Field Team, Tour de Staten Island, Western Queens Streets Safety Plan
Our Field Team Ambassadors just wrapped up another successful season organizing and advocating for safe streets in all five boroughs — from Canal Street to Boston Road to Bank Street and from the Queensboro Bridge to Bedford Avenue, and in between.
Thanks to their efforts, we’ve grown grassroots support for safe streets projects in neighborhoods across New York City.
Your support makes our Field Team program possible! Please consider making a donation to fund our safe streets advocacy in all five boroughs — and through December 31, your donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar thanks to a local foundation (up to $600,000).
THREE THINGS TO KNOW
Local leaders released a new plan to make Western Queens streets safe. This week, State Senator Gonzalez, Assemblymembers González-Rojas and Mamdani, and Council Member Cabán launched a plan to combat traffic violence in Western Queens. The plan, which we were proud to review, calls for universal daylighting, new protected bike lanes, pedestrian plazas, and more. Read more about it in Streetsblog.
How air pollution and unsafe streets intersect. Air pollution and traffic violence go hand-in-hand — as cars kill people in crashes, they also kill them with pollution, and the most vulnerable populations are most at risk, including children, pregnant people, people of color, disabled people, and low-income people. Read Ruth Kettle-Frisby’s article in our annual Vision Zero Cities Journal.
In the news. Here's what we're reading this week:
The New York Times covers Circles for Safe Streets, Families for Safe Streets’ and the Center for Justice Innovation’s restorative justice program, and its efforts to address serious crashes without resorting to incarceration.
New York City buses are running at their slowest speeds since 2019, according to amNY. This is a policy failure: Dedicated bus lanes and busways, required by the NYC Streets Plan, can speed up rides for millions of riders.
The Berry Street bike boulevard is now open! Streetsblog takes a look at the street’s design and how it could be replicated elsewhere in New York City.
TWO THINGS TO DO
Registration is now open for the 12th Tour de Staten Island. Explore Staten Island’s gems along 35 and 50 mile routes, complete with oceanfront views of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and New York Harbor. The ride culminates in a finish festival with food, drinks, and fun activities. Don’t miss out — register today.
Tell your leaders: Daylight every intersection. There’s an easy way to make our intersections safer for everyone using them. Daylighting — the process of repurposing the parking spots closest to an intersection to increase visibility — is state law, but the City of New York is allowed to override this. Sign our petition today and send a message to your leaders: We need daylighting now.
ONE ACTION TO TAKE NOW
Tell the City Council to pass Intro 417 to streamline bike lane projects. Under current law, bike lanes are singled out with a required three month waiting period — a requirement that doesn't apply to other street improvement projects. Intro 417 would allow DOT to start construction just 14 days after notifying lawmakers and community boards.This legislation would make it easier for DOT to install this critical street safety infrastructure without unnecessarily lags or delays. Send a message in support today.
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.
