April 7: $3.1 billion for the NYC Streets Plan, Health Bike Ride, Equitable Commute Project
The pathway to a more equitable city runs through our streets. Today, more than 75 percent of our public space is dedicated to the movement and storage of cars.
But a better future is possible.
First, the City Council committed $3.1 billion in funding toward the NYC Streets Plan — hearing the calls of our large coalition that urged this funding after it was left out of Mayor Adams’ preliminary budget. The NYC Streets Plan requires NYC DOT to build hundreds of miles of protected bus and bike lanes, upgrade intersections, and build car-free pedestrian plazas. This funding will particularly support under-resourced communities that for too long have been left behind when it comes to building safe, accessible, and healthy streets.
Second, TA is a member of the Equitable Commute Project, a coalition of organizations that advances transportation equity by providing subsidized micromobility options to frontline workers. The ECP is a finalist for NYSERDA’s Clean Transportation Prize. This would provide the ECP with $7 million to match thousands of New Yorkers with subsidized e-bikes. Read more about the ECP in the Verge and join us at noon tomorrow, Friday, April 8, for a webinar on transportation justice.
THREE THINGS TO KNOW
Our Women’s Ride in the Bronx was a success. Thank you for participating in our Women’s Ride last Saturday. More than 150 people from across the city came out to ride and raise awareness of New York City’s cycling gender gap. Recap the ride with a video from Streetfilms and read about it in News 12.
What would a Director of the Public Realm do? In our Vision Zero Cities Journal, Elizabeth Goldstein from the Municipal Art Society of New York and Adam Ganser of New Yorkers for Parks make the case for creating a central position within city government to maintain the public realm — our streets, sidewalks, plazas, waterfronts, and more — something we suggest as part of our NYC 25x25 vision.
In the news. Here’s what we’re reading this week:
NYC has still not brought bike share to Staten Island, and we believe that putting city dollars toward Citi Bike would help expand the system faster to more communities. Read more about this issue in the Staten Island Advance, featuring an interview with our Staten Island and South Brooklyn Organizer Rose Uscianowski.
State Senator Tim Kennedy, Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, penned an op-ed in the Buffalo News urging passage of the Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act.
The New York Times covers NYC’s slow embrace of electric vehicles. But remember: Electric cars are still cars that cause congestion and crashes. Electrification won’t fix this.
In Streetsblog, read about the results of NYC Speaks — a survey of 42,000 New Yorkers — and what your neighbors want the city to prioritize. Spoiler Alert: People want parks, not parking.
TWO THINGS TO DO
Support Families for Safe Streets as they head to Albany this weekend. Tomorrow, members of Families for Safe Streets are going up to Albany to garner support for the Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act at the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus’ annual conference weekend. Donate to support their advocacy.
Ride and rally for the New York Health Act. Join Grassroots Action New York, the Campaign for NY Health, the TA Bronx/Uptown Activist Committee, and others for a ride for universal healthcare at noon on Saturday, April 9. The ride starts at Manhattan’s Bellevue Hospital and ends at Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx with a rally. Register for the event.
ONE ACTION TO TAKE NOW
Learn more about the Queens bus redesign. The MTA recently announced its new redesign of Queens’ bus routes. You’re invited to an educational session with Riders Alliance, TransitCenter, TA Queens Organizer Laura Shepard, and more at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 13. RSVP today.
Thanks for reading! Have a great weekend,