T.A. E-Bulletin

If these paraders so much as block the sidewalk they could be arrested under the NYPD's proposed new rules.

If the NYPD has its way, these "paraders" would be subject to arrest if they so much as block the sidewalk.

Articles and Actions

New NYPD Rule Would Require All Bikers and Walkers to Get Special Permit
- Take Action! 5 Things You Can Do to Stop this Outrageous Rule
Mayor Bloomberg: Reduce Traffic by Switching City Driving Trips
They're Baaack! Muni Parking Predators Return to Chinatown
Take the "Yield to Peds" Pledge

Events and Appeals

Featured Links

New NYPD Rule Would Require All Bikers and Walkers to Get Special Permit

On July 18th, 2006 the New York City Police Department quietly proposed changing City parade permit rules. Under the NYPD's proposed changes, any group of bikers or walkers who disobey any traffic law can be arrested, and all formal and informal group bike rides, walks, jogs, runs and other events would have to obtain parade permits from the NYPD. Every route for every group bike ride or walk would have to be approved by the police, and any group that diverts from its permitted route could be arrested.

If enacted, these draconian rules would put walking and bicycling under the NYPD's control, drastically discourage New Yorkers from walking and biking and erect yet another obstacle for those seeking to do their part to reduce congestion, clean our City's polluted air and stay healthy. The NYPD must withdraw them.

Under the NYPD's proposed rules (PDF):

Any group of two (yes 2) or more cyclists or pedestrians traveling down a public street, who violate any traffic law, rule or regulation can be arrested for parading without a permit
Every group of 20 or more cyclists must obtain a permit and approved route from the NYPD
Every group of 35 of more pedestrians must obtain a permit and approved route from the NYPD

Groups without permits or groups that leave their permitted routes could be arrested.

There will be a public hearing on these proposed parade permit rule changes on August 23rd, at 6 pm, at One Police Plaza, Manhattan. The proposed changes could go into effect as soon as August 24th, 2006. Everyone who walks or rides a bike should attend and oppose these proposed changes!

Take Action: STOP THE NYPD FROM REQUIRING PERMITS FOR BIKING AND WALKING

E-Fax Mayor Bloomberg
Contact Speaker Quinn and tell her you oppose the proposed rules:
Call your City Councilmember
Contact T.A. at info@transalt.org with examples of group events and activities that would be affected
Attend the August 17th People's Forum on Parade Permits at 7 pm at St. Marks Church, 10th Street and 2nd Avenue, Manhattan
Sign up to attend and/or testify at the public hearing and rally on August 23rd at 6 pm at 1 Police Plaza

E-Fax to Mayor Bloomberg: Subject: Dear Mayor Bloomberg: I oppose the NYPD's proposed changes to the City's parade permit rules. These changes, requiring all group rides and walks to obtain onerous permits, will greatly discourage bike riding and walking. Less biking and walking will result in more traffic, more air and noise pollution, more subway crowding and a lower quality of life. The proposed changes will also discourage physical activity, exercise, educational field trips and tourism because they will force bike and health clubs, teachers, tour guides, historical, cultural and neighborhood organizations to obtain permits for every event. Many will forego formal and informal walking and biking altogether for under the NYPD's proposed changes, groups that do not obtain permits, groups two or more that jaywalk, or groups that vary from their approved route are all subject to arrest. The NYPD's proposed changes to the City's parade permit rules will mean less walking, running and biking in New York City. They will hurt health, environment, economy and quality of life. I oppose them. Sincerely,
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
ZIP:
Email:

Please include your full contact information so that your message will be treated as official correspondence. Your message will be faxed to Mayor Bloomberg and a copy e-mailed to Transportation Alternatives.

Click here if your email program does not support this form (e.g. Hotmail).

Mayor Bloomberg: Reduce Traffic by Switching City Driving Trips

It's Time to Make NYC a Better Place to Drive

Reducing driving--not encouraging it--is the City's best insurance policy

T.A.'s new documentary film, Contested Streets: Breaking NYC Gridlock has now been viewed by thousands of New Yorkers and hundreds of the city's elected officials and policy makers. One of the reasons why Contested Streets is such a hit is that the film features striking footage of Copenhagen, London and Paris streets that have been wholly transformed to favor bicyclists, pedestrians, and transit riders.

More difficult to capture on film, however, is the basic transportation policy shift that preceded these transformations.

Before bus corridors, bike paths and pedestrian streets became a reality, these cities and others made a sea change in how they defined the transportation problem. The fundamental problem, they realized, was not that traffic moved to slowly, but that too many people were driving. The solution to this newly conceptualized problem is not to better accommodate vehicle flow, but to facilitate better people flow by switching car trips to walking, biking and transit trips.

Once the traffic problem was redefined and put into the context of a comprehensive traffic reduction plan, then controversial solutions like congestion pricing, parking reform and pro-pedestrian street makeovers--while still controversial--became more logical to politicians and voters alike.

Take Action: Join a rapidly growing chorus of New Yorkers and urge Mayor Bloomberg to support City Council Introduction 199, the "Traffic Relief Bill," that would set citywide targets for reducing traffic volumes and increasing biking, walking and transit use.

They're Baaack! Muni Parking Predators Return to Chinatown

"Municipal workers who illegally park their cars on sidewalks, in front of fire hydrants and in crosswalks slow emergency response times, jeopardize public safety, cripple truck and delivery traffic, impede pedestrian flow and damage businesses."

--Transportation Alternatives

Municipal Parking Permit Abuse is Still Rampant

Some cities' public spaces are full of people. In downtown Manhattan, they are full of illegally parked cars.

We promise to keep saying it until they start listening. Despite the stunning results of T.A.'s "Uncivil Servants" (PDF) study in April this year, which found 115 drivers using municipal permits to park on sidewalks(!) in Chinatown and at the Civic Center, neither the NYPD nor City Hall has initiated any real change to widespread permit abuse in the city.

While some short-term improvements were seen in Chinatown because of the study and subsequent press attention, neighborhood residents report that illegally parked cars are again impeding basic municipal services and creating safety hazards. Moreover, the problem continues unabated throughout the five boroughs, particularly in areas of the city where government jobs are concentrated.

The onus for change rests on the shoulders of two city leaders, NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly and Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Unless they want--as many upset community members around the city have suggested--a mass of angry car-owning New Yorkers to drive to quiet residential neighborhoods in Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties and park their cars in playgrounds and parks, they must take action.

Take Action: Write to Mayor Bloomberg and tell him that a municipal parking permit is not a license to flout parking laws, and that permits should only be used for city business, not personal commuting.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg
City Hall
New York, NY 10007

Take the "Yield to Peds" Pledge

Cyclists in Central and Prospect Park continue to get warned, stopped and ticketed by enforcement personnel for breaking outdated park regulations. One way to end this harassment is to make sure cyclist behavior in the park is beyond reproach.

To help everyone along in this effort, T.A. has drafted the "Yield to Peds Pledge," a set of easy to follow, commonsense rules that will minimize park-user conflict and maximize everyone's enjoyment of a very rare NYC commodity: car-free space.

We encourage you to forward the pledge around to cycling friends, teammates, acquaintances and anyone else you can think of. If we all work together to make the loop drives pleasant places for all users, we can end the biased stops and persecution that too many cyclists have seen this summer.

Take "Yield to Peds Pledge" at transalt.org/pedspledge and forward the URL to everyone you know.

Work to help improve safety as a T.A. Bike Ambassador.

T.A. Benefit: Fun Times for a Great Cause

2006 T.A. Summer Benefit at Village Restaurant

Thanks to the over 120 people who attended the 2nd Annual Transportation Alternatives Summer Benefit for Better Bicycling. A special thanks to our speakers and to Stephen Lyle, chef and co-owner of the Village Restaurant for hosting this event. Your support means we can keep fighting for safer streets, more greenways, indoor bike parking and more.

Congratulations to David Gurin, one of T.A.'s founders and former Deputy Commissioner of the NYC Department of Transportation. Mr. Gurin was named the recipient of the 1st Annual Gurin Award for Improving Bicycling and Walking in New York City for his work to bring more bike lanes and pedestrian streets to NYC in the early 1980s. "Gridlock" Sam Schwartz of Sam Schwartz Consulting and an old colleague of David's presented the award. T.A. member Randy Cohen, best known as "The Ethicist" from the New York Times, was also a featured speaker at the benefit.

Car Free Grand Concourse: Come out and Play (and Volunteer!)

Car-Free Sundays on Grand Concourse in the 1990s

Car-Free Sundays on the Grand Concourse were well loved in the 1990s. Now thanks to the support of the Bronx Borough President they are making a huge comeback.

The Grand Concourse in the Bronx was originally inspired by the majestic boulevards of Paris. In the early 1900s the Grand Concourse served as an important axis of commerce, entertainment and government in the Bronx. In the mid-1930s it became home to new apartment buildings, which remain some the finest examples of Art Deco architecture in the country. The second half of the century was less kind to the Grand Concourse, which suffered from increasing automobile traffic, not to mention the economic woes that hit the Bronx hard in the 1970s and 80s.

In July of 1991, in an effort to bring people back to the Bronx and to provide much needed recreational opportunities to residents in the South Bronx (who have far less park space per capita than most other areas of New York City), then-Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer instituted Car-Free Sundays on the Grand Concourse. During the first year 3 1/2 miles, from 161st Street to 198th Street, were closed every Sunday from July-November. The program ran until 1996 when it was discontinued by Mayor Giuliani much to the chagrin of Bronx residents.

Now Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, Jr. has brought Car-Free Sundays back! Last year's trial closure on one Sunday has grown to three Sundays for 2006. Come and join us as we bike, walk and play on the Grand Concourse:

Sunday August 6th between 170th Street & Mt. Eden Avenue
Sunday September 10th *(tentative) between 192nd and Mosholu Parkway
Sunday October 8th between 170th Street & Mt. Eden Avenue

12 noon–6 pm (5 pm if there's a Yankees game)
Rain or Shine

For more information, call 718-590-3989 or visit ilovethebronx.com.

To volunteer at Transportation Alternatives' bicycling station at the Car-Free Sundays email volunteer@transalt.org.

Explore NYC with the NYC Century Bike Tour

Think you know NYC? You haven't seen it all until you've ridden the NYC Century Bike Tour. With five route options (15-, 35-, 55-, 75- and 100-miles) we have something for all ages and abilities. And if you've ridden before--get ready! We have some great new changes for 2006--including a new 75-mile route that will take you to the Bronx! No matter what route you pick we are there to support and celebrate you every pedal of the way! We have friendly marshals and volunteers to help you on your way and fully stocked rest sops to keep you fed and hydrated like pro. Sign up today at www.NYCCentury.org and explore NYC!

Want to have the best NYC Century ever? Join us for our free training rides and let the fun begin!

Saturday, August 12th
75 mile ride to the Far Rockaways and outer Queens
8am-5pm

Saturday, August 26th
90 mile ride TBA
8am-5pm

The rides are being co-sponsored by, and start and finish at, Spokes and Strings bike shop in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Pre-registration for the training rides is highly recommended so that we can ensure we have adequate numbers of turnsheets and marshals if we have a large group. Please e-mail events2@transalt.org or call 212-629-8080 to sign up.

August 26th Contested Streets Screening at Solar One

Join Transportation Alternatives at Solar1, the City's first solar powered "Green Energy, Arts, and Education Center," for a special free screening of Contested Streets: Breaking NYC Gridlock on Saturday August 26th (8 pm discussion, 9 pm screening). This new documentary film, co-produced by Transportation Alternatives, explores the past, present and future of New York's ill-fated love affair with the automobile. The film then shows how cities around the world are breaking free from the chokehold of traffic, enhancing quality of life and environmental sustainability and allowing room for their economies to grow and flourish.

To see the trailer of the film, buy a copy for yourself or sign up to host a screening of your own, visit transalt.org/contestedstreets. To learn more about Solar1 and their Solar Powered Film Series, visit solar1.org/arts/film/index2006.html.

Screening: Contested Streets: Breaking NYC Gridlock
Where: Solar1, East 23rd Street and the East River in Manhattan
When: Saturday August 26th 8 pm discussion, 9 pm screening
How much: Free!

See "StreetFilms" from the NYC Streets Renaissance Campaign

Tuesday, August 29th at 7 pm
Pioneer Theater
155 East 3rd Street, Manhattan

Please join us for a 75 minute program featuring "StreetFilms" from the NYC Streets Renaissance Campaign. "StreetFilms" educate, enlighten and propose more civil streets for pedestrians and cyclists in New York City by advocating for more open space and questioning why our Transportation policies have not evolved to match the needs of its citizens.

In this eclectic presentation of video shorts, NYCSR will showcase many of the ways citizens, community groups and advocates are battling to make the city a more livable community--and how others cities are doing it better.

All films directed by Clarence Eckerson Jr. Ticket price includes a pizza and beverage reception following.

Link for advance tickets: tix.com/Event.asp?Event=64458

Ride with the Hazard ID and Route Marking Team!

Teamwork: After your Hazard ID team identifies a pothole, T.A. HQ reports it and then--voila!--a DOT pothole team fills it.

Dozens of T.A. volunteers will take to the streets this month on Hazard ID Bike Rides. We'll be marking, recording and reporting pot holes along the entire route of T.A.'s NYC Century Bike Tour including the most heavily trafficked bike lanes.

Hazard ID helps us maintain safe road conditions for thousands of bicyclists and pedestrians. Join one of our teams for a six-to-ten mile stretch (about two to three hours) in your neighborhood, or for a casual patrol along one of NYC's scenic off-street bike paths! We'll also be sending out teams for route marking along sections of T.A.'s NYC Century Bike Tour. Email volunteer@transalt.org or call Wiley at 646-873-6008 to sign up for a route.