NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene set up District Offices in Central Brooklyn, East & Central Harlem and the South Bronx to address the severe public health disparities that these neighborhoods' 1.25 million population face - higher rates of obesity, diabetes and other debilitating diseases. In conjunction with poor community health, these areas experience higher rates of pedestrian crashes and a higher volume of trucks using local streets.

As part of the NYC Food & Fitness Initiative, Transportation Alternatives is working with partners in these communities to reduce these disparities, promote physical activity and prevent biking and walking injuries and fatalities from occurring. Through our efforts we collaborate with community groups to provide safer and better walking and bicycling opportunities and create better access by these modes to key neighborhood destinations. In addition, we support community groups in their efforts to organize car-free events on iconic streets that are typically dominated by automobiles, win safety improvements to walking routes, increase the prevalence of bicycle parking in the area and advocate for bicycle lanes that connect residents living in these neighborhoods to nearby parks, greenways and other important destinations.