T.A. StreetBeat


	January 21st, 2011

Image courtesy flickr user grevillea

In Queens, a Councilmember has been bawling that bicyclists need licenses. Transportation Alternatives rallied such a squall of opposition the Councilmember stopped taking calls; his fax machine will be clogged for weeks with the backlog.

This is T.A.'s greatest tool: take the politics that change our streets, and make them accessible from your stoop, your community board and your inbox. In 2010, it is how T.A. took a slapdash web of streets and bridges and made New York City a better place to bike, walk and ride public transit.

There are enough new bicyclists to cause bicycle jams in the dedicated lanes and a new vocabulary -- parking-protected bicycle lane, pedestrian plaza, off-board fare collection -- is part of New Yorkers' parlance. The nation's most extensive bike share is set to debut. That's a lot of noise T.A. made for New York City streets in 2010 --

And why, for 2011, we're turning it up to eleven.

Thanks to the more than 1,200 people who donated over $596,000 this season, we cleared the bar of our matching grant. Now, with $1.1 million of support, T.A. can better even the best changes we've brought to New York City streets. Here is how we will increase our impression in '11.

Bicycling Boom Blooms into Bike Share

When bike share lands in New York, bicycling will be understood as routine transportation for New Yorkers. But before the dance, we need to polish our shoes: better behavior, better press and better lanes will beget bike share's success. In 2011, T.A. will teach civility to every misbehaving cyclist, show off businesses that befriend bicycling, get more protected bike lanes built in every borough and double last year's 13 percent growth in new commuter bicyclists.

Amplified to Albany

Congestion pricing is the answer to half of New York's traffic problems, but until we cross that finish line, public transit is going to have to start to do its part. By empowering transit riders, T.A. plans to keep transit funding steadfast, transit fares stagnant and transit service improvements spreading citywide. In 2011, T.A. will unite transit riders' voices and amplify them all the way to Albany.

Envisioning Zero

T.A. is envisioning zero for New York City -- zero deaths and injuries, zero fear of traffic. To get there, we need to stem the speeding epidemic, New York's number one killer. In 2011, T.A. will pass legislation to install speed enforcement cameras in New York City, reducing incidents of this most deadly offense and striding toward Vision Zero.

Every New Yorker, Pedestrian Proud

Every New Yorker is a pedestrian; T.A wants every New Yorker to be pedestrian proud. Our quality of life is built on access to play-friendly residential blocks and plazas with a place for respite. Key to reclaiming those spaces for pedestrians is every New Yorker self-identifying as an everyday walker. In 2011, T.A. will pave the way for more proud pedestrians and more pedestrian plazas, and by multiplying Play Streets, put 12,000 more young people at active play this summer.

T.A. Membership on the Rise

From David Byrne to Majora Carter, T.A.'s member roll is a catalogue of New York awesome. With deep discounts around town and a most-hip membership list, T.A.'s movement for better biking, walking and public transit is a must-have for every New Yorker -- now we're upping efforts to recruit. In 2011, T.A. will increase our membership by 20 percent in every borough.