As we went to press, an American Airlines flight from the Dominican Republic crashed in Rockaway, Queens and killed 255 people. The cause is unknown. Our condolences to the family and friends of the victims. As a result of the crash, NYC went to a Level 1 terrorism alert and all bridges and tunnels into Manhattan were closed to motor vehicles. Word has it that pedestrians and cyclists were not impeded. T.A. has asked the city to formally announce a policy that cyclists and pedestrians are allowed to use bridges during such alerts.

Michael "Mikey Billions" Bloomberg takes office as our new mayor on January 1st. Fans of Mark Green might seek consolation in Bloomberg's generally progressive transportation policy, which he's articulated in writing and during debates. They include these highlights:

Good 

• Strong support for improving the pedestrian environment through retiming lights and push to get people out of cars and onto transit 
• Big increases in street safety using red light and speed cameras
• Car-free Prospect Park 
• High speed, self-enforcing, bus only lanes on First and Second Avenue and Route 9A. Busses would carry their own enforcement cameras, and lanes would be physically separated.
• Quote from mikeformayor.com Web site: "We should move toward a bike friendly and pedestrian friendly environment to foster alternatives to the use of motor vehicles."

Bad 

• No mention of bicycling. None, zilch.  See correction above.  We were relying on Bloomberg's transportation policy statement when we originally made this assertion.  Bloomberg refers to bicycles (more than once) in his environmental platform.  Visit his site for more details.
• Rejection of Car-Free Central Park as "Not in my lifetime." 
• Including taxis in his definition of public transportation. 
• Countdown Clocks for pedestrian crossing times --- they don't work.
• Rejection of Cross-Harbor Rail Freight Tunnel, one of the few bright spots in Giuliani's transportation thinking.

For the whole text of Mayor-elect Bloomberg's transportation policy see www.mikeformayor.com.

Working for Mike 

Of course, no one knows what will actually happen until the mayor-elect begins appointing his management team. Early word has it that current DOT Commissioner Iris Weinshall will be asked to stay on --- a good thing. And that Ray Kelly, David Dinkins' top cop will replace Bernard Keri as Police Commissioner.

Last bulletin we damned the new Central Park West bike lane with faint praise. It is absolutely true that the lane would work far better alongside the curb, but the fact is, the northbound lane is a huge improvement --- especially during the evening. Cyclists now have plenty of room rather than being squeezed against car doors. However, there remains a big dooring hazard with double parked cabs discharging passengers. Two improvements would make the lane much safer and more congenial: 

1. Bus stops in-board of the lane should be modified so that the sidewalk is extended all the way to the edge of the bike lane. Busses then stop in the bike lane and part of the traffic lane. Yes, this blocks the bike lane while the bus is there --- but that happens anyway, as the rear of the bus pokes out, or as cyclists must slow, or stop, as the bus maneuvers in and out. The big benefit to cyclists and bus riders is that the bus doesn't need to pull in and out, thus saving a great amount of time and clearing the bike lane much faster.

2. No parking / cab stop only spaces should be created for cabs to pull to the curb. This would require devoting six parking spots per block on the park (East) side of the street; two spots each at the ends of the blocks and the middle. It is guaranteed that this measure, which would cost a grand total of 300 free parking spots, would save at least one cyclist from being killed and 20 from serious injury over the next five years. As always, the question is how many free parking spots are worth a cyclists life? One? Five? Ten? A hundred?

Letters

Dear T.A.:

Rode my bike home last night (11/8/01) around 5:50 PM, and witnessed a disturbing incident. Right at 55th St. - where the bikeway ends - near the Emergency office you mentioned, a bicyclist was hit by a Sheriffs car in the service lane, just west of the West Side highway. I saw the rider zip by me going west, in the pedestrian lane - he had the light, although it had not actually changed to walk. I waited then crossed with a female police officer. Once I crossed the street I saw the down biker crumpled on the side walk on the far side, with police officers running up. I did not actually see or hear the impact, but I asked a civilian biker what happened and who hit the biker and he gestured at the sherrif's vehicle. "He did it." The biker was not getting up and a half dozen police were attending to him, so I left. Needless to say, I did not see the biker get up, and the situation did not look good, although I have no idea how bad his injuries actually were.

If the bike lane had been open, there is a good chance this accident wouldn't have happened. I strongly agree with your on line article about re-opening the bike lane all the way downtown. While commuting I have witnessed many police cruisers just whipping along that service road adjacent to the West Side highway, with little thought or notice to bikers or traffic lights. While I realize perhaps the officer had every right to be moving briskly along the service road, perhaps this particular incident might be raised as a rationale for keeping the entire bike lane open.

Thanks for your good work,

Regards,

AP

The T.A. Holiday Party

6:30 pm on Thursday, November 29, 2001 at the Puffin Room Gallery (435 Broome Street, just east of Broadway). This will be fun! Meet and greet T.A. staff and members, refreshments, a raffle, and valet bike parking. Free for T.A. members and their guests, so Join T.A. today if you are not yet a member. To volunteer or for more information contact Craig Barnes at 212-629-8080 or events@transalt.org.

Fall 2001 T.A. Magazine  
--being mailed out this week to all T.A. members--including news on bicycle and pedestrian issues, features, ride listings, and much, much more! View the Table of Contents or request a copy!

Motorists Given Five Lanes of W. Side Hwy While Adjacent Hudson Greenway Blocked

Keep Cars Off the East River Greenway

City's Dummy Red-Light Camera Plan a Smart Move

SI Right Turn on Red Waits Governor's Signature

Bike Lanes: Quality over Quantity

The World Trade Center Attack

Take Action

T.A. has many volunteer opportunities.  Please visit our site to learn more about how you can help.  Come to the volunteer night on Wednesday, November 14 at 6 pm at the T.A. office, 115 West 30th Street, #1207.  Free beer, snacks and scintillating conversation.

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.

Give on-line at transalt.org/join.