T.A. StreetBeat

T.A. StreetBeat

April 15th, 2010

New York City's bike culture welcomes all comers! Image courtesy M.J.S.

Articles and Actions

Bike Culture on the Skids
One Click Closer to Safer Streets
Brooklyn BP Bashes PPW Bike Lane

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Events and Alerts

TEAM T.A. Party Tonight!
East Side Story
Complete Streets Events at MAS
The Regional Assembly
AARP Complete Streets Week
Ride to the End (of Long Island)

T.A. in the News

"Our streets have been all car, all the time and for us, the New York of the future is not slightly more efficient cars all the time, it's a better balance with more cycling, more on-street space dedicated to moving public transportation, and making our walking environments safe"

Wiley Norvell quoted in "Will Electric Cars Give New York a Charge", Gotham Gazette

Bike Culture on the Skids

From BMX to bike-to-work, this year's bike culture summit will surely entertain. Image courtesy aenonfire.

Some days it seems like New York City's bike scene is only slightly more civil than sharing sweet tea with the Hatfields and McCoys. BMX bad boys, commuters with kids, double-rushing messengers, dollar-hungry delivery people and racers kitted in spandex like speeding Christmas presents have about as much in common as a pair of feuding families. Still, we're all in this together. With that in mind, Transportation Alternatives will host a Bike Culture Summit at NYU's Wasserman Auditorium on Thursday, May 6th at 7 pm.

Panelists will include the blogger and bike-culture critic "Bike Snob NYC," the foremost U.S. historian of bicycling, David V. Herlihy, and T.A.'s Director of Bicycle Advocacy Caroline Samponaro.

Discussion topics will include: What is bike culture? How should cyclists relate to pedestrians, motorists and to each other? To what extent should cyclists sacrifice style and convenience for safety? What can be done about sexism in the bike community? How has the way cyclists have addressed these issues changed over time? As well as lots of lighter fare and questions from the audience.

There will also be a raffle for an awesome Kona bike, a $100 gift certificate from Brooklyn Bike and Board and helmets from Nutcase. Tickets to the event are $15 for T.A. members and $20 for non-members. For an additional $35, attendees can purchase a signed copy of either Bike Snob's "Bike Snob: Systematically and Mercilessly Realigning the World of Cycling" or David V. Herlihy's "Bicycle."

This event has been generously sponsored by Kona Bikes, Nutcase Helmets, Brooklyn Bike and Board, Mod Squad Cycles and Spokesman Cycles. All proceeds from the Bike Culture Summit will support Transportation Alternatives' bicycle advocacy work.

For more information and to purchase tickets go to bikemonthnyc.org/summit.

One Click Closer to Safer Streets

You read. You clicked. You made a difference.

Just minutes after StreetBeat readers began sending emails to Council Member Peter Vallone Jr. in support of the "Saving Lives through Better Information Bill", we received word from the Council Member's office that he planned to hold a hearing on the bill on April 28th.

This is a huge victory for concerned neighbors throughout the five boroughs.

If the "Saving Lives through Better Information Bill" becomes a law, it will require the NYPD to make crucial traffic-related statistics available on its website. Communities armed with this hard data about local moving violations, traffic crashes, contributing factors and fatalities will be better able to argue for improvements using more than the anecdotal evidence they've gleaned from experience.

Because of your efforts, we're one click closer to the passage of this landmark bill, but there's much more to do.

We need you to attend the April 28th hearing at City Hall at 10am and stand up for safer streets. A full house sends a strong message to our elected officials that New Yorkers care about this bill and are demanding its passage!

For more information, to sign up for alerts about this legislation, or if you have stories that express why this bill would help New Yorkers, email peter@transalt.org.

Brooklyn BP Bashes PPW Bike Lane

That's what we said

Despite the support of Park Slope Neighbors, City Council Member Brad Lander and Community Board 6, Brooklyn's Borough President Marty Markowitz has chosen to oppose a two-way, parking-protected bike lane along Prospect Park West that would calm traffic, slow vehicle speeds and increase safety along this notoriously dangerous stretch of road that separates Brooklynites from one of their most prized green spaces.

Speaking to WNYC's Andrea Bernstein, Markowitz dismissed the local community boards vote as a "mistake," questioned City-issued crash statistics, challenged the assertion that summer weekends bring huge numbers of cyclists to Prospect Park, and advocated for riding on the sidewalk.

In spite of this jaw-dropping performance, an Open House Info Session about the proposed changes to Prospect Park West held last Monday evening went off without a hitch. Though some local motorists lamented the loss of 22 parking spaces, the majority of attendees spoke in favor of the plan, citing the traffic-calming potential of bike lanes and increased pedestrian space.

The Department of Transportation says that construction of the bike lane will begin in June.

Take Action

Email Borough President Markowitz at AskMarty@BrooklynBP.nyc.gov. Let him know that he represents cyclists, too! Remind him that bike lanes save lives, reduce congestion and encourage a healthier borough.

TEAM T.A. Party Tonight!

Done with your taxes? Finished work? Reread the StreetBeat? Then why not head over to the Crumpler store in the West Village to drink beer and party with TEAM T.A.?

Showcase your financial savvy by paying only $15 for entry and enjoy free beer and an amazing 30% discount off of Crumpler merchandise while supplies last! Learn more about TEAM T.A. and meet the team members and coaches.

All proceeds support TEAM T.A., a group of riders who are training for the NYC Century Bike Tour and supporting Transportation Alternatives' advocacy work.

Party with TEAM T.A. at Crumpler
7–8:30 pm
49 8th Avenue
Manhattan

East Side Story

If you live or work in East Harlem, Chinatown or the East Village, there are some East Side Streets Coalition workshops coming up that you shouldn't miss. Join with your neighbors and planners to discuss what would make your streets a better place for bikers, walkers, straphangers and drivers.

For more information and details on when and where the workshops are happening, visit transalt.org/eastsidestreets.

Complete Streets Events at MAS

The Municipal Art Society of New York is celebrating the arrival of spring with an entire month devoted to the city's streets. The whole calendar is exciting, but two of our favorite events involve T.A. staffers:

On Thursday, April 29th, T.A.'s Executive Director Paul Steely White will participate in a panel titled "The Complete Street: Sustainable, Healthy & Pleasurable." More info and online ticketing available here.

And on April 24th, T.A.'s Deputy Director Shin-pei Tsay will lead a complete streets walking tour. More info and online ticketing available here.

The Regional Assembly

Some of the state's most influential policy makers will gather tomorrow at the Waldorf Astoria for the Regional Plan Association's annual Regional Assembly.

This year's speakers include former MTA CEO and Executive Director Elliot G. Sander, Lieutenant Governor Richard Ravitch and Adolfo Carrion, the Director of the White House Office of Urban Affairs.

You can find out more and buy tickets at regionalassembly.org/2010.

AARP Complete Streets Week

This year AARP has organized its annual Volunteer Week (April 19-23) around Complete Streets and will be dispatching volunteers around New York City to conduct walking audits. T.A. collaborated on the audit forms and partnered with them to advocate for safe street improvements based on the results.

To find out more: createthegood.org

Ride to the End (of Long Island)

On Sunday, May 16, ride to the end of Long Island with the Five Borough Bicycle Club. Their Montauk Century is an awesome adventure, where you can choose from 65, 100, and 145 mile routes on Long Island's beautiful South Shore.

For more info and registration details go to 5bbc.org