School Streets, E-bikes, and Shorter Signal Cycles
More than one million students head back to school this week, with 75% walking, biking, or taking public transit. Our leaders must keep them safe by creating high-quality School Streets that create car-free space to learn, play, and grow. Right now, only about 50 of New York City’s 1,800 schools have a car-free School Street — this has to change.
What do School Streets look like?
Safer streets for children
Cleaner air around schools
More space for kids and parents to play and relax
More kids walking and biking to school
School street safety is also an equity issue – while, on average, streets near public schools in New York City see more crashes and injuries during drop-off times, streets around schools that serve predominantly Black and brown students are substantially more dangerous.
Since the program was launched, the number of School Streets has declined. Mayor Adams and DOT must expand this program. School Streets make our communities safer and stronger; they create secure and welcoming spaces for their students and the larger community; and car-free streets protect students from traffic violence.
THREE THINGS TO KNOW
E-Bike registration won’t make our streets safer. Council Member Robert Holden proposed a bill requiring registration for all e-bikes — a costly, inefficient program that burdens riders. Bikes and scooters are nowhere near as dangerous as cars, and are most often the victims of crashes caused by cars and trucks. Rather than registering bikes, New York City must build "self-enforcing streets," using physical infrastructure to slow traffic speeds.
Shortening traffic light cycles can improve street safety and make cities more livable. Shorter signal cycles means less speeding, fewer cross-street delays, and better transit access for bus riders. Pedestrians would be able to cross quicker and more efficiently by shortening cycle lengths and speeding up progress speeds.
In the news. Here's what we're reading this week:
US cities will soon receive the first-ever set of federal accessibility design guidelines, Streetsblog reports.
New York City cooling centers are back in operation today, offering much-needed relief from the recent summer heatwave, Gothamist highlights.
Documented releases a Spanish-language guide highlighting the differences between moped and e-bike regulations.
TWO THINGS TO DO
Apply for our Vision Zero Cities Scholarship. Calling all students: We have limited scholarships available for the 10th Annual Vision Zero Cities conference from October 18-20! Fill out this form by September 10 to apply. Don't miss this great opportunity to learn and collaborate with other leaders in the Vision Zero movement.
Join DOT’s public workshop to improve 31st Avenue in Astoria! City leaders are developing a plan to improve pedestrian, cycling, and public space conditions on 31st Avenue between Vernon Boulevard and 51st Street. Community engagement is a key component of the planning process, so come out on September 14 and make your voice heard!
ONE ACTION TO TAKE NOW
Celebrate the many eras of TA at our NYC Half Century Bike Tour! Sign up this week with the code FEELIN22 to get $22 off registration! Join us this Sunday and pedal through the neighborhoods that have been part of TA's history and celebrate with us as we look towards the future. Don't miss out on this one-of-a-kind event!
Thanks for reading!
Michelle and the TA Team
