24/7 Open Streets, Bike Registration & Racial Bias, and the Ridgewood Reservoir
For a few hours Sunday, the normal sounds of honking and traffic were replaced by joyful cheers as New York City celebrated the 50,000+ people who completed the New York City Marathon — essentially, a 26.2 mile-long Open Street.
Anyone who has run the marathon or cheered on a friend knows how magical and energizing the space is. Car-free spaces make people happy. A study from St. Louis found that 94% of people who visited a car-free street felt that the change made the city more welcoming, strengthened the community, and made them feel more safe. Sunday was a reminder of the power that car-free streets can have on not just our physical safety, but also our mental health.
The NYC Marathon is unlike any other day and emphasizes the importance and beauty of car-free spaces. Open Streets gives us a safe space to be outside, promotes local businesses, and connects us to our neighbors. Sign our petition to make Open Streets a reality 24/7/365.
THREE THINGS TO KNOW
Bike registration will not make our streets safer. Proposed City Council legislation would require e-bikes, including pedal-assist Citi Bikes, to be licensed and registered. Let's be clear about this: bike registration has repeatedly proven to be ineffective, expensive, a waste of public resources, and a bureaucratic nightmare. It’s also rarely enforced equitably, and has led to discriminatory policing in communities of color. This bill will only impose additional burdens on those who rely on e-bikes and scooters and seriously hinder our city's climate goals — all while giving NYPD more power to stop and harass riders.
Demand safe pedestrian and cyclist access to Ridgewood Reservoir. Visitors must navigate dangerous traffic conditions to reach Highland Park and the Ridgewood Reservoir. Wide streets encourage speeding, while narrow and unmaintained sidewalks leave pedestrians at risk. Cypress Avenue and Vermont Place need protected bike lanes, wide, clear sidewalks, and a bus stop at the Ridgewood Reservoir. Take action to promote safe travel to and from the park by signing our petition.
In the news. Here's what we're reading this week:
From our Vision Zero Cities Journal: A Day in the Life of a Food Delivery Worker: Describes the daily life of a Deliverista and the fight for minimum pay rates for delivery app workers.
More e-bikes and new docks: Get answers to all your questions about the new Citi Bike updates with this Streetsblog explainer.
According to a new report by the Public Advocate's office, NYC's subway accessibility lags behind other American and global cities, amNY reports.
TWO THINGS TO DO
We need your voice to shape Prospect Park's future. The Prospect Park Alliance is asking community members to participate in a short survey before December 1. Your voice matters and your feedback will help inform park planning for the future. By participating, you will also have a chance to win a $100 gift card. Together, we can create a brighter future for Prospect Park!
Tell City Hall you want a safer Underhill Avenue. Underhill Avenue’s bike boulevard was one of the many street safety projects put on hold by City Hall recently. Please complete this survey today and voice your support for the project. This vital street safety redesign, announced by the DOT in 2022, includes traffic calming measures, improved crosswalks, updated bicycle infrastructure, and new loading zones. Let DOT know that New Yorkers support the Underhill Bike Boulevard by completing this survey.
ONE ACTION TO TAKE NOW
Join our campaign to require daylighting at every New York City intersection. Daylighting makes intersections safer for pedestrians, bike riders, and drivers by removing parking spots near intersections to improve visibility. Despite a state law banning parking within 20 feet of intersections, New York City has been allowed to override this law — allowing parking, in many cases, right up to the crosswalk. Lack of street safety measures like daylighting cost 7-year-old Kamari Hughes his life. We cannot continue to put our communities at risk, especially our children. Tell Mayor Adams and your council member to daylight every intersection to prevent dangerous crashes and protect New Yorkers.
P.S. Make a year-end gift to support TA’s advocacy work. Your donations will support our Open Streets campaigns, enabling all New Yorkers to walk, bike, and experience car-free streets. Join us in our fight today.
