Broken Record Department: Where Are the Bike Racks?

While T.A. has pushed City officials for over a year to install $500,000 worth of federally-funded bike racks, other cities that received the same type of grant are already reaping the benefits of secure bike parking and increased cyclist visibility. In the meantime, bike racks in New York have been delayed by bureaucratic red tape and an exaggerated fear of lawsuits.

Finally, however, the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) seems poised to begin installing the 2,000 racks. T.A. is recruiting volunteers to participate in a short DOT training session and then scout good locations for racks.

Read the latest news on this subject.

Bronx Report

On April 30, Transportation Alternatives' Bronx Committee sponsored a 4-mile ride along the Grand Concourse. More than 500 people rode with Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer and Bronx DOT Commissioner Leon Hayward.

Ferrer, who presented T.A. with an award for its dedication to the Bronx community and the car-free Grand Concourse project, has lately shown enthusiasm for bikes. On May 17, he rode with 25 Bronx Committee members to the second annual Bronx Bike to Work Week breakfast. The following Saturday, he rode to the "You Gotta Have Park" event at the Jerome Park Reservoir.

T.A.'s Bronx Committee is working to expand the car-free Sundays through the fall; as of this printing, the last car-free day is September 3rd.

With the Mosholu-Pelham Greenway and the Grand Concourse car free on Sundays this summer, Bronx riders have some good reasons to get on their bikes. And it looks like this year's Bronx section of the Century will be in the best shape ever.