Vehicle Weight Fees, Congestion Pricing, Car-Free Parks
Each year, cars get larger, heavier, and deadlier.
These supersized vehicles are killing people walking, biking, and driving in record numbers.
Why? The size and weight of a vehicle is a leading factor determining whether a person survives a crash. Since 1980, the average weight of a passenger vehicle rose from 3,200 lbs to nearly 4,200 lbs.
One solution: Adjust vehicle registration fees to account for the infrastructure and street safety risks caused by large vehicles in New York and on New Yorkers.
New York State needs fair and balanced registration fee structures pegged to vehicle weight and type.
THREE THINGS TO KNOW
1️⃣ Congestion pricing officially approved by the federal government. Congestion pricing received its final sign-off from the federal government, bringing New York City one step closer to implementation and its benefits. Congestion pricing will deliver better transit, safer streets, cleaner air, and so much more.
2️⃣ Celebrating five years of car-free Central Park. This week marks the fifth anniversary of car-free Central Park. A once impossible idea made possible by your activism. We’re celebrating this win for people and so much more this year as we commemorate 50 years of TA.
3️⃣ In the news. Here's what we're reading this week:
Listen to Make McGuinness Safe coordinator Bronwyn Breitner explain the importance of a full safety redesign on McGuinness on WNYC.
Curbed reports on the new bill from Senator Gounardes and Assemblymember Mamdani to tie vehicle registration fees to vehicle weight.
We’ll say it again: Congestion pricing is coming to New York City. Read about it in the Daily News.
TWO THINGS TO DO
1️⃣ Do you have a favorite memory from riding a past TA Century or another TA bike ride? We want to hear it! Fill out this form and you’ll be entered to win free tickets to the NYC Half Century. Learn more about this special ride, and good luck!
2️⃣ Join us in Staten Island at 7:30 this evening for a community roundtable to discuss pedestrian safety needs on Richmond Terrace.We'll with representatives from NYC DOT and NYC Department Of City Planning. RSVP now for the event tonight.
ONE ACTION TO TAKE NOW
Fill out Prospect Park’s East Drive survey. NYC DOT is collecting feedback on the reconfiguration of the East Drive in Prospect Park. Fill out the surveyand let them know you support e-bikes and want to see fewer authorized cars in Prospect Park.
Thanks for reading!
Jacob and the TA Team
