Families Agree: We Need Accessible Transit
Our community rallied over the weekend in a powerful show of support for accessible transit and congestion pricing. Families from across the city called on Governor Kathy Hochul to start congestion pricing and invest in a transit system that works for everyone.
Together with Riders Alliance, Kids Over Cars, Climate Families NYC, and UP-STAND, we gathered at the Hoyt-Schermerhorn station in Downtown Brooklyn, where crucial elevator upgrades are now in jeopardy due to Governor Hochul's pause of congestion pricing.
Parents with strollers and people with disabilities face real challenges getting around New York City. With fewer than a third of subway stations currently accessible, our rally was a powerful reminder of why we need to keep pushing for change.
Thank you to everyone who marched, spoke, strolled, or helped organize with us this weekend. Together, we’re making real strides toward a more accessible and inclusive New York City.
Up next: A virtual update and teach-in hosted by our advocacy team. Join us at 6 p.m. Monday, September 23, and learn how you can stay in this fight with us.
Three Things to Know
The Washington Bridge redesign puts people first. We’re thrilled to celebrate the new bus lane and a protected bike lane on the Washington Bridge. This upgrade enhances bus service for its 68,000 daily riders and provides a safe, dedicated route for cyclists traveling between the Bronx and Manhattan. This sustainable redesign not only improves efficiency but also makes our streets safer for everyone. After years of dedicated organizing with activists and community members, we're excited to see this vital new connection between boroughs come to life.
The Bedford Avenue protected bike lane is finally happening. Today, the bike lane along Bedford Avenue is cluttered with double-parked cars, trash bins, and other obstacles. But by the end of the year, a fully protected bike lane will provide a safe route from Flushing to Dean. This important safety infrastructure, the first of its kind in this council district, represents a significant milestone for our Brooklyn Committee. Through visioning workshops, walk audits, and bike rides, as well as letters to City Hall and community outreach, we have dedicated thousands of hours to organizing for this moment. This achievement is a result of the hard work of the Better Bedford coalition, and it belongs to all of us.
In the news. Here's what we're reading this week:
We are thrilled to hear that the MTA is expanding its automated camera enforcement of bus stops and double parking to 20 more bus routes across the five boroughs this month, according to Gothamist. On average, when automated enforcement is introduced, bus speeds increase by 5%, crashes decrease by 20%, and emissions are reduced by up to 10%.
Advocates say Sunday’s subway police shooting raises concerns about the NYPD's use of lethal force in crowded spaces to enforce fare evasion, reports The New York Times.
Read how New York City's classic old-school bike messengers were the unsung heroes of Fashion Week as their services for garment deliveries soared in demand at Hell Gate.
Two Things to Do
Register now for our Vision Zero Cities Conference! Secure your spot before prices increase on September 20 at 11:30 p.m. This is your chance to join industry leaders, innovators, and advocates dedicated to making our streets safer for everyone. Register today to take advantage of early bird rates and be part of the conversation shaping the future of urban mobility!
Join us at our Fast Ferry Rally at Staten Island Borough Hall. We’re coming together with neighbors from the North Shore and Bay Ridge to make it clear to Mayor Adams: we won’t rest until there’s a ferry route between Staten Island and South Brooklyn! Make sure to RSVP for our rally at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 28 — and let’s raise our voices for fast ferry service.
One Action to Take Now
Learn how to organize around congestion pricing. RSVP for our virtual Congestion Pricing Update and Teach-In at 6 p.m. Monday, September 2. Join our organizing team as they share our strategy to pressure Governor Hochul to activate congestion pricing cameras. Together, we can overturn the governor’s pause and ensure the program launches without delay. Come prepared to organize, fight, and win this fall!
