March 31: Women’s Bike Ride, better buses in Queens, Staten Island’s Bank Street
Women led New York City’s bike boom in 2021, with a 147 percent increase in women biking — compared to only a 68% increase among men. Yet, despite this progress, women still represent just 33 percent of cyclists in the city.
How can we fix this? One solution is building safe streets that protect bike riders from cars and trucks. Study after study shows that safe streets are the number one thing that encourages more women to bike. In NYC 25x25, we’ve called for building hundreds of miles of safe, protected bike lanes and car-free open space as ways to close the gap.
We will be hosting our Women’s Ride at 1 p.m. this Saturday, April 2 at 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 bike ridership in New York City.
THREE THINGS TO KNOW
Bike Match is back with a fresh new look. Our free program pairs New Yorkers who have bikes they no longer use with New Yorkers who need them. We’ve revamped and streamlined the process to make more matches, faster. Just fill out a simple form and we’ll find your match.
Our campaign to pass the Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act continues. The inclusion of two measures from the CVRSA in the NYS Senate's budget response is a testament to our campaign's momentum. Read a new article about our campaign in the Kingston Wire about our fight for safe streets statewide.
In the news. Here’s what we’re reading this week:
Last week, we joined with Mayor Adams and other elected officials to call on Albany to grant New York City home rule over traffic safety. Read about the event in Politics NY, Crain’s, and the Staten Island Advance.
The New York Daily News took a look at the new Brooklyn Bridge bike lane. While vehicle speeds decreased slightly, bike ridership skyrocketed and the promenade was made safer for bikers and pedestrians.
The New York Times reports that Albany is considering a gas tax holiday in response to higher prices at the pump. Along with Regional Plan Association, Tri-State Transportation Campaign, and others, we signed on to a letter by Reinvent Albany opposing this proposal. A gas tax holiday would disproportionately benefit those who need help the least. And what about help for people who are already using green options, such as transit and bikes?
TWO THINGS TO DO
The Queen bus redesign just dropped. Learn about what’s in the plan. Join Riders Alliance, TransitCenter, and our Queens Organizer Laura Shepard for an educational webinar about the new Queens bus redesign plan at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 13, and how you can share your thoughts with the MTA. Register for the event.
Participate in a roundtable on Staten Island’s Bank Street. Join us for a roundtable with the New Brighton community at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6, to speak directly with city agencies and elected officials in a solution oriented discussion focused on issues and concerns on Staten Island’s Bank Street.
ONE ACTION TO TAKE NOW
Contact your state lawmakers and tell them New York City needs home rule over traffic safety. Albany limits NYC’s use of life-saving tools, including lower speed limits and automated enforcement. Sign our new petition and tell your state lawmakers that NYC should have control over traffic safety on its streets.
Thanks for reading! Have a great weekend, and we hope to see you at the Women’s Ride this weekend.