Host a Bike Week event!

Sign up to lead a ride or stage any other
bicycle-related event during May 1-11. All events, big and small, welcome.
Be a part of Bike Week. Register today!

bikeweeknyc.org

Help plan and prepare the routes of the NYC Century Bike Tour 2003!

Sign up to help the hardworking route committee scout, mark and clean the five tour routes. It's fun and a great way to see the city.

E-mail events@transalt.org

3/9 From Racks to Insurance: Parking Guide For Bicycles, The New York Times

3/1 Segway's Breakdown, Wired Magazine

2/17 T.A. Hollers for Bollards, Park Slope Courier

2/16 On a Road That Has Claimed Lives, a Push to Save Them, The New York Times

2/12 Albany Pols Give Tolls an Unofficial OK, Queens Courier

1/30 Hills & Gardens: News & Views from Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill and Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn Heights Press & Cobble Hill News

1/28 Green Light for Greenways!, Waterwire.net's Waterwire News

1/27 Prospect Park Car-Free Hours Are Cause For Celebration, Park Slope Courier

1/23 Plan Eyed To Combat Accidents, Newsday

1/22 Prospects up for walkers in park car ban, Daily News

1/19 One-Vehicle Gridlock, New York Times

1/14 New bike lanes aren't welcome in one Bronx neighborhood, CBS2

1/13 Prospect Park set to go car-free... sort of, The Brooklyn Papers

1/13 More Car-Free Hours Coming, Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill Courier

1/13 Issue of the Week: 311, Gotham Gazette

1/9 Prospect Park cuts drive time, Daily News

1/9 For 1st Time, DOT Sets Car-Free Winter Hours in Prospect Park, The Brooklyn Daily Eagle

1/7 Beep: Cross In The Middle, Newsday

More Quotes...

Come to the Magazine Mailing Party, Wednesday, March 26th at 6 pm at the T.A. Office (115 West 30th, #1207)! Be the first on your block to see the magazine and enjoy free pizza, soda and beer. 

Paid Advocacy Internship/
Asst. to Executive Director

16 to 20 hours a week. Minimum commitment of one semester. Visit transalt.org/jobs for details.

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.
Call 212-629-8080 or e-mail info@transalt.org.

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)
- Bicycle Advocacy

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
-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. The Bulletin has 23,000 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!

Week of March 10, 2003

Commentary
MTA Fare Hike, Thru Streets, "Cars Hurt," Iraq War

Last week, the board of directors of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) voted to increase the base transit fare to $2.00 and base bridge and tunnel fare to $3.50. The hike takes effect May 4. Because of the complex variety of transit passes available, the MTA's fare increase ranged from 11% for monthly passes to 75% for one day unlimited ride. 

The Straphangers Campaign warned of another fare hike within the next two years unless the state increases its aid for transit. The MTA threw a bone to angry transit riders by agreeing to insure monthly passes starting in December, consider a two week pass and give a free ride with purchase of a $10 pay-per-ride pass. Read Straphangers' excellent testimony: straphangers.org/farehike/testimony.htm.

In Midtown, the Department of Transportation has scored a quiet success with its Thru Streets program, which has made crossing Midtown quicker and safer for pedestrians and increased motor vehicle travel speeds. Thru Streets restricts vehicle from turning off of cross-town streets between 6th avenue and 3rd avenue on weekdays. 

DOT also announced a new public awareness campaign "Cars Hurt. Stay Alert" which will feature TV, radio and print advertising designed and created pro bono by the Manhattan-based Bozell Advertising:
nyc.gov/html/om/html/2003a/pr063-03.html.  

Meanwhile, war with Iraq nears, oil prices soar, advertising for gas-guzzling Humvees is everywhere, global warming is still real and New York City braces for possible terrorist attacks.

E-Bulletin readers have responded to the special car alarm poll with a torrent of feedback. This issue we unveil T.A.'s Ban Car Alarms Now! campaign.

Ban Car Alarms Now!
T.A. Report Shows Car Alarms Are Useless and Harmful

The moment has come to ban car alarms in New York City. A new report by Transportation Alternatives overwhelmingly demonstrates that the alarms do not stop thieves, but do shatter the peace of mind and disrupt sleep for millions of New Yorkers. The report also demonstrates that a new generation of affordable, non-audible, pager style alarms, which bother only the vehicle owner, are now available at a reasonable price.

It is well known that audible alarms do not work, but in New York State, the consumer electronics industry has managed to stop attempts to completely ban the alarms, although they are limited to three minutes. Additionally, state-regulated insurance companies provide a discount for car owners who use alarms even though insurers' data shows that alarms don't work. The report also reveals that New York City has the legal authority to ban the alarms.

Currently, legislation has been introduced in City Council to ban car alarm sale and installation in New York City. T.A. would like to see a complete ban on their use.

The report is expected to be available on the afternoon of Thursday, March 13th at www.BanCarAlarms.org.

Key Findings of Report

Unlikely

Alarms don't work

• Examination of 73 million insurance claims finds that vehicles with car alarms were just as likely to be broken into or stolen as vehicles without.
• 99% of car alarms are false alarms.
• Car manufacturers are no longer installing audible alarms because they know that alarms don't work.

Public Opinion Survey*

• 5% of respondents have called the police to alert them to car theft or taken other action to prevent theft.
• 60% have called the police to complain about a car alarm or taken other action against the noise.
  (* Respondents to 2/28 T.A. on-line survey)

Don't Miss The First-Ever NYC Car-Alarms Conference!

Fordham Law School 
DATE: THURSDAY, MARCH 13
TIME: 7:15 P.M.
PLACE: MCMAHON HALL, ROOM 109
155 W. 60TH STREET (between Amsterdam Avenue and Columbus Avenue. The nearest subway stop is the 59th Street/Columbus Circle station)

Please see our press release for full details, including speakers:

transalt.org/press/releases/030311caralarms.html

The conference is free and open to the public.

Write City Council Speaker Gifford Miller and ask him to ban car alarms now

Send a fax using the easy form below and modify the subject and body of the text as you see fit. If your e-mail program does not support forms, simply visit this page online:

transalt.org/press/askta/030310.html#w 

Special Limited Time Offer! 

JOIN T.A. TODAY to BAN CAR ALARMS and we'll send you a FREE T.A. T-SHIRT. 

Join T.A. today to sleep better, work better and make NYC better: www.transalt.org/join.

This special membership savings is only good through April 16. Sizes S, M and XL.

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

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/
hazard.

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

Bikes in Bogota? Car-Free Cartagena? Tel-Aviv by Train?

Go global at itdp.org!

Give on-line at transalt.org/join 

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

RIDES AND WALKS

Saturday, March 15, 10 am. SOHO. Washington Arch in Washington Square Park. Shorewalkers.

Saturday, March 15, 10 am. Spanish/Bilingual Immersion Ride - La Marqeta. Prospect Park Grand Army Plaza. 5BBC.

Sunday, March 16, 8:30 am. Montauk Training Ride / Glen Cove, LI. Cunningham Park. 5BBC.

Sunday, March 16, 10 am. Gateway Getaway, A Rockaway Greenway Excursion. Prospect Park Picnic House. 5BBC.

Sunday, March 16, 1 pm. Roosevelt Island Circular. Tramway Plaza, 59th St. and 2nd Ave. Shorewalkers.

Sunday, March 16, 9:15 am. Piermont to Haverstraw. PABT bus terminal to take Red & Tan (Coach USA) 9:15 bus to Piermont (1-way ticket). Shorewalkers.

Tuesday, March 18, 10 am. TBA. Central Park Boathouse. The Weekday Cyclists.

Sunday, March 22, 7:48 am. Cold Spring. Harlem Line train from GCT to North White Plains. Fast and Fabulous.

Saturday, March 22, 8:30 am. Montauk Training Ride / Westwood, NJ. Plaza Hotel. 5BBC.

Saturday, March 22, 9:30 am. Cranberry Lake. Grand Central Terminal, upper-level info booth. Shorewalkers.

Sunday, March 23, 8:30 am. Montauk Training Ride / Centre Island in Bayville, LI. Cunningham Park. 5BBC.

Sunday, March 23, 9 am. Brooklyn Sojourn. City Hall. 5BBC.

Tuesday, March 25, 10 am. TBA. Central Park Boathouse. The Weekday Cyclists.

Friday, March 28, 7 pm. Critical Mass. Union Square Park North. Time's Up!

Saturday, March 29, 9 am. Montauk Training Ride / Hackensack, NJ. Plaza Hotel. 5BBC.

Saturday, March 29, 10 pm. Riverside Ride. Columbus Circle. Time's Up!

Sunday, March 30, 8 am. Montauk Training Ride / Rockland Lake, NY. Plaza Hotel. 5BBC.

Sunday, March 30, 9 am. Four Boro Bike Ride. City Hall. 5BBC.

Sunday, March 30, 10 am. Spanish / Bilingual Immersion Ride - El Museo. City Hall. 5BBC.

Sunday, March 30, 12 pm. Coney Island & the Aquarium. Nathan’s Rest. near Stillwell Ave. station (F, Q, or W trains). Shorewalkers.

More Rides and Walks...