December 21: 21 Things from 2021 (Part 1)
As we count down the days until 2022, we’re taking a look back at 2021 and 21 things we did together this year, from launching NYC 25x25 to securing more bike parking citywide. Follow along below, and if you found our work meaningful, help support our work in 2022.
Let’s take a look back starting with our first ten accomplishments:
1️⃣ Reporting on Bike Parking
Our first report of 2021, The Power of Bicycle Parking, showed how access to bike parking encourages cycling. This report led the DOT to increase bike rack installation over 15x, to 10,000 additional racks.
2️⃣ Reimagining Crash Investigations
A new law, which TA recommended last year, passed that will create a DOT crash site investigation unit. This is an important step to ensure that life-saving street redesigns happen following serious crashes, while ending victim blaming and premature statements from NYPD.
3️⃣ Launching NYC 25x25
Our call for New York City’s next leaders to give 25 percent of streets back to people by 2025 has been embraced by more than 200 local organizations, Mayor-elect Eric Adams, and nationwide, leading advocates in Los Angeles to launch LA 25x25.
4️⃣ Reporting on SUV Ownership
Our research on skyrocketing SUV ownership in New York City reaffirmed our commitment to state legislation requiring SUVs and pickup trucks to display warning labels at their point of sale.
5️⃣ Advocating for the Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act
Families For Safe Streets members embarked on a multi-city trip across New York State, traveling 1,000 miles, or about one mile for every person killed in traffic across the state annually, to urge passage of the Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act.
6️⃣ Making the Case for Permanent, 24/7 Open Streets
Our report, Open Streets Forever, calls on the City to correct inequities in the Open Streets program to ensure all neighborhoods have the life-saving benefits of car-free spaces — from reduced traffic violence to accessible public space.
7️⃣ Celebrating You at Our Member Party
We honored our Activists of the Year at our Bicyclist Ball and Pedestrian Prom at Hunter's Point South Park in Queens and thanked all of our volunteers, activists, and members who make our work possible.
8️⃣ Calling for Action at City Hall and Union Square
We joined together in community after a year of carnage and the preventable death of a three-month-old to demand immediate action be taken to restore the promise of Vision Zero.
9️⃣ Coming Together for the Tour de Staten Island
After last year’s ride postponement, nearly a thousand cyclists of all ages came together in September to explore Staten Island’s scenic gems.
🔟 Opening the Brooklyn Bridge Bike Lane
Reclaiming space from cars on the iconic bridge led to an 88 percent increase in bike riding on the bridge. We look forward to the Queensboro’s #Bridges4People transformation in 2022!
We’ll be back with remembrances from the rest of the year next week.
Have a safe and healthy holiday season!
P.S. Through the end of the year, a local foundation will match your donation. Chip in today and your donation will be doubled — and power our safe street