Tomorrow, New York City Council will vote on the Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Act, Introduction 567-A. If approved, the New York City Department of Transportation would be required to annually:

• identify the twenty most dangerous intersections based on their cumulative crash count
• inspect and analyze the hazards at these locations
• recommend preventative countermeasures to be applied at these locations and take steps to implement them
• report all of the above to city council, the Mayor and community boards
Subtitle: 
New York City is poised to prevent scores of injuries and save dozens of lives each year with a new pedestrian and bicyclist safety bill that would mandate analysis of the most dangerous intersections and the application of preventative countermeasures.
Release Date: 
03/11/2008
Press Release Contact: 
Wiley Norvell
PDF Version: 
2008/0311pedestrian

The year 2007 may prove to be one of the most important years in the storied history of New York City's development. In a future timeline of urban advances, it might be printed in as big a font and as bold a type as 1811--when the grid system was adopted--or 1904--when the I.R.T. subway opened. The text adjacent to 2007 could say something like "the start of livable streets," or "the bike boom begins," or "congestion pricing kicks off." It may turn out that all of those descriptions may suit 2007. The real question is, in hindsight, will they?

Good morning, my name is Karla Quintero and I am the Deputy Director of Planning at Transportation Alternatives.

What is Traffic Calming?

Traffic calming is a set of street designs and traffic rules that slow and reduce traffic while encouraging walkers and cyclists to share the street. Behind traffic calming is the belief that streets are valuable public spaces that should be shared equally by all users. Traffic calming devices are simple, inexpensive, self-enforcing, and easily

Rules of the Road for NYC's Car-Free Spaces

I pledge to protect all of the many users of New York City's park drives and greenways. I respect the diverse array of walkers, runners, rollerbladers, parents with children and cyclists who share these spaces. I am privileged to have access to some of the finest parks and greenways in the world and I will do my part to make them safe and comfortable for everyone.

Therefore I will:

It started as the Great Barricade and Jaywalking Controversy of 1998. In a public relations fiasco that is more a bad joke than a serious attempt at governance, the mayor OK'ed the barricading of twenty of the busiest crosswalks in the United States. Despite having been lambasted by the public, press, and most elected officials, the mayor and the NYPD have not given up the idea of penning in the pedestrians.

Reducing Pedestrian Deaths

New York has the highest number of pedestrian deaths and injuries in the U.S. Pedestrian deaths make up a majority of traffic deaths. T.A. is working to change these grim statistics.

Most pedestrian crashes occur at crosswalks. In the overwhelming majority of cases the pedestrian was crossing legally with the light. Many traffic calming measures exist that can drastically reduce the crash rate and intimidation at crosswalks.