Transportation Alternatives applauds Mayor Bloomberg's pledge in today's State of the City address to bring "traffic engineering improvements to 25 high-accident areas [that are] especially problematic for seniors."

Because so few streets are safe enough for seniors to walk, they are struck and killed by cars at twice the rate of other New Yorkers. This hostile walking environment forces many into sedentary isolation. The Mayor's plan to design streets to protect senior citizens will enable New Yorkers to maintain better health, social connections and independence as they age.

"This is a huge victory," says Karla Quintero, of Transportation Alternatives' Safe Routes for Seniors program. "Senior citizens are grossly overrepresented in pedestrian crashes because our streets do not accommodate for their slower walking speeds and higher vulnerability. Poor pedestrian safety is a major quality of life issue for senior citizens and it is finally getting the attention it deserves."

Wide streets, speeding cars and inadequate time to cross the street are some of the most pressing issues facing seniors. Transportation Alternatives will continue to work with senior citizens and communities throughout the city to ensure that the Mayor's initiative brings pedestrian improvements to the senior-rich neighborhoods of New York.

Transportation Alternatives thanks the senior citizens and community leaders that have participated over the last five years in the Safe Routes for Seniors campaign and the NYS Department of Health Healthy Heart Program for funding T.A.'s work in this area. For more information visit: www.saferoutesforseniors.org