May 27: City Council approves 24/7 speed safety cameras, Prospect Park ride, Bridges4People
By this time next week, this year’s state legislative session will be over.
Here’s where we are in Albany:
Thanks to your activism, we are one step closer to securing reauthorization of the speed safety camera program with zero restrictions on the times and days cameras can operate — a doubling of the scope of the program. Yesterday, the City Council voted overwhelmingly 43-7 in favor. Now, Albany must give final approval to the plan.
With the NYS Safe Streets Coalition, we’ve also been lobbying for passage of the Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act, a comprehensive package of bills to make streets across the state safe for everybody. Several of the complete streets bills have advanced in the legislature and our DMV pre-licensing bill has passed both the Senate and Assembly, but we are still working to pass the full package, including Sammy's Law.
THREE THINGS TO KNOW
Happy Memorial Day weekend! As the weather gets warmer and we spend more time outside, imagine what you would do with 13 more Central Parks worth of space. With NYC 25x25, we don’t have to imagine – we can reclaim 25 percent of car space and make this a reality by building space — parks, protected bike lanes, car-free space, and more — for people.
New jobs posted: TA is hiring, and we want you to join us. Come work with New York City’s leading safe streets advocacy organization. We’re hiring a number of positions, including a new seasonal senior graphic designer. Learn more about our open roles and apply.
In the news. Here’s what we’re reading this week:
The MTA could speed up buses today by allowing all-door boarding — the tech is already installed! Read Vice’s new story for more.
Our Communications Director, Cory Epstein, spoke with PIX11 about the agreement to extend the speed safety camera program for three years AND remove time and day restrictions.
Building protected bike lanes can help close the gender cycling gap, according to a new study reported on by Streetsblog.
SUVs and trucks are getting much, much bigger. To discourage these cars — and accurately price the damage they do to our streets — Washington, D.C. could introduce a new fee for cars heavier than 6,000 pounds, writes CityLab (something we proposed in our Seven Steps agenda for Mayor Adams).
TWO THINGS TO DO
Take part in a Bridges4People clean-up. Join the Bridges4People campaign for a clean-up of Trinity Park Sunday, June 12, from noon to 2 p.m. Meet us at the Brooklyn entrance of the Manhattan Bridge as we reclaim this greenspace from placard abuse and BQE trash.
Join us at our annual benefit, the Streets for People Party. Held June 8 at Brooklyn Brewery, the Streets for People party is a chance to come together to honor our shared successes and elevate new campaigns. Learn more about TA's biggest fundraiser of the year.
ONE ACTION TO TAKE NOW
RSVP for our Prospect Park family fun ride next Saturday. Join us and Council Members Shahana Hanif, Crystal Hudson, and Rita Joseph for a family-friendly bike ride through Prospect Park. Let us know you’re going, and we’ll see you at 10 a.m. on June 4 at the Bartel-Pritchard Square Entrance to Prospect Park.
Thanks for reading! Have a great weekend,
Jacob and the TA team
