BREAKING NEWS:
T.A.'s campaign cuts City parking placards by 30%!
Read about this huge victory for T.A.'s parking advocacy here.
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The Department of Transportation knows that cycling can help tame traffic. Their new strategic plan codifies hopes for a huge increase in bike riding and much more.
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Articles and Actions
Events and Alerts
T.A. in the News
- "Most people, to begin bicycling, need some extra protection, and we're encouraging the city to give it to them." --T.A. Executive Director Paul Steely White
The Brian Lehrer Show, 4/29
A Strategic Plan for Sustainable Streets
The New York City Department of Transportation released a
strategic plan on Monday that sets the agency's course for 2008 and beyond. The document lays out a vision for improved mobility, safer streets and reduced impact on global climate, all efforts that would result in a world-class quality of life for city residents and visitors.
Judging by the dozens of exciting initiatives crammed into the 68 page report, it is safe to say that the plan is a watershed publication very much inline with T.A.'s longstanding progressive transportation agenda.
From an explicit commitment to double the number of bike commuters by 2015 and triple the number by 2020, to some exciting language about making Central and Prospect Parks increasingly car-free, and plans for pedestrian-priority projects around the city, the DOT's strategic plan not only shows how far the agency has come in a few short years, but also punctuates the incredible impact T.A. has had on transportation policy in NYC.
Other highlights from the document include commitments to:
- Halve the number of pedestrian fatalities by 2030
- Implement bus priority measures and bus rapid transit
- Improve parking management policies
- Develop Complete streets design templates
- Make city streets sustainable and attractive
- Communicate the need for safer streets through bike and pedestrian ad campaigns
- Community education and outreach
The DOT's strategic plan is undoubtedly a great one, clearly focused on sensibly solving the transportation problems that haunt our city and repurposing our limited street space to more efficient and healthy use. To ensure that this vision is realized as soon as possible and work on it continues in future administrations, the DOT should add a supporting 'transportation hierarchy' to their plan, accelerate the deadlines and protect bus and bike lanes from vehicular traffic.
Take Action! Email Mayor Bloomberg and let him know that the DOT's Strategic Plan is a great vision that ought to be implemented A.S.A.P. and codified to stand the tests of time.
Pouring Fuel on the Fire
While New York City's DOT Commissioner is busy announcing
a model for citywide sustainable streets, our Senators, in the Capital and on the campaign trail, are sucking up to motorists and pandering to petrol.
The fact is that the nation as a whole needs to make personal and political decisions that will reduce our dependence on non-renewable energy resources, and neither Senator Clinton's gas tax suspension scheme nor Sentaor Schumer's "oh please OPEC won't you give us some more" spiel are sound public policy.
The gas tax is in place for two very important reasons: one, gas taxes support necessary investments in our transportation and transit infrastructure; and two, higher gas prices, while painful, help all of us make better transportation decisions and force us to prepare for what will certainly be much higher gas prices in the not too distant future.
Asking OPEC to pump more juice betrays some fundamental misunderstandings. Not only do most experts agree that OPEC is pumping as fast as it can, but pumping more oil is a woefully short-term answer to an overwhelmingly long-term problem.
New York City is finally starting to get serious about sustainability, and it's making transportation decisions that show as much. Our state and federal representatives need to catch up before it's too late.
Bike Month NYC Is Here!
Ok--by now you know that May is
Bike Month, but do you know about the hundreds of rides, races, art exhibits and awesome events that accompany Bike Month NYC?
You do?
You know about the Tour de Brooklyn and the Tour de Queens?
You know about "A History of the Bicycle," the award winning short film screening at The Brooklyn Museum on May 9th as part of The Brooklyn International Film and Video Festival?
And about the small-wheeled bike race or Bike Fetish Day, both on May 10th?
About all the free repair classes and teach-your-child-to-ride workshops?
Even if you knew about all those exciting outings there are hundreds more you may not know of. Check out the online calendar of events or request a print Bike Month calendar at bikemonthnyc.org.
Big Chances for Better Bike Parking
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If NYC wants to get serious about cycling it needs to get serious about bike parking too.
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Every bike ride begins and ends with secure bike parking. To achieve the ambitious (and excellent) goals to increase cycling unveiled in the DOT's Strategic Plan, more and better secure bike parking initiatives are imperative. Although the DOT is installing bike racks at an unprecedented rate, there is only one bike rack for every 25 cyclists, and the NYPD uses the City Administrative Code to justify seizing--without prior notice--any bicycle parked at a signpost, lamppost, parking meter or other City-owned sidewalk fixture. Some 60,000 bicycles are stolen every year in New York City and only 2% are recovered. It will be nearly impossible to grow bike ridership in New York City without better bike parking.
This May, during Bike Month, Transportation Alternatives has teamed up with the Alliance for Downtown New York to create a survey to demonstrate the demand for NYC's first-ever bikestation in Lower Manhattan, along the East River Esplanade. This bikestation would be modeled closely after Chicago's Cycle Center, providing cyclists with locker and shower options in addition to secure bike parking. The NYC Economic Development Corporation and DOT already have solid plans to build a bike rental facility along the Esplande at Maiden Lane. If this survey shows adequate demand, it is likely that a commuter station will also be included. If you work or regularly visit lower Manhattan in the vicinity of Maiden Lane and the East River, please take this survey to express your desire for a bikestation.
The Department of City Planning is also doing research on how to create more and better bike parking options at transit locations. The Department of City Planning's 1999 Bicycle Parking Needs Study ranked transit stations as the most desired locations for secure bicycle parking.
Bicycling and mass transit are both antidotes to the congestion and pollution caused by automobile use, and when they work as a team, they make a formidable alternative to the car--flexible, convenient, cheaper, more relaxing, often faster and without the automobile's environmental damage.
To be sure that your favorite transit locations are part of the Department of City Planning's report and recommendations, email them to bike@transalt.org.
Time Out New York's Bike Guide
This week's issue of
Time Out New York has a guide to cycling in NYC inside. Be sure to check it out. You'll likely recognize T.A.'s fingerprints all over it!
Although it may not be as extensive as T.A.'s little red book, Cycle NYC, it's an awesome primer that every NYC cyclist, from seasoned vet to newbie, ought to have.
Community Planning on the Upper West Side
May is upon us, and T.A.'s
Upper West Side Streets Renaissance Campaign is quickly filling up spots at both of its 2008 community planning workshops. With the goal of creating real street designs to reflect the concerns and aspirations of the people who use the area every day, they promise to be amazing events. On May 17th, the workshop will craft a neighborhood bicycle network plan using the best ideas from around the world, and on May 31st, Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue will be brought up to date with a 21st century design for a complete street.
This is your chance to reclaim the streets of the Upper West Side--don't miss it.
Space is limited. RSVP is required at nycstreets.org/rsvp.
Visit nycstreets.org/uws for more information.
Celebrate Bike Month with Your Borough President
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T.A. and the Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión celebrate cycling with advocates and friends.
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Bike Month NYC offers city cyclists the chance to snag a snack with their Borough President. Don't miss the opportunity to say hi to some bigwigs, staffers and other cyclists while snacking for free.
Hazon Hosts a Labor Day Ride
Join the People of the Bike for the 8th Annual New York Jewish Environmental Bike Ride, August 29 through September 1, 2008. Transportation Alternatives members can use the discount code "transalt" for a $50 discount on their registration fee. For more information go to newyorkride.org.
Ride with Hazon this Labor Day.
Crumpler Irons Out Your Bike Month Style
Ride into one of
Crumpler's two Manhattan stores during Bike Month and receive a 20% discount on messenger, laptop and photo bags and backpacks.
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SoHo Store
45 Spring Street
Manhattan
212-334-9391
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Custom Bag Shop
49 8th Avenue (at Horatio Street)
Manhattan
212-242-2537
Bike Month NYC Volunteer Opportunities!
If you want to help T.A. spread the word about walking, biking and transit there is no better time to do it than now. Bike Month is filled with fantastic volunteer opportunities where you can meet exciting people, see strange places and participate with friends and family. Check out
tourdebrooklyn.org/volunteer,
bikemonthnyc.org/volunteer or email
volunteer@transalt.org to find out everything you need to know to get involved and make a difference. Right now we're looking for help with:
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Magazine Mailing Night
Wednesday, May 7th
6-9 pm
T.A. Office
127 West 26th St, Suite 1002
Stuff, seal and stamp T.A. materials. Mailing nights are generally on the second and last Wednesday of every month.
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Distributing Bike Month NYC Calendars
Anytime during May
Start at the T.A. Office, finish where you need
Come by our office, pick up materials and drop them off in your spare time. It could be a simple half-hour on your way home from work or a reason for a day-long adventure to a part of the city you've never seen. No matter what, it is a huge help!
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Tabling at the Five Boro Bike Tour
Sunday, May 4th
12-4 pm
Staten Island Ferry Terminal
Take the ferry out to Staten Island and help us hand out Century brochures at the Five Boro Bike Tour.
To view a complete list of Bike Month NYC volunteer opportunities, visit bikemonthnyc.org/volunteer.
