March 24: One year of NYC 25x25, the relaunch of our Bike Match program, and more
One year ago, we launched NYC 25x25 with a simple idea: How could we put our streets to higher use by reclaiming 25 percent of street space from cars?
Since then, more than 200 local organizations joined our coalition, Mayor Adams endorsed our vision, the Open Streets program became permanent, a car lane was converted into a protected bike lane on the Brooklyn Bridge, we partnered with Via to redesign one corridor in each borough, worked with WXY to envision five new street models, Los Angeles even launched their own 25x25 campaign, and so much more.
And we’re just getting started.
THREE THINGS TO KNOW
Meet Luka, one of our TA Brooklyn Marathon runners. Luka Jacobowitz is a software engineer who currently lives on the Lower East Side and is running the Brooklyn Marathon to raise money for TA. Consider supporting us by donating directly to Luka’s marathon fundraising page.
Momentum is growing for the Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act. Our coalition has grown to 75 organizations statewide as we continue our push to pass life-saving safe streets legislation in Albany. Our partners at Reconnect Rochester and Rochester Bicycling Club published a new op-ed with a simple message: “We have an opportunity in New York state right now to seize the opportunity and save lives.”
In the news. Here’s what we’re reading this week:
Why are our sidewalks filled with trash, rats, and litter? The answer is, well, a lot of things, reports Streetsblog in a must-read investigation. Requiring trash to be put in containers and not strewn on the sidewalk, as we call for in NYC 25x25, would be a great place to start to solve the problem.
Boston is launching an e-cargo bike pilot for deliveries, according to Smart Cities Dive. These e-bikes are a much more sustainable way to make deliveries than polluting, bike lane-blocking trucks.
Meet Richard Davey, New York City Transit’s next president, in a New York Times profile. Davey, who doesn’t own a car, was a past leader of Boston’s transit system.
TWO THINGS TO DO
Participate in our revamped Bike Match program. Have a bike you no longer use? Need a bike to get around? Bike Match pairs New Yorkers with bikes with New Yorkers who need one. Just fill out a simple form and we’ll find your match.
Join us for our Women’s Ride on April 2. This free, family-friendly event will start at 1 p.m. on April 2 in Joyce Kilmer Park in the Bronx. In partnership with Citi Bike, Council Member Amanda Farías, and the City Council Women’s Caucus, this event seeks to address the gender disparity in our bike lanes. RSVP for this ride today.
ONE ACTION TO TAKE NOW
Sign our NEW petition and tell your state lawmaker to give New York City home rule over traffic safety. Traffic violence is on the rise in the city, but Albany restricts how the NYC can use life-saving tools — such as automated enforcement and lower speed limits — to keep people safe. Tell Gov. Hochul and the state legislature that you want NYC to have control over its streets.
Thanks for reading! Have a great weekend and we’ll see you soon.
Jacob and the TA team
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