Summer Streets return to Manhattan this Saturday
Summer Streets officially kicked off in Queens and Staten Island last weekend! Every Saturday through the end of August, miles of car-free streets will be open for people to enjoy.
We’ll be out celebrating the return of Summer Streets in Manhattan for the next three weeks. Come out this Saturday to kick off the festivities with us! Don’t forget to use the code CITISUMMER24! for free 30-minute Citi Bike rides and enjoy all that Summer Streets has to offer.
Summer Streets offer a car-free environment for walking, jogging, skating, playing, and more. But why limit these benefits to just Saturdays in August? Our leaders could turn streets into car-free zones all year round. Imagine a city with less pollution, less traffic, and more space for everyone. Open streets not only create safe outdoor spaces, but also support local businesses and strengthen connections among neighbors. Sign our petition to make Open Streets available 24/7, year-round.
THREE THINGS TO KNOW
Transforming Brownsville school streets into safe streets. Streets around three Brownsville schools in Brooklyn are about to become much safer for students and pedestrians, thanks to a $1 million grant. These schools were chosen for the “Safe Routes to Schools” initiative due to high traffic violence in the area. Planned upgrades include new traffic signals, crosswalks, curb and sidewalk extensions, ADA-compliant pedestrian ramps, and more. Our Green Schools, Safe Streets campaign advocates for using grants like these to transform our streets around schools, making them safer, more resilient, and beautiful — while addressing the critical environmental and public health issues visible through Spatial Equity NYC.
Student OMNY cards are coming this year. Students will now get four free rides a day, every day of the year, anytime — not just weekdays. This is a major win for student mobility and access to education, making it easier for students to get to school, extracurricular activities, and more. This achievement would not have been possible without TA Youth Committee leaders like Solomon, whose passionate advocacy has been instrumental since the campaign began!
In the news. Here's what we're reading this week:
Work is finally underway to turn a car lane on the Queensboro Bridge into a pedestrian lane, reports Streetsblog.
A researcher spoke with The New York Times about the spatial experience of New York’s sidewalks by gathering data on the presence of people, benches, trash cans, bus shelters, bicycle racks, and more.
Governor Kathy Hochul allocated $54 million in discretionary funds to fund the Second Avenue subway extension, reports NY1. Instead of diverting funds when a $15 billion transit program is already in place, the governor should lift the pause on congestion pricing and implement it now to secure the funding needed for transit upgrades.
The New York Times covered our most recent Vision Zero Quarterly Report on the alarming increase in traffic fatalities in New York and what our leaders can do to save lives.
TWO THINGS TO DO
Register for this year’s Vision Zero Cities Conference. Our 11th annual conference brings together global leaders who are passionate about making our cities safer and better. Join city officials, planners, engineers, advocates, scholars, and industry experts as they share insights, explore new strategies, and discover cutting-edge solutions to challenges facing our cities. Be part of the conversation and register today!
Join us for our Pedestrian Prom. Tickets are now available for our annual member party — the Pedestrian Prom! Sign up now to celebrate safe streets advocacy with us on September 10 at Brooklyn Brewery. Member tickets begin at just $10. Don't miss out—sign up now!
ONE ACTION TO TAKE NOW
Send an email in support of congestion pricing to Kathy Hochul. Delaying congestion pricing disregards the millions of New Yorkers who rely on public transportation daily, catering only to the program’s loudest critics. Stalling congestion pricing harms both New York and its residents. Please take a moment today to tell Governor Hochul: stop delaying congestion pricing.
P.S. Share your feedback on the city's truck route network. Today's the last day to submit feedback on how New York City can improve the movement of trucks on our streets to make it safer for pedestrians, bike riders, and everyone using our streets. Submit feedback today.
