November 26: “Impossible Ideas,” NYC Streets Plan, Staten Island to Brooklyn Fast Ferry
We’re used to people telling us no. We’re used to people telling us we’re thinking too big. We’re used to people telling us the status quo has to stay.
So for Giving Tuesday, we looked back on what some naysayers have said to see how they held up and heard from the activists who brought campaigns across the finish line.
For example, it took 40 years to defeat the naysayers who thought Central Park should be filled with cars (and we’re not going to let Mayor de Blasio bring them back in his final days in office). Now, can you even imagine Central and Prospect Parks with cars?
People said a protected bike lane on the Brooklyn Bridge was never going to happen. Together, we made it happen. Protected bike lanes on Queens Boulevard, launching Citi Bike, a pedestrian plaza at Times Square...the list goes on and on. With your partnership, we made these happen.
And we’re not stopping now. Watch our full “It Will Never Happen” series.
Three Things To Know
1️⃣ The DOT released its transformational NYC Streets Plan. The plan, championed by City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, requires DOT to build hundreds of bike and bus lanes, improve pedestrian spaces, and invest in Vision Zero over the next five years. The NYC Streets Plan is live now – and we’re excited to work with the Adams Administration to make it a reality.
2️⃣ From Boston to Bismark, see how other cities honored World Day of Remembrance. Vision Zero Network has a recap of World Day of Remembrance memorials across the country. At one memorial in Texas, people read the names of each person killed in crashes during the past year. The process took 12 hours, demonstrating the unfathomable scale of traffic violence.
3️⃣ Here’s what we’re reading this week. In the news:
Open Streets The Riverdale Press explains how 24/7 Open Streets would benefit the Bronx. And, ICYMI, read this op-ed from Council Members Carlina Rivera and Vanessa Gibson in City Limits about why the city must expand the program equitably.
The Next Administration: Read about what transportation experts and advocates — like ourselves — want to see from the Adams Administration in POLITICO.
Infrastructure Bill: Senator Chuck Schumer wants New Yorkers to know New York is getting a lot of money — $289 million — for bike infrastructure. Read Streetsblog for more details and photos of the Senator with some TA swag at our recent event together.
Two Things to Do
1️⃣ Hear from one of our NYC 25x25 coalition partners. Meet Townsend Harris High School student Anil Singh. He and Sunrise Movement NYC are a part of the NYC 25x25 Coalition because fighting the climate crisis starts with building a city that's built for people, not cars.
2️⃣ Join us for a rally for a fast ferry between South Brooklyn and Staten Island. A fast ferry between South Brooklyn and Staten Island would be a vital connection between the two boroughs. Join us for a rally at 5 p.m. on December 8 at American Veterans Memorial Pier in Bay Ridge.
One Action To Take Now
Keep our momentum going with a donation. From advocating for protected bike and bus lanes to expanding Open Streets, your support makes our efforts possible. Your gift to TA is doubled thanks to the generous support from a local foundation through the end of the year. Chip in today, and help build better streets in NYC!
Thanks for reading!
P.S. Need weekend plans? Want to support small business and buy local gifts? Stop by the Holiday Market on the 31st Avenue Open Street in Astoria from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on any of the next three weekends where dozens of vendors and artists will be selling unique holiday items.