Only 4 weeks until the NYC Century Bike Tour on September 9, 2001.  Save $10 - Register to Ride the NYC Century Bike Tour today (regular registration discounts end August 27th). Explore the city and support bicycle advocacy. NYCcentury.org

Volunteer to Help with the T.A. Century! 

Sunday, September 9, 2001.  Have a great time cheering on cyclists at one of rest stops, mark the route, help at the start line, or be a Marshal.  See the NYC Century Web site at NYCcentury.org and click on "volunteer".

Donations Wish List

Help cycling and walking and get a tax deduction. Donate to T.A. We need:

-Laptop computer (P 100+)
-Digital Camera
-VCR (4 head)
-Good chairs for conf. table or desks
-Computer Projector

Contact Matt: info@transalt.org

Do Your Part for Safer Streets!  Report:

Potholes and Hazards:
212-442-7070 #2,#1

Dangerous Cabs: 212-221-TAXI

T.A.  News

T.A. welcomes Noah Budnick who has started at T.A. as our new bicycle advocate.  You can e-mail Noah at projects@transalt.org

T.A. also welcomes back Ellen Cavanagh, who is starting as our Campaign Coordinator.  She can be reach at campaign@transalt.org

The T.A. Bulletin is a bi-weekly publication of Transportation Alternatives.

Week of August 6, 2001

City Calls on T.A. to Help Defeat Dangerous New “Right Turn on Red” Law for Staten Island

The Mayor’s office has asked to T.A. to join it in urging Governor Pataki to veto a seriously flawed piece of legislation that would make it legal for motor vehicles in Staten Island to make right turns while the traffic signal is red. This legislation endangers the public safety and well being of pedestrians and bicyclists in Staten Island and the rest of New York City.

Studies have shown that more cyclists and pedestrians are struck, injured and killed after Right Turn on Red is installed. It particularly adds to the risks faced by elderly pedestrians.

Although the proposed law requires motorists to stop before turning, studies have shown that more than 50% do not. By far the number one cause of pedestrian crashes in New York City is motorists turning and failing to yield right of way to pedestrians in a crosswalk. This problem will only be aggravated as motorists turn right, look left for on-coming traffic and turn into the path of pedestrians.

It is completely illogical to have different traffic laws applying in different boroughs of New York City. Many motorists from outside of the city are already ignorant of the city’s No Right Turn on Red law. Exempting Staten Island from that law will fuel that confusion and cause more motorists to turn into pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles. [read full text]

T.A. Marks Hudson Greenway Detour

As many cyclists know, the detour route between 125th and 145th streets on the Hudson River Greenway can be baffling. Since the Cherry Walk Path opened in early 2000, T.A. made numerous requests to the Parks Department and Department of Transportation to sign and mark the circuitious by-pass. Unfortunately, nothing happened so T.A. took action. T.A. volunteers marked the street with easy to follow orange arrows that take cyclists from the end of the Cherry Walk path to the north side of Riverbank Park. This should end the confusion and serve as inspiration for the responsible city agencies.

Pedestrian Project at Times Square Complete

Thanks to the Departments of Transportation and City Planning, one of the city's most confusing and challenging intersections for pedestrians has been redesigned with wider sidewalks, new parking regulations, and more rational traffic flows.

After six years of dogged community and governmental outreach and coordination, the two city agencies are providing beleaguered pedestrians with a little more breathing room. The area now has temporary curbs, asphalt fill, and flower planters which widen sidewalks. The rest of the sidewalk widening will be constructed with permanent materials and drainage (and T.A. hopes an even more pedestrian-friendly design) sometime in the next five years.

The city is putting its right foot forward in Times Square. Pedestrians outnumber motor vehicles twenty to one in Midtown Manhattan and this is a welcome stride towards divvying up the street space in a more equitable way. The city should pick up its pace and start planning the logical next step, which is to make Broadway a pedestrian and transit street from 48th Street to 23rd Street.

Darkened areas indicate sidewalk widenings.

Will NY Start Sending Killer Drivers To Jail? 

Sunset Park Massacre Is Major Test

In July, a state court jury convicted a sober driver of vehicular homicide for the first time in NY history. The laws that makes these convictions difficult is in the news again, this time in a case involving a drunk police officer, Joseph Gray, in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Gray killed Maria Herra, her baby son, her son Andy, age 4, and her sister Dilcia Pena, age 16, at the intersection of 4th Avenue and 46th Street. The case is extraordinarily high profile, and was featured for days on the front page of every daily newspaper. Mayor Giuliani visited the family and friends of the victims and pledged that “Justice would be done.” 

But will it? Prosecutors told Newsday (Aug.7, 2001) that winning homicide cases involving drivers who kill --- drunk or not --- is extraordinarily difficult. This is because legal precedent in NY State has evolved so that to prove intent, prosecutors must prove a killer motorist has violated at least two laws. The NY State District Attorneys Association has proposed state legislation for the last 12 years in a row that would make such prosecutions easier. But the same legislature that continues to reject speed and red light cameras, also refuses to make killer drivers accountable for their actions. 

Ultimately, societal attitudes towards killing people with a car will decide whether lethal motorists go free or are brought to justice. As long as the average juror identifies more with the killer driver than their victims, prosecutors will face an impossible task. 

Said Mary de Bourbon of the Queens District Attorney’s Office to Newsday:

“The accused in these cases generally has roots in the community, a job and no criminal record. The jury thinks, ‘There but for the grace of God go I.’” It is a sad thing that many jurors feel more in common with a killer than with the mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters and friends of their victims."

Transit Authority to Close One in Five Token Booths

 Fear of Crime and Stuck Cyclists

T.A. still needs you to write to Governor Pataki about the proposed closings of token booths. Existing booth closings force cyclists to travel one or even several stations beyond their destination - a major problem in bad weather and during mechanical failures. 

Please write to: gov.pataki@chamber.state.ny.us
Include your return postal address if you would like a response.  Please Cc: T.A. on your message at info@transalt.org. 

Lawsuit Against NJDOT Dismissed

The lawsuit against NJDOT for failing to spend money allocated for bike paths (among other transportation projects) has been dismissed.  T.A. was a party to this suit along with other area sensible transportation groups.

The Tri-State Transportation Campaign warned following the dismissal that with legislative spending goals unenforceable, planning will now take place according to the whims of NJDOT.

Take Action

T.A. has many volunteer opportunities, both now, with the upcoming New York City Century Bike Tour, and throughout the year.  Please visit our site to learn more about how you can help. 

Getting an Unexpected Federal Tax Refund Windfall $300? $600?

Please donate your refund check to  T.A. and the movement for better cycling, walking and sensible transportation. 

In appreciation of your gift, we will send you a copy of Andy Singer's CarToons, a new book lampooning automobile dependence.

Give on-line at transalt.org/join, send your check to T.A. 115 W. 30th, #1207, NY, NY 10001, or call 212-629-8080 and donate by credit card over the phone.

T.A. In the News

transalt.org/media

Latest

8/6 Bicyclists Find Manhattan Bridge Path Tougher to Reach Than Cross, New York Times

8/2 Bike Path on Bridge Has Bumps, Daily News

8/2 Queens Blvd. not among projects for federal funding, Newsday

7/30 Park Turf Wars, Gotham Gazette

7/29 Bicycles not always welcome here: Cars rule the roads on Staten Island, leaving bike riders in the dust, Staten Island Advance

Press Watch

The decline in transit ridership in NYC since WWII has reversed itself dramatically. See the NY Times 8/8 "In Switch, Transit Ridership Outpaces Cars, Study Finds."

Stay Smart & Informed.

Sensible Transport Junkies:

Subscribe to the Tri-State Transportation Campaign’s e-weekly, Mobilizing the Region.  www.tstc.org

Insiders Breakfast on Fresh Baked NYC Politics & Policy

The daily Gotham Gazette. gothamgazette.org  NYC News summaries and savvy commentary.