coast for further treatment and rehabilitation.

The flight to bring Gabe home on a medically-required air ambulance flight will cost more than $20,000. To help raise this money, his best friend, the custom bike builder, Anthony Maietta, is hosting a raffle for a custom bike frame. Anthony is donating all materials and labor and 100% of proceeds will go to defraying the cost of the air ambulance.

The bike will have custom geometry, tubing, and paint, and has a $2,000 value; tickets are $20 each. Maietta's work is beautiful and can be viewed at MaiettaCycling.com.

For more information about Gabe's crash, his recovery and the raffle to bring him home, visit GetBetterGabe.com.