Articles and Actions
Events and Appeals
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| City Unveils Historic Plan to Boost Bicycling | ||||||||||
On Tuesday morning top officials from the City's Transportation, Health, Police and Parks Departments gathered in Central Park to release the findings (PDF) of a groundbreaking year-long effort that examines the last ten years of bicyclist fatalities and serious injuries in New York City.
In conjunction with the study's release, the agencies pledged to encourage and facilitate cycling in a number of ways (PDF) including, but not limited to, installing 240 miles of new bike lanes and greenways, providing more bicycle parking citywide, increasing police enforcement against motorists parked in bike lanes, providing educational information for motorists about the rights of cyclists as well as legislative and analytic improvements regarding cyclists rights and habits. This unprecedented commitment to cycling and cyclist safety is an important part of moving New York City's transportation policies closer to those of our forward-thinking competitor cities around the globe. In 2002, the Mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoë, committed to building 200 miles of bike lanes, pedestrianizing large swaths of main arterials and modernizing bus lanes. Since then, traffic has decreased by 10% and more than 80% of Parisians support the changes. New York City's new-found dedication to the bicycle may be the first signs of a similar sea change on the horizon. Health Commissioner Tom Frieden, whose department led the multi-agency study, remarked that "All [cyclist] deaths are preventable, and each one is a tragedy." He continued, "Engineering solutions are more likely to be effective [at improving safety] than urging people to change their behavior." In fact, only one cyclist fatality between 1996 and 2005 occurred in a bike lane. Transportation Commissioner Weinshall agreed stating, "The data demonstrates cyclists need more safe places to ride and DOT will be working to provide them." Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe highlighted the increase in car-free hours in Central and Prospect Parks and his departments work to build more car-free greenway paths, both of which have contributed to the steady increase in cycling in the city over the past twenty years. NYPD Chief of Transportation Michael Scagnelli spoke to the police department's efforts to ticket motorists who park and drive in bike lanes. And, all of the officials reiterated the importance of drivers respecting cyclists' right to the road, of drivers and cyclists obeying traffic laws and of cyclists wearing helmets. See the City's official release (PDF) and more details about the study and the planned improvements. Get to know Ryan Russo, the New York City Department of Transportation's Director for Street Management and Safety. StreetsBlog recently caught up with this key player in helping the city meet its pledge to encourage and facilitate safe cycling. Read the City's report, "Bicyclist Fatalities and Serious Injuries in New York City 1996-2005" (PDF). The announcement is a huge victory for Transportation Alternatives and the NYC Bike Coalition. Since last July we have been working to convince City officials to adopt our Bike Safety Action Plan. Tuesday's announcement meets nearly every point of our Bike Safety Action Plan and clearly demonstrates that our advocacy is working.
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| Best Century Ever! | ||||||||||
Nearly 5,000 riders and marshals took to the streets on Sunday for the 17th Annual NYC Century Bike Tour. Riders enjoyed a great route, plentiful food and drinks at rest stops and excellent weather for riding a 15-, 35-, 55-, 75- or 100-mile route. Thanks to all who rode and all of the hundreds of volunteers who made the ride a huge success. A special thank you to all of our sponsors, who provided food, supplies and services to keep our riders rolling. And an extra-special thank you to many city agencies including the Department of Transportation, Parks and Recreation, Department of Sanitation and NYPD, we could not do this ride without your support.
More than just a great ride, your rider fees go to support the bicycle advocacy work of Transportation Alternatives, your advocate for bicycling, walking and sensible transportation. The great things you read about in the e-bulletin today could not happen without you. We hope to see you on Sunday, September 9th, 2007 for the 18th Annual NYC Century Bike Tour. Save the date--it's the best way to truly see New York. But don't just take our word for it, here's what our riders had to say about Sunday's tour:
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| A Citywide Coalition to Solve a Citywide Problem | ||||||||||
The Citywide Coalition for Traffic Relief now boasts over 120 member groups! The breadth, depth and power of these concerned organizations continues to bring the coalition's charter points into the public consciousness. Various reports and ongoing news stories are demonstrating that traffic relief is important to New Yorkers everywhere. Some recent coverage includes:
Clearly, NYC is talking and City officials are taking notice. After a meeting with the Bloomberg Administration's long-term strategic planning office, the Traffic Relief Coalition is confident that City Hall understands that the charter points are the foundation of any sensible long term strategy. Still, without a strong public demonstration of just how important traffic relief is to New York City, it's not clear that the city will implement a strategy any time soon. The Coalition will publicize its charter and call groups to action citwide by sending a letter outling the CCTR charter to the Mayor and holding a press conference at City Hall on October 10th at 11 am. With over 120 organizations involved, the Mayor has ample political cover to transform New York City into a worldwide leader for progressive transportation policy. See more information on the Citywide Coalition for Traffic Relief website. |
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| New Research: Seniors Need Age-Specific Streets | ||||||||||
Each summer the T.A. staff is joined by the best and the brightest of summer interns from colleges and universities throughout the country. The Safe Routes for Seniors campaign had the luck of working with Rachel Krug, a second year PhD student at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, to embark on original research in support of the need to create Elder Districts (PDF) throughout New York City.
Data were collected on older adults' walking speeds and behaviors while they were crossing 18 intersections on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. These intersections included: 71st, 72nd, 73rd, 78th, 79th, and 80th Streets, along York, 1st, and 2nd Avenue. This research project studied 360 subjects over a 60-hour period this summer. Vehicular behavior and land use data were also collected. The goal was to determine how the larger intersections at 72nd and 79th Streets impacted senior mobility as compared to the shorter, or "control" streets. The initial results have important implications for senior safety:
Transportation Alternatives is using this research to strengthen the call to create Elder Districts and safer streets for seniors. Please visit the T.A. website shortly for the complete report on this work and for information on how you can help make streets safe for seniors and all pedestrians. |
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| Does Traffic Affect Your Central Park Experience? | ||||||||||
With Mayor Bloomberg's trial fractional closure of the Central Park loop drive more than half way finished, anecdotal evidence suggests that motor vehicle traffic has acclimated to the changes and park users are happier than ever. Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe certainly thinks so. During Tuesday's DOT, DOH, Parks and NYPD press conference, he spoke glowingly of the closure saying, "We'll continue to do that."
In order to encourage the City to "continue to do that" and further limit motor vehicle traffic in our crown jewel parks, Transportation Alternatives has been surveying Central Park users to see how cars impact their park experience. A similar survey of Prospect Park users (PDF) generated compelling evidence for the current fractional closure. Hopefully, this new survey will make a strong case for further limiting motor vehicle traffic in our crown jewel parks. Take the survey at transalt.org/cpsurvey. |
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| Tack Attack | ||||||||||
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Many T.A. members have called in reporting tacks on the West Side Greenway especially near Riverbank State Park, but a few calls have indicated the problem might be as widespread as from 68th-175th Streets. Some are estimating that as many as 200 cyclists have flatted in this area in a few short weeks. The Parks Department is trying to address this problem, has reported it to the Manhattan Parks Commissioner's Office and is requesting increased PEP patrols in the area and increased sweeping of the path.
This criminal mischief cannot continue. If you see tacks on the Greenway or someone putting down tacks, be careful, ride until you feel you're at a safe distance and call both the 33rd Precinct at 212-927-3200 and 311. Explain your location and the situation patiently (the NYPD will want to know your cross street even though you are on a greenway) and let whoever you speak with know that this is a recurring problem. It is crucial to call both the local precinct and 311. 311 can send a page out to the Parks Department and request rapid action to sweep the path at that location and remove the tacks and the local precinct can take immediate action.
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| Save the Date: Manhattan BP's Transportation Conference | ||||||||||
On October 12th, 2006, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer will host "On the Move - A Transportation Agenda for a Growing City," a conference to examine the implications of growth and discuss policy solutions for New York City's transportation infrastructure.
Transportation visionary and former Mayor of Bogotá, Enrique Peñalosa will be delivering the keynote address. We hope you can attend. Registration is free and can be done via fax, regular mail or email. Download a registration form (PDF) for more information. |
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| Could Your Cab Ride Be Better? Take the Taxi 07 Survey | ||||||||||
September 15th-30th, 2006
New York's yellow cab will be 100 years old in 2007! That's right, the iconic taxi has been on city streets since 1907. To mark this centenary, the non-profit Design Trust for Public Space has launched Taxi 07, a program of public events and publications to improve cab design and the entire taxi system. The Taxi 07 Master Plan, to be published April 2007 in partnership with the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC), will outline the next decade of improvement priorities for New York cabs. Make your voice heard: cab riders--New Yorkers and visitors alike--are sharing their taxi experiences. Every respondent also has a chance to win exclusive tickets to a gala cocktail event at Rafael Viñoly Architects. Find out more at taxi07.org. Shape the future of the New York City taxicab; take the Taxi 07 survey at taxi07.org and tell us:
The survey is up for two weeks only, from September 15th to September 30th, 2006. For more information, visit taxi07.org. Thanks for your participation! |
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| T.A. in the News | ||||||||||
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The Brian Lehrer Show: Wheeling and Dealing, WNYC, 9/14 Hey! Hey! I'm Walking Here! — How New York (and Other Big Cities) Should Solve the Traffic Problem, New York Times, 9/13 City Hall Promises Major Increase in Bike Lanes on Streets, New York Times, 9/13 City 'Pedals' Bike Helmets, New York Daily News, 9/13 City Puts Forth Ambitious Bike Plan, am New York, 9/13 Bicyclist Injuries Falling in NYC; Death Rate Remains Steady, Metro NY, 9/13 City Puts Forth Ambitious Bike Plan, Newsday, 9/13 Bicyclist Injuries Falling in NYC; Death Rate Remains Steady, Staten Island Advance, 9/13 City Agencies Commit to Killing Fewer Bikers, gothamist, 9/12 City Announces Major Bike Safety Improvement Initiative, StreetsBlog, 9/12 City to Add 200 Miles of Bike Lanes, WNYC, 9/12 'Bike-Friendly' Roads Are Goal of New Program, WABC-TV, 9/12 Wind Power Is Energy for Optimists, AlterNet, 9/9 Pedalers and Politicians Get Pumped bout Houston Lanes, The Villager, 9/8 Brooklyn Bikes, Brooklyn Paper, 9/8 Sound Familiar?, StreetsBlog, 9/8 In the Wake of Tragic Death, Many Wonder If Killer Corner Can Be Made Safe, Kings Courier, 9/7 Selective Enforcement: Fear of NYPD Often Aids Illegal Parking, WCBS-TV, 9/7 Wife of Deceased Bicyclist, Dr. Carl Henry Nacht, to Lead 5,000 Cyclists on NYC Century Bike Tour, PPOL News, 9/6 Selective Enforcement: NYC's Finest Strike Back?, WCBS-TV, 9/6 Selective Enforcement: Court Officers Using 'Official' Parking Placards, WCBS-TV, 9/5 Rally for a Livable Houston Street, StreetsBlog, 8/31 Surprise! Cops Back Down On Assembly Restrictions, NYC Indymedia, 8/31 Noise In New York, Gotham Gazette, 8/30 A Convenient Solution to An Inconvenient Truth, The Oil Drum, 8/30 Transportation Alternatives is a member-supported non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Join T.A. today!
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