December 28: Happy New Year! 21 Things from 2021 (Part 2)
Last week, we started 21 Things in 2021 — a look back at the past year and what we did together. We’re back with number 11 through 21. If you found our work meaningful, help support our work in 2022! Now is the perfect time to donate: your gift will be matched thanks to a local foundation.
Let’s take a look at our final eleven accomplishments:
1️⃣1️⃣ Publishing our Policy Agenda for Mayor-elect Adams
Mayor-elect Adams takes office in just over two weeks. Seven Steps to Save Our Health, Our Safety, Our Environment, and Our Economy by Making Better Use of New York City’s Streets is an actionable policy platform for the mayor to make NYC 25x25 a reality.
1️⃣2️⃣ Reimagining our Streets with NYC 25x25
Streets for people are possible. Shovel-Ready NYC 25x25 Streets uses real-time input from local experts, like you, to visualize more equitable, healthy, and safe streets in each borough.
1️⃣3️⃣ Valet Bike Parking at The Met
TA Bike Valet brought free, secure bike parking to the storied Metropolitan Museum of Art, for the first time ever. We parked more than 1,600 bikes in 2021.
1️⃣4️⃣ Honoring Traffic Violence Victims at World Day of Remembrance
We brought more than 1,800 compostable pots and seeds to Brooklyn Borough Hall to honor the lives lost to traffic violence under Mayor de Blasio, while calling on our city’s next leaders to pledge to build safe streets.
1️⃣5️⃣ Supporting Busways to Improve Commutes and Reduce Driving
Car-free busways turn slow, congested streets into efficient, reliable corridors for bus riders. After introducing a wildly successful busway on 14th Street, this year we helped to bring busways to Jamaica and Archer Avenues in Jamaica, Main Street in Flushing, and 181st Street in Washington Heights, while Downtown Brooklyn’s Jay Street busway became permanent.
1️⃣6️⃣ Transforming the “Boulevard of Death”
Years of advocacy led to the completion of a safer Queens Boulevard, transforming what was once known as the “Boulevard of Death” into the Boulevard of Life. Now, we’re campaigning to bring life-saving improvements to Jamaica, Queens.
1️⃣7️⃣ Opening Bike Boulevards
A first of its kind, Sunnyside’s 39th Avenue Bike Boulevard has been a success — making bike riding easier, safer, and more enjoyable. With more in the works, one will be in each borough soon.
1️⃣8️⃣ Celebrating Bike Month
In May, we celebrated Bike Month with competitions, giveaways, and advocacy. This year, 6,138 trips were logged, saving 98,645 pounds of CO2 emissions.
1️⃣9️⃣ Reporting on the Speeding Epidemic
To show why New York City needs lower speed limits and automated enforcement, we recorded the speed of more than 1,670 drivers at five locations citywide.In 2022, we’ll be advocating for Albany to reauthorize and expand the speed safety camera program, pushing for local control over speed limits, and pushing for passage of the full Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act.
2️⃣0️⃣ Turning an Open Street into a Permanent Plaza
The new Quisqueya Plaza in Inwood became the first Open Street to be turned into a permanent pedestrian plaza.
2️⃣1️⃣ We want to hear from you. What will you remember best about 2021?
Let us know what your 21st thing would be by replying to this email!
These are just a handful of the reports, actions, and campaigns from 2021. Thank you for your support and advocacy, and we look forward to what we accomplish together.
We have one final ask for you: 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 streets advocacy in 2022.
Wishing you a Happy New Year!