Issues
New Yorkers have places to go, and want the freedom to choose how they get there. It might make sense to bike to school, take the bus to work, and walk to lunch all in a single morning. For any given trip, we choose the mode of transportation that makes the most sense – whether that’s a bus, a taxi, a bike, or our own two feet.
Too often, however, our choices are limited — the bus is slow, the crosswalk is dangerous. Even though fewer than half of New York households own a car, 75% of total street space is given to motor vehicles.
When so much of our public space is dedicated to the movement and storage of cars, we ignore the majority of New Yorkers who don’t own one — and the millions who can’t drive or just don’t want to be stuck behind the wheel. When our sidewalks are filled with trash and our crosswalks are filled with traffic, we can’t walk. When our streets lack bike lanes, we do not feel safe choosing to ride a bike. When our bus is slow, we can’t take advantage of the routes outside our door. Our streets, sidewalks, and transportation priorities simply do not work for most New Yorkers. And it does not have to be this way.
In 2025, Transportation Alternatives’ team of organizers, researchers, and volunteers is fighting to give all New Yorkers freedom of movement. We deserve to choose how we get around our city – and deserve access to transportation that is safe, efficient, and affordable, no matter how we choose to get around. We are currently focused on these seven issues:
