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TourdeBronx.org
Register online to participate in New York's largest free cycling event, the Tour de Bronx!
Come to the Volunteer Mailing Party, Wednesday, September 24th at 6 pm at the T.A. Office (115 West 30th, #1207)! Free beer, soda, snacks and scintillating conversation.
T.A. In the News Latest
T.A. News Time on your hands? Eager to
make a difference? T.A. needs folks who are retired, work part-time or
between jobs to help our top-notch advocacy staff make the city a better place for bicyclists,
pedestrians and transit riders. Valet Bike Parking Volunteers Needed Volunteer to provide valet bike parking at events throughout the year. Register online to express your interest in this opportunity. T.A. still has two open internships:
- Advocacy
(work with T.A. program staff) Please visit transalt.org/intern for more information. Donations Wish List Help cycling and walking and get a tax deduction. Donate to T.A. We need: -Pentium II or better
PCs Contact Matt: info@transalt.org
Do Your Part for Safer Streets! Report: Potholes
and Hazards: Sidewalk
obstructions: Mayor’s Quality of Life Hotline at 888-677-LIFE/
Read more about T.A.'s work to reduce street hazards at transalt.org/haz Report Dangerous Cabs: 212-221-TAXI or report them online.
Read more about T.A.'s work to make cabs safer for pedestrians and cyclists at transalt.org/cabs The T.A. Bulletin is a bi-weekly publication of Transportation Alternatives. The Bulletin has 25,000 subscribers. Transportation Alternatives is a 5,000-member NYC-area non-profit citizens group working for better bicycling, walking and public transit, and fewer cars. We work for safer, calmer neighborhood streets and car-free parks. Join T.A. today!
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One of the most frequently asked questions T.A. gets is "When is the gap in the Hudson River Greenway between 83rd Street and 91st Street going to get filled?" Unfortunately, our answer is "we don't know."
Thanks to a grant from the New York Community Trust, T.A. has been able to
retain internationally known traffic calming expert Michael King to work with
In Maspeth, T.A. and King teamed with the Juniper Park Civic Association to address roadway noise, traffic safety and community livability at the intersections of Grand Avenue, 69th Street and the Long Island Expressway. Grand Avenue is the commercial spine of Maspeth and includes playgrounds, bus stops, plazas and fire houses. Passing through central Maspeth is the Long Island Expressway as well as its service roads, trucks and noise. Check out the richly illustrated 37 page report at: www.transalt.org/info/maspethfinal030904.pdf
Parks Department Launches Cyclist Safety Outreach on Hudson Greenway
New numbers from the Transit Authority show that subway and bus ridership is down nearly 200,000 a day in July in comparison to the same period last year. The agency says that average weekday ridership on subways and buses dropped 2.8% to 6.6 million in July compared with July 2002.
T.A. supports higher cab
fares and better paid cabdrivers. NYC, which is the
most cab-dependent city in the nation, has the 13th lowest fares of the 14
cities with 1,300 or more cabs. (NYC has 13,595 medallion cabs.) Adjusted for
inflation, NYC taxi fares are at a 35-year low. Taxis are big business. In 2002, fares (including tips) totaled $1.4 billion. This is two-thirds the total of $2.1 billion that riders paid in MTA subway and bus fares in 2002. Other fun facts
For more about taxicabs, see the Taxicab Fact Book on-line at www.schallerconsult.com/taxi/taxifb.pdf
The Department of Transportation intends to allow "single unit" trucks
(two-axle box trucks--not tractor trailer trucks)
A small sampling of the e-mail T.A. receives Cars in Central Park
J.R. T.A. Response: Cars are allowed from 10 pm to 10 am and from 3 pm to 7 pm on weekdays during this part of the year. Here is a link that explains current car-free hours in the park: www.transalt.org/campaigns/cpark/rules.html. It also has a link to the NYPD Central Park Precinct, which is where you should report open entrances during car-free hours and reckless drivers.
Is anything being done about the poor conditions of the Triborough bridge's so-called pedestrian path? J.B. T.A. Response: At least once a year, and usually more often, T.A. asks MTA Bridges and Tunnels to improve maintenance on the Triborough Bridge's pedestrian and bicycle path. Currently, our greatest concern is the lack of signage leading walkers and bikers from one section of the path to the other on Randall's Island. You can write to Michael Ascher, head of MTA Bridges and Tunnels to directly express your concerns:
Dear T.A., Why didn't the D.O.T., after the recent resurfacing of First Avenue between 14th and Houston, paint in a northbound bike lane to complement the Second Avenue southbound bike lane? And, couldn't it still be done now? Fred S. T.A. Response: Though the DOT is striping new bike lanes in Manhattan this fall, we don't know if it has plans to install a bike lane on 1st Avenue. The agency often uses resurfacing as an opportunity to install new bike lanes. You can write to DOT Commissioner Weinshall and urge her agency to add a lane on 1st Avenue:
Please cc T.A.: 115 West 30th Street, Suite 1207, NY, NY 10001 or info@transalt.org. When it conducts traffic analysis and evaluates whether or not it can fit a five-foot (like 5th Avenue) or nine-foot (like 2nd Avenue) bike lane on a street, the DOT is under pressure to decide whether to accommodate the maximum number of motor vehicles possible or, in the case of 1st Avenue, add much-needed safe space for bicyclists. The East Village has some of the highest cycling volumes in the city, and a lane on 1st Avenue would not only provide safe space for bicyclists, but also reduce wrong-way riding on 2nd Avenue and sidewalk riding along 1st Avenue.
I was riding on the west side bike bath a few Saturdays ago and saw a couple of green-shirted "park enforcement" employees riding along the path. I thought, "great, they are going to tell all of the joggers, dog walkers, and pedestrians to get off the bike path." They didn't, they kinda just kept riding along minding their own business. Who would be the best gov't official to complain to about this? John M. T.A. Response: John, please complain. Often. The Parks Enforcement Officers who work in Hudson River Park spend far too little time ensuring pedestrian safety and directing walkers to use the pedestrian paths when available. Write to: Adrian Benepe We recommend that you send copies to: Robert P. Balachandran Deputy Mayor Daniel
Doctoroff Transportation Alternatives
This is a great newsletter. I have a question as a bicyclist in Manhattan. Is there any company that will store a bike in the summer? My apartment is too small! I've asked at some of the neighborhood car garages and they aren't interested in accommodating me, even for a charge. Joe F. T.A. Response: Though a lot of New Yorkers ask this same question, we do not know of any company that provides long-term bicycle storage. Here are three suggestions: 1. Come up with a creative way to store your bike in your apartment (yes, NYC apartments are small, but give the Web page below a look). 2. Convince your building to create a bike room. 3. Buy a folding bike. Check out: 1. Apartment bike
parking www.transalt.org/press/magazine/ 2. T.A.'s Indoor Bike Parking Guide www.transalt.org/campaigns/bike/indoor.html 3.
Folding bikes www.transalt.org/features/foldingbike.html Good luck! [an error occurred while processing this directive] Take Action
Advocacy Committees Brooklyn@transalt.org Centralpark@transalt.org Gowanus@transalt.org Citywide: |
Dear Reader, Our E-Bulletin reaches 25,000 people in the NYC metro area who want better bicycling and walking, car-free parks, safe streets and government that puts neighborhoods before traffic. In every issue of the E-Bulletin we ask readers to take action by writing, faxing or e-mailing decision makers about an important issue. Last issue about 1,000 readers faxed the Manhattan Borough President and asked her to fight against new pedestrian barricades on 9th Avenue and 36th Street. This issue we hope you will fax Deputy Mayor Doctoroff and ask him to find the money for the Parks Department to build the Hudson River waterfront greenway between 83rd and 91st Street. Don’t stop there. Give cyclists and pedestrians a stronger voice at City Hall. Join Transportation Alternatives. Do it now. It matters. Click on this button and sign-up on-line. 
Join T.A.
today to start receiving Transportation
Alternatives Magazine, our members-only in-depth quarterly
magazine— Selected articles
City Provides Guarded Bike Parking
DOT to T.A.: No Safety Improvements for Manhattan Bridge
DOT Wants to Color in Curbside Bike Lanes
Needed: Direction Arrows for Bike Lanes
NYPD Keeps Hudson Greenway Open During Fleet Week
T.A. Sues State DOT To Remove Greenway Stop Signs
Support Grows in NJ for GW Bridge to "River Road" Connector Path TAKE
THE TOUR!
MAD AS HELL? DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!
Call the Mayor's Quality of Life Action Line (real people 24 hrs a day): 888-677-5433 or 888-677-LIFE. POTHOLES, STREET HAZARDS GOT YOU IN A RUT? Call DOT at 212-225-5368 and hit 0 to skip the message and speak with a
human. You can also report them online at transalt.org/ STAY SMART & INFORMED Savvy
transit riders get their lowdown on the subways here: Sensible
Transport Junkies:  The daily Gotham Gazette: gothamgazette .org NYC News summaries and savvy commentary. Bikes
in Bogota? Car-Free Cartagena? Tel-Aviv by Train?
Give on-line at transalt.org/join Quick!
What's your city council GET THERE!
Check our maps page for links to NYC-area bicycle and transit maps. RIDES AND WALKS Thursday, September 18, 10 am. TBA. Loeb Boathouse. The Weekday Cyclists in NYC. Saturday, September 20. NY to Hamptons Challenge. Saturday, September 20, 9 am. Bridges of Manhattan. Municipal Building on Brooklyn Bridge’s Manhattan side. Shorewalkers. Saturday, September 20, 10 am. Scientists off to Ecuador - Spanish Language Immersion Ride. City Hall. 5BBC. Saturday, September 20, 11 am. Circumbikeulate the perimeter of Manhattan. West Side Bike Path at 14th Street. Fast & Fabulous. Saturday, September 20, 1 pm. South Brooklyn amble through Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens. Grand Staircase at Bklyn. Borough Hall. Shorewalkers. Sunday, September 21. Twin Lights Ride. Bike New York. Sunday, September 21. Golden Apple Century. Westchester Cycle Club. Sunday, September 21, 9 am. Downtown Bronx People's Environmental Bike Tour. Brook Park Nature Preserve, East 141st and Brook Ave. (three blocks from Brook Ave. stop on the 6 train). Time's Up! Sunday, September 21, 9 am. Walk to Cure Diabetes. City Hall Park. Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International. Sunday, September 21, 10:59 am. Darien Dabble. Darien, CT Train Station Platform. Shorewalkers. Sunday, September 21, 11 am. High Above the Hudson. GW Bridge bus station at 178th St. and B’way. Shorewalkers. Sunday, September 21, 11 am. Batt to Bear. In front of Staten Island Ferry Terminal in Manhattan. Shorewalkers. Tuesday, September 23, 10 am. TBA. Loeb Boathouse. The Weekday Cyclists in NYC. Thursday, September 25, 10 am. TBA. Loeb Boathouse. The Weekday Cyclists in NYC. Friday, September 26, 7 pm. Critical Mass. Union Square Park North. Time's Up! Saturday, September 27, 10 am. Scientists off to Ecuador - Spanish Language Immersion Ride. City Hall. 5BBC. Saturday, September 27, 10 pm. Riverside Ride. Columbus Circle. Time's Up! Sunday, September 28.
The North Fork Century bike ride (quiet backcountry roads through Long
Island's wine country). For each person who signs up for the ride,
Transportation Alternatives gets a cash donation! The ride offers
start lines in Manhattan; Brooklyn; and Port Jefferson, Long Island.
Ride distances are 60 miles and 100 miles. Details, on-line
registration, and volunteer and ride free info all at northfork Sunday, September 28. Ramapo Rally. Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey. Sunday, September 28, 7:30 am. Saddle Up! Special K Part Two. Grand Central Terminal (or Beacon Metro-North station). 5BBC. Sunday, September 28, 9 am. 4 Boro Bike Ride (Reprise). City Hall. 5BBC. Sunday, September 28, 10 am. Minnewasca Gourmet Hike. New Paltz Bus Station. Shorewalkers. Sunday, September 28, 10:30 am. Horseback Riding at the Jamaica Bay Riding Academy. Prospect Park side of Grand Army Plaza. Fast & Fabulous. Tuesday, September 30, 10 am. TBA. Loeb Boathouse. The Weekday Cyclists in NYC. |
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Missing section of
What
we do know is that during the last three years the cost of finishing the half-mile long,
pier-like path planned to span the gap has soared from an original estimate of
one million to seven million dollars. Parks Department officials say
that the proposed path is now competing for capital funds with other big ticket
items. T.A.'s best guess is that the project will be completed within seven
years, and could be finished within two if the city finds a political patron to fund it. For the time being, path users will have to continue detouring
inland on the extremely bumpy promenade in Riverside Park.
Fax
Deputy Mayor Dan Doctoroff, who spearheaded the mayor's Manhattan Waterfront
Greenway project, and ask him to help find funding for this critical greenway
link.
community groups in Queens to reduce traffic and traffic-related noise on their
streets.
Together,
T.A., King and community leaders developed an extensive set
of recommendations, including sidewalk widenings, corner extensions and new
signal timing and markings that will work together to traffic calm the area. The
community board and City Councilmember have responded enthusiastically to the
recommendations. Now it is up to Department of Transportation to implement them.
In Jackson Heights, T.A. worked
with a new group, Coalition for a Quiet Jackson Heights, to document problems
contributing to heavy traffic and horn honking. Aggravating heavy truck and
livery cab traffic is double parking caused by low parking fees and a lack of
enforcement of all types of illegal parking. Among other things, the T.A. report
recommends raising parking fees, installing Muni-Meters and widening sidewalks
and corner crossings. For more, see:
Last week, cyclists on the Hudson River Greenway were greeted by green clad Park
Enforcement Patrol officers handing out NYC rules for bicyclists. The
Department's outreach was in response to numerous public complaints about bicyclists riding
too fast on the multi-use sections of the path, especially between 72nd and 82nd streets.
Pedestrian traffic is particularly heavy there because of the 79th street boat
basin, an adjacent restaurant, and a heavily used parking lot. Please ride
slowly and considerately on all greenways, and especially on that heavily used
section of path on the Upper West Side.
Weekday bus ridership has
fallen the most--more than 6%. The Straphangers Campaign's Gene Russianoff says
that the large drop in bus ridership is because bus riders tend to be older and
poorer than subway riders. Despite the decrease in the number of riders, passenger fare
revenue rose to $218 million in July 2003, up from $183.4 million in July 2002.
Read more about 
Also, the ratio of the taxi fare
to transit fare has fallen from a high of 10-1 in 1952 to 4-1 today.
A cab medallion cost $253,000 in 2002.
to stay on the Grand Central Parkway for
three-quarters of a mile between the Triborough
Bridge and entrance ramp of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. Currently, trucks
must exit to local streets in Astoria, Queens, where they degrade the quality of
life, endanger bicyclists and pedestrians and pulverize local streets.
Department of Transportation
estimates that 3,150 (or 70%) of the 4,500 commercial vehicles that currently
exit each day at the Hoyt Avenue South/29th Street exit at the Triborough Bridge
are single unit trucks.
Triborough
Bridge Pedestrian Path 
1st
Avenue Bike Lane
Pedestrians
on the Hudson River Greenway Bike Path 
Bicycle
Storage
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