T.A.  News

Are you a photographer interested in shooting for T.A.? 

Come to an informational meeting on Wednesday March 6 at 6 pm at the T.A. office.  You can also register online to be volunteer photographer for T.A.

Come to the volunteer mailing night on Wednesday, March 13th at 6 pm.  Free snacks, soda and beer.

Delivery People Wanted!

T.A. is looking for people to deliver City Cyclist to bike shops throughout NYC every two weeks. Person must be willing to be responsible for maintenance of store display. Must be able to carry heavy load long distances. $10/hour. If interested, please call Kit at 212-629-8080. Delivery starts ASAP.

T.A. still has two open internships: 

- Advocacy (work with T.A. program staff)
- Bicycle Research and Policy

Please visit transalt.org/intern for more information.

T.A. In the News

transalt.org/media

Latest

3/6 Downtowners split on East River bridge tolls, Downtown Express

3/3 Tolls on East River Bridges? Not in Their Backyard, New York Times

3/1 City Driven To Push A.M. Car Pools, Daily News

2/25 Brooklyn Bridge ready to battle over Bloomin' bridge tolls, The Park Slope Paper

2/19 Pol Raps Car Policy, Daily News

2/19 Councilman targets carpooling, Staten Island Advance

2/18 A Walk on the Wild Side: City's streets a big threat to pedestrians, Daily News

2/15 Mayor Looks at Tolls for Bridges on East River, New York Times

2/15 Mike Eyes East River Tolls: Bloomberg weighs charging drivers to use four bridges, Daily News

2/15 Plan Would Take Toll on Bridges, Newsday

2/15 Bloomy's Budget Taking a 'Toll' on East River Bridges, New York Post

2/15 Bloomberg Proposes Tolls For Brooklyn, Manhattan, Williamsburg and Queensboro Bridges, NY1

2/14 East River Bridge Tolls, CBS 2

2/14 Dangerous Intersections, Fox 5

2/14 East River Bridge Tolls, Bloomberg Radio

1/25 Makeover for WTC Area? Plants, open air and light, Daily News

1/23 7% Drop in Accidents, But traffic deaths increase slightly, Daily News

1/18 Gifted Gifford, The New City Council Speaker: So What's Miller Mulling Over?, On the Line, WNYC Radio

1/17-23 Pelham Parkway intersection named to "deadliest" list, The Bronx Times Reporter

1/15 Traffic trouble zone: Beep pushes safe routes in University Heights, Daily News

1/11-17 Residents Protest Another Dangerous Crossing, Queens Tribune

1/9-15 Think Queens Blvd. Is The Borough’s Most Dangerous Road? Think Again. Residents Demand More Safety Controls on Northern Blvd., Queens Courier

1/7 Dangerous Bronx intersections named, News 12

1/6 Danger Is Lurking Where Speed And Thickets of Humanity Meet, New York Times

1/3 It's All Aboard, if They'll Fit, as Sept. 11 Jolts Mass Transit, New York Times

12/29 Police Release Driver of Van as a 7th Accident Victim Dies, New York Times

12/29 7th Crash Victim Dies: Survivors angry runaway van's driver wasn't charged, Daily News

12/28 7 Killed in Herald Square by Out-of-Control Van, New York Times

12/20 Review and Comment: Calming & Contradiction, Brooklyn Heights Press and Cobble Hill News

12/10 Car Flips Over Inside Prospect Park, Park Slope Courier

12/3 Technology Desk: IT, Marketplace

11/26 Parking Garages Suffer From Manhattan Security Rules, New York Times

11/12 For the New Mayor, a City's Advice on Challenges That Must Be Faced, New York Times

11/5 Park Advocates Jeer Winter Traffic, Park Slope Courier

10/22 THE ROAD BACK: NYC Bike Riding Up 50% Since Sept. 11, Wall Street Journal

10/15 Downtown commuter woes need fix: Pressure building for new bus lanes; many fear job losses because of PATH, Crain's New York Business

10/5 Trade-Off by Environmentalists on Rebuilding, New York Times

10/1 Cycling in a New World, Bicycle Wire

9/27 Off Limits to Solo Drivers, New York Post

9/27 Transit System Faces Tough Test, Newsday

9/19 Commute Eases, With Mass Transit: Holiday helps trim gridlock, Daily News

More Quotes...

Donations Wish List

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

-Pentium II or better PCs
-Laptop computer (P 100+)
-Digital Camera
-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-CALLDOT (hit 0 to speak with a human) or report them online at transalt.org/hazard  

Sidewalk obstructions: Mayor’s Quality of Life Hotline at 888-677-LIFE/5433

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.

Transportation Alternatives is a 5000-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!

Week of March 4, 2002

Mayor Calls for East River Bridge Tolls: Gores Motoring's Sacred Cow

Buried within the Financial Plan for the City of New York, 2002-2006 at the bottom of the page labeled "Out-Year Gap Closing Plan," is a box labeled "Congestion Pricing and E-ZPass Initiatives." T.A. unearthed this point and reported to the Daily News and New York Times that this plan is a very quiet way of saying that the Mayor is seeking to toll the four East River Bridges. 

The Mayor's plan estimates that by 2004, tolls on the free crossings would generate $100 million; by 2005, $500 million; and, by 2006, $800 million. The tolls would require state legislation--a significant political feat, given the fanatical sense of entitlement of NYC and NY State motorists. Yet the City and State's desperate fiscal condition means that politicians are under intense pressure to raise money. 

The Daily News and Newsday strongly supported the tolling proposal, opining that "Tolling the East River Bridges could [ease congestion and reduce pollution as well as] raise revenue to maintain the spans and expand the City's transportation infrastructure." 

Not surprisingly, critics came out with a barrage of rotten canned baloney, claiming that such tolls are unfair, cause big back-ups and wreck the economy. Such critics, blinded by their own free rides, seem not to comprehend that hundreds of thousands of transit riders pay $600 to $800 a year to travel into and out of Manhattan; new, EZ Pass-based non-stop tolling technologies make toll plazas unnecessary; and that economic growth seems to have no connection with tolls, since Staten Island--NYC's fastest growing borough--is surrounded by tolls. 

"Entitlement" is the appropriate word to describe the mindset of critics of bridge tolls. Where is their comparable sense of outrage about tolls on all of the crossings linking The Bronx to Queens (Triborough, Whitestone, Throgs Neck)? Where is their hysterical reaction to the tolls on the Queens to Queens crossing on the Cross-Bay Bridge? Lastly, where is their answer to choking traffic congestion, back-ups at East River bridge approaches and crumbling roads?

Read more about T.A.'s work for congestion pricing at transalt.org/congestion. 

Anti-Carpool Study by Garage Owners is "False and Misleading"

A recent anti-Carpool Rule study by parking garage owners is "false and misleading," according to an analysis by Transportation Alternatives and NYPIRG/Straphangers Campaign. Under the rule, "single occupant vehicles" cannot use bridge and tunnel crossings into Manhattan below 62nd Street between 6 am and 10 am on weekdays. The flawed garage owner's study is the basis of wild claims by City Councilmember Weprin and others that the Carpool Rule has caused significant economic damage. T.A's point by point refutation of the parking industry study shows how completely unfounded the claims of Carpool Rule opponents are.

The detailed analysis, performed by Schaller Consulting, shows that the Carpool Rule is responsible for just 6.7% of the post-September 11th decline in the number of people entering the central business district between 6 am to 11 am. Additionally, subway ridership has fallen less quickly than auto travel into the Manhattan CBD, suggesting that many auto users have switched to transit.

A recent study by the Metropolitan Parking Association attributed a daily loss of 189,687 people to the Carpool Rule, with great resulting damage to the City's economy. But T.A.'s analysis shows that only 12,709 of the 189,687 can fairly be attributed to the impact of the rule. The group's report finds that a significant number of motorists who previously drove alone into Manhattan's Central Business District are carpooling or have switched to rail, subway or ferry since the rule took effect.

The report by the garage owners contains major false claims about the Car Pool Rule:

False Claim: The rule caused motorists to stop using the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel.
Fact: The Tunnel is closed to all motorists between 6 am and 8 pm because it is too close to Ground Zero. (As a result, the garage owners incorrectly include 42,008 people in their 189,687 total--or 22% of those no longer entering the CBD.)

False Claim: The rule kept motorists from entering Manhattan north of 63rd Street.
Fact: Bridges north of 63rd St. are not affected by the rule. (As a result, the garage owners incorrectly include 60,012 people in their 189,687 total--or 32% of those no longer entering CBD.)

False Claim: The Rule kept motorists from entering after the Rule ends at 10 am, incorrectly including 74,922 people in their 189,687 total--or 39% of those no longer entering CBD.

The analysis released by the groups concludes that "there is no documentation that the Carpool Rule has in any way discouraged people from entering Manhattan," noting:

• The vast majority of people coming into Manhattan from 6 am to 10 am--when the Carpool Rule is in effect--travel by bus, subway and rail, and are thus unaffected by the rule.
• Declines in the number of people entering Manhattan at most East River crossings are lower during the 6 am to 10 am time period than at other times, the opposite of what should occur if the Carpool Rule is discouraging people from coming into Manhattan.
• Only one East River crossing--the Queens Midtown Tunnel--shows a greater decline in persons entering during 6 am to 10 am than at other times. However, this is entirely offset by increases in Long Island Rail Road ridership, suggesting that auto users may have switched to the LIRR.

Read the press release and full report.

Sunset Park Connector Bikeway Finally Completed

At the end of 2001, the Department of Transportation installed the Sunset Park Connector, a four mile-long route of bike lanes and paths from the southern end of Prospect Park to the northern entrance of the Shore Parkway Greenway. [ See Winter 2002 T.A. Magazine].

Local politics--including demagogic claims that "scantily clad cyclists" would scandalize ultra-conservative Jewish neighborhoods--delayed the bike lanes for six years. The end of the Giuliani administration created a political opportunity that DOT seized to finally finish the project. The connector includes on-street bike lanes, a short section of off-street paths and a few blocks of "Bike Route" signs. The portion of the Connector along Greenwood Cemetery on 38th Street is curbside, so cyclists are safe from dooring. Unfortunately, on much of the route, DOT installed narrow (less than five foot) lanes outboard of parking lanes, exposing cyclists to a severe dooring threat.

The route is navigable without a map, but the City's pea-sized greenway signs are grossly inadequate and it is easy to get lost. The City should install larger directional signs here--and throughout New York City's greenway system.

To read more about T.A.'s work for NYC lanes and greenways, visit transalt.org/lanes.

The Time is Right to Ban Car Alarms

At a late February meeting, T.A. urged City Council Transportation Chair John Liu to sponsor legislation banning audible car alarms in New York City. The Council banned the sale of car alarms some years back, and this, plus technological advances in pager-type alarms carried by car owners, mean that the time is right to completely ban the blaring nuisances. According to the City, complaints about excessive noise are by far the most numerous kind of calls received by the Mayor's Quality of Life Hotline (888-677-5433). T.A. is optimistic that the energetic Chairman Liu, a champion of quality of life improvements, will work hard to end one of NYC's most annoying features.

Let Councilmember Liu know you support legislation banning car alarms. E-mail Liu at LiuNewYork@usa.net (click on this link for a template for your message).  Please cc T.A. at info@transalt.org.  Be sure to include your name and address so that your e-mail will be treated more seriously.

Need more inspiration? Read Let’s Ban Car Alarms in the Winter 2002 edition of the City Journal.

Read more about banning car alarms.

New City Push for More Red Light Cameras; Speed Cams on Hold

DOT officials report that this year they are focusing all of their legislative energies on removing the State's cap on the number of red light enforcement cameras the City is allowed to install. The cameras are a proven safety success--reducing crashes by more than a third. They are also popular with motorists; according to Car and Traveler, 88% of AAA members support automated enforcement cameras. DOT says it would like to install as many as 200 red light cameras and possibly more.

T.A. applauds the DOT's determination to expand this enormously successful program. Unfortunately, in order to devote the needed energies to passing the red light camera expansion legislation, the City has rightly decided to hold off on lobbying for speed cameras until next year. Last year, the City initiated bills to expand the red light program and garner authorization for speed cameras were defeated in the legislature. T.A. worked hard to pass those bills and will once again team with the City to win expanded authorization for the cameras.

Read more about T.A.'s work for Speed Cameras.

Yes to Higher Cab Fares

Higher cab fares mean better paid drivers. Better paid drivers stay on the job longer, are more professional and are substantially safer. T.A. urges the Taxi and Limousine Commission to pass a substantial rate hike and to impose a $1 surcharge on trips taken during peak periods. When the supply of taxis is limited (as it should be), prices must go up to avoid a scarcity of cabs during rush hour.

Let the Taxi and Limousine Commission know you support higher taxi fares.  Please send T.A. a copy of your message at info@transalt.org. 

For more information on T.A.'s work to make taxis safer, visit www.transalt.org/cabs.

Lower Manhattan

In February, T.A. issued "Establishing Attractive Security and Pedestrian Areas in Lower Manhattan". The two-page, heavily-illustrated pamphlet recommends using "sturdy fixed bollards to replace concrete barricades;" it also advises the City to create "new secure areas and pedestrian zones with retractable bollards" like those at City Hall. 

Lower Manhattan remains littered with sidewalk-hogging concrete barriers and planters that create intense sidewalk crowding and force pedestrians into the street. Retractable bollards use EZ-Pass style transponders to allow quick access for emergency and authorized vehicles. The device is very popular in Germany and France, where it is used to create Pedestrian Zones in larger cities and towns. Both types of bollards can stop a truck in its tracks and are cost-effective ways of creating a network of pedestrian streets around the Stock Exchange and Federal Reserve Bank.

For more information, view the report online.

Read more about rebuilding Lower Manhattan.

Winter 2002 T.A. Magazine  
This issue has been mailed to all T.A. members. It includes news on bicycle, pedestrian and sensible transportation issues, features and much, much more! View the Table of Contents or request a copy!

Selected articles

Bike Rack--Tree Guard Unveiled

Bike Parking Coming to Union Square

Hudson River Greenway is Back

DOT Constructs Long Awaited Sunset Park Connector

Manhattan Bridge: Danger is Around the Corner

Metrocard Mayor

SI Right on Red Vetoed 

Reclaiming the Sidewalks

The Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway: Growing out of the Shadow of the BQE 

---

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, Wednesday, March 13th at 6 pm.  Enjoy free soda, beer, snacks, and the company of fellow advocates.

transalt.org/volunteer

Advocacy Committees
Want to do more? Step into the front lines of T.A.’s campaigns for better cycling, walking and car-free parks. Join a T.A. volunteer advocacy committee. Read more at: www.transalt.org/volunteer/advocacy 

Bronx@transalt.org

Brooklyn@transalt.org,
transalt.org/campaigns/brooklyn      

Centralpark@transalt.org,
transalt.org/campaigns/cpark 

Gowanus@transalt.org,
transalt.org/campaigns/sensible/gowanus.html  

Citywide:
Info@transalt.org,
www.transalt.org 

MAD AS HELL?  DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

Call the Mayors Quality of Life Action Line (real people 24 hrs a day) 888-677-5433 or e-mail Mayor Bloomberg.

POTHOLES, STREET HAZARDS GOT YOU IN A RUT?

PRESS WATCH

STAY SMART & INFORMED

Savvy transit riders get their lowdown on the subways here:

straphangers.org
The ultimate source for bus and subway service changes, rider comments and complaints that produce action. Help yourself and T.A.’s favorite transit advocates--check it out.

Sensible Transport Junkies:

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

The daily Gotham Gazette

Check our maps page for links to NYC-area bicycle and transit maps.

RIDES AND WALKS

Tuesday, March 7, 9am. Ride to Piermont. Central Park Boathouse.  The Weekday Cyclists.

Saturday, March 9, 8:50am. Old Croton Aqueduct - Part 1, Tarrytown Tryst.  HI-AYH, Amsterdam Avenue at 103 Street.  5BBC.

Saturday, March 9, 10am. Four Bridges over the Harlem River.  207th St. and Broadway. Shorewalkers.

Saturday, March 9, 10am. Chinatown and Little Italy. Astor Place Cube. Shorewalkers.

Sunday, March 10, 8am. Scarborough to Croton Dam. Grand Central Terminal. Shorewalkers.

Sunday, March 10, 9am. Belly Bombs of Brighton Beach. Central Park Boathouse. Fast and Fabulous.

Sunday, March 10, 9:20am. Century Training Trip #3 - Northvale, NJ.  Plaza Hotel and other starting points.  5BBC.

Sunday, March 10, 9:20am. Springtime Tune-Up #2 - The Four Boro Bike Ride.  City Hall.  5BBC.

Sunday, March 10, 11am. Historic Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. Trinity Church, Broadway and Wall Street. Shorewalkers.

Sunday, March 10, 12:30pm. Central Park Waterways. Central Park West and 86th Street. Shorewalkers.

Tuesday, March 12, 9am. Ride to Ridgewood, NJ. Central Park Boathouse.  The Weekday Cyclists.

Saturday, March 16, 8am. Off Road - Old Croton Aqueduct - Part 2, Old Croton Reservoir. Grand Central Terminal.  5BBC.

Sunday, March 17, 10am. Jacob Riis Park. Under Arch on Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn. Fast and Fabulous.

Sunday, March 17, 8:50am.  Century Training Trip #4 - Glen Cove, LI.  Cunningham Park.  5BBC.

Sunday, March 17, 9:20am.  Springtime Tune-Up #3 - Brooklyn Sojourn.  City Hall.  5BBC.

Tuesday, March 19, 10am. TBA. Central Park Boathouse.  The Weekday Cyclists.

Saturday, March 23, 8:50am. Century Training Trip #5 - Westwood, NJ. Plaza Hotel.  5BBC.

Saturday, March 23, 10am. Riverdale/Fieldston. Entrance of Ft. Tryon Park. Shorewalkers.

Sunday, March 24, 8:50am. Century Training Trip #6 - Centre Island, LI. Cunningham Park.  5BBC.

Sunday, March 24, 8:50am. Springtime Tune-Up #4 - Rock Around the Rock. City Hall.  5BBC.

Tuesday, March 26, 10am. TBA. Central Park Boathouse.  The Weekday Cyclists.

Friday, March 29, 7pm. Critical Mass. Union Square Park NORTH (temporary location due to construction).  Time's Up!

Saturday, March 30, 9:20am. City Island and Beyond. HI-AYH, Amsterdam Avenue at 103 Street.  5BBC.

Saturday, March 30, 10am. Cranberry Lake. Grand Central Terminal. Shorewalkers. 

Saturday, March 30, 10pm. Riverside Ride. Columbus Circle. Time's Up!

Sunday, March 31, 8:50am. Springtime Tune-Up #5 - A Long Ride to a Short Pier. Plaza Hotel.  5BBC.

Sunday, March 31, 9am. Ride to the Tarrytown Bakery. Central Park Boathouse. Fast and Fabulous.

Sunday, March 31, 10am. Off Road - Raiders of the Lost Greenway. HI-AYH, Amsterdam Avenue at 103 Street.  5BBC.

Sunday, March 31, 10:30am. Jamaica Bay Birds & Sea in Winter. Broad Channel A Train Station. Shorewalkers.

More Rides and Walks...