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| Take Action to ensure that Albany says yes to $500 million in traffic relief and transit funding.
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Articles and Actions
Events and Alerts
T.A. in the News
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Rally Sunday! 72 Hours to Win Congestion Pricing |
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New Yorkers are waiting for Albany to act on congestion pricing.
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The clock is ticking. If you do one thing to help win a healthier city for this generation and the next, join us on Sunday.
Mass transit is the lifeblood of the region. It's the most efficient, healthy and economic way to move millions of people in, out and around NYC, and it desperately needs improvement.
Now, take a moment to consider shelling out $3 for a subway trip and $114 for an unlimited ride metro card. Those are the prices that straphangers may soon see if Albany doesn't pass a congestion pricing plan by July 16th.
That's right, if Albany doesn't ok the Mayor's congestion pricing plan by Monday, the city will lose out on $500 million in federal funds that would improve mass transit, stave off a fare hike and help implement congestion pricing.
Without this money and the $400 in million annual revenues from pricing, we all could be stuck with a 50% fare increase, more crowded subways and busses, dirtier air and constant gridlock, all to appease the powerful 5% of NYC commuters who drive to Manhattan
Everyone (even those who must drive) will benefit from congestion pricing and traffic relief, and the people who will benefit the most from its mass transit, health, environmental, economic and quality of life benefits are transit riders, low and middle income New Yorkers (who commute by transit at two to three times the rate of the more well-off) and neighborhoods inundated with traffic (which are disproportionately low income and working class communities, PDF).
And so, it is disingenuous that the naysayers in Albany who most vehemently oppose pricing are claiming to do so in the name of its greatest beneficiaries. On Monday, Assemblymember Richard Brodsky (D-Westchester) released a report (PDF) detailing how and why congestion pricing was a bad idea. The most glaring of the report's many dazzling errors was the assertion that congestion pricing will "disproportionately and unfairly target people of low and moderate income" in the outerboroughs. The fact is that outerborough workers who take transit to work in Manhattan and the congestion pricing zone make 23% less than their neighbors who drive there and that only 5% of outerborough workers drive to Manhattan.
The reality is that Brodsky, whose constituents that drive to work in Manhattan make about $176,000 annually--the highest household income of any New York county in the metropolitan area--had little more than the status quo, the next election and the color of money in mind when authoring his so called report.
Would PlaNYC and congestion pricing be supported by NYC's leading environmental justice advocates, like the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance, UPROSE and WE ACT, or by labor leaders, like the New York City Central Labor Council, Urban Agenda and NYC Apollo Alliance and the New York Industrial Retention Network, or by the city's leading advocates for the middle class and the aspiring middle class, the Drum Major Institute, if these initiatives did not benefit low and middle income and working class New Yorkers?
Time is running out! If Albany doesn't pass a congestion pricing plan millions of New Yorkers will suffer and billions of dollars will be lost.
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Take Action:
Time is Running Out!
Rally for Congestion Pricing and Show our Strength!
Join Transportation Alternatives and the Campaign for New York's Future this Sunday morning as we rally at City Hall to win the last-minute passage of congestion pricing. With only a few days left before the federal deadline for $500,000,000 (million) in funding lapses, this is our last chance to push Albany to take action.
On the day before the deadline, we will send a clear message that New Yorkers demand better transit, less traffic and cleaner air. Wear green, bring friends and family, and help make this eleventh hour push count!
When: Sunday July 15th, 10:15 am, rain or shine
Where: Steps of City Hall
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Bike Share NYC |
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The NY Bike Share Charrette included a 5-day bike share experiment, presentations and an exhibit featuring bike share programs from around the world.
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On July 15th, Paris is launching a low-cost bike rental program with 10,000 bikes at 750 stations around the city. There will be virtually free bikes every 900 feet on Paris' streets. Parisian City officials are taking pride in the fact that their city is the first world capital to adopt such a major green biking initiative, begging the question of how Mayor Bloomberg and PlaNYC will respond to such an investment in non-polluting transportation.
This past week the Forum for Urban Design held a design charrette in lower Manhattan to assess the viability of a bike share program in NYC. JC Decaux, Cemusa and Clear Channel gave presentations about their international bike share programs, attendees designed versions of a could-be NYC bike share program and there was a daily mock bike share experiment, whereby people actually tested out and the bike share experience.
A bike share program in NYC will encourage cycling and would be yet another way to help reach Mayor Bloomberg's goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30% and achieving the cleanest air of any big city in the country. With the DOT striping bike lanes in record numbers and daily bike riding at an all time high, a bike share program will also help meet New Yorkers' demands for more and better cycling on our city streets.
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The Streets Are a Changing |
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The DOT has been busy making NYC friendlier for bikers, walkers and transit takers.
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DUMBO now has a pedestrian plaza, Broadway got bus bulbs, Bedford Avenue swapped a car-parking spot for bike racks and 9th street in Park Slope now has buffered bike lanes and a median.
Although much transportation news has focused around congestion pricing in recent months, since April, the DOT with the support and encouragement of T.A. and its members, has been steadily implementing progressive plans that boost biking, walking and mass transit in neighborhoods throughout the City.
Clarence Eckerson of Streetfilms put together a great video showing some of the most impressive improvements. Check it out! Forward it around! It's proof we're winning!
If your neighborhood is in need of bike and pedestrian improvements, now's the time to get organized and make them happen. Email info@transalt.org to get the ball rolling.
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| July 25th: 3rd Annual T.A. Summer Benefit |
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Join us at the 3rd annual summer benefit on July 25th.
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Please join us at the event of the summer as we celebrate how far we've come and set our sites on the future. Your ticket to the summer benefit will support our Green the Streets campaign.
This is the moment to celebrate and support livable streets in New York City.
This year, we'll honor Mark Gorton with the 2nd Annual Gurin Award for Improving Biking and Walking in New York City.
Village Restaurant
Wednesday, July 25th
62 W. 9th Street (near 6th Avenue)
Manhattan
Cocktails: 7 - 8pm
Dinner: 8 - 9pm
Seasonal menu and wine pairing. Vegetarian option will be available. Special thanks to Village Restaurant and Chef Stephen Lyle.
Please RSVP by July 20th at transalt.org/benefit or by telephone at 212-629-8080.
Place your bid for one or more Icons of a Living City. A silent auction will take place all evening for framed reproductions of these T.A.-commissioned paintings.
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| Register Today for the NYC Century and Save Big! |
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Register now for the 18th annual NYC Century Bike Tour. Photo courtesy James Cash on flickr.com.
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Think you know NYC? You haven't seen it all until you've ridden the NYC Century Bike Tour. With five route options (15-, 35-, 55-, 75- and 100-miles) we have something for all ages and abilities. And if you've ridden before--get ready! We have some great changes for 2007 including a new 75-mile route that will take you to the Bronx! No matter what route you pick we are there to support and celebrate you every pedal of the way! We have friendly marshals and volunteers to help you on your way and fully stocked rest sops to keep you fed and hydrated like a pro.
Early Registration ends July 28th! Sign up today at NYCCentury.org and explore NYC!
Ride with the Hazard ID and Route Marking Team
Dozens of T.A. volunteers will take to the streets this month on Hazard ID Bike Rides. We'll be marking, recording and reporting pot holes along the entire route of T.A.'s NYC Century Bike Tour including the most heavily trafficked bike lanes.
Hazard ID helps us maintain safe road conditions for thousands of bicyclists and pedestrians. Join one of our teams for a ten mile stretch (about two to three hours) in your neighborhood, or for a casual patrol along one of NYC's scenic off-street bike paths! We'll also be sending out teams for route marking along sections of T.A.'s NYC Century Bike Tour. Email volunteer@transalt.org or call Wiley at 646-873-6008 to sign up for a route.
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| Car-Free Grand Concourse |
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Come see the Bronx's grand boulevard car-free.
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Come and join us as we bike, walk and play on a Car-Free Grand Concourse. Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, Jr. has brought Car-Free Sundays back for a third year.
12 - 4pm Rain or Shine
For more information, call 718-590-3989 or visit ilovethebronx.com.
To volunteer at Transportation Alternatives' bicycling station at the Car-Free Sundays email volunteer@transalt.org.
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| Bike to the Cyclones |
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Baseball, bikes and Coney Island: It's officially Summer.
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T.A.'s First Annual Bike to Key Span Park
July 29th, 2007
4:15pm (Feeder Ride Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Park) Game time: 5:00 pm
Leave the traffic behind and bike to Key Span Park! Join us for a 7-mile ride to see the Brooklyn Cyclones vs. the Vermont Lake Monsters. Marshals from Transportation Alternatives will escort you to the game via on street bicycle lanes and off street greenways at a leisurely pace. Riders of all skill levels are welcome. Riders who wish to take their own route and starting location are also encouraged to join in the spirit of the day and meet us at the game.
Once at Key Span Park, free attended bike parking close to the stadium entrance will be provided. The ride is free. Meet at Grand Army Plaza entrance to Park at 4:15 pm.
To purchase discounted tickets for the game, go to brooklyncyclones.com and click on Special Tickets, find Bike to Key Span Park and type in BIKE as the special code or call 718-507-TIXX.
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| Petitioning for a Faster F |
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F train express? V train to Brooklyn? Sign the petition and see!
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Gary Reilly of Brooklyn Streets has been getting a lot of attention for his plan to reinstate express F Train service and extend local V train service, a plan T.A. fully supports. Take a second to support this effort and sign the online petition.
The infrastructure exists to support a local and express on this line, analogous to the A and C trains on the 8th Avenue line. This will have the combined benefits of shorter commute times for those commuting from further out in Brooklyn, and more breathing room for commuters closer to Manhattan (Carroll Street, Bergen Street, Smith and 9th).
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| Bike Shorts |
On July 21st, be sure to check out the first installment of Bike Shorts: Short Films about the Bike. Each movie is 5 minutes or less. There will be a $100 cash prize for the evenings best short.
8pm and 10:30pm
Monkeytown
58 N 3rd Street
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
These bike shorts don't stink.
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| Keep T.A. Rolling: Become a Member Today |
Want to help keep T.A. StreetBeat stories full of good news for cyclists, pedestrians, and mass transit riders? Join Transportation Alternatives today!
When you become a member, for as little as $30 per year, your membership dollars go to work right away to help us bring you safer, cleaner and friendlier streets and an overall better New York City. Join today and help us win our campaigns for congestion pricing for New York City, Car-free Central and Prospect Parks, more bike lanes and more traffic calming measures throughout the five boroughs.
Members also get great benefits like discounts at over 100 NYC area bike shops, a copy of our quarterly Transportation Alternatives Magazine, discounts on T.A.'s NYC Century Bike Tour and more!
Membership dollars are what keep T.A. rolling -- Join Transportation Alternatives today!
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| T. A. In The News |
In This Case, It's O.K. to Take a Bike That's Not Yours, New York Times, 7/10
Approval of Bloomberg's Plan for Traffic Seems Unlikely, New York Times, 7/10
Shelly Snubs Mike's D.C. Congest-Price Push, New York Daily News, 7/10
Mayor Heads to D.C. To Talk Traffic, Guns, New York Sun, 7/10
Uncertainty About Congestion Pricing's Fate, gothamist,
Congestion Pricing: It's Getting Personal, New York Times, 7/10
Mike Can Do More for City's Traffic, am New York, 7/9
Congestion Pricing Showdown: Bloomberg Vs. Brodsky, gothamist, 7/9
Follow the Leader: Consumer Congestion Pricing, New York Press, 7/9
Pro Bono Barrister: Attorney Howe Helps Lead Effort For Verrazano Narrows Lifeway, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 7/9
Pandering to the Privileged, New York Press, 7/9
Point, Counterpoint, New York Daily News, 7/9
Gridlocked Manhattan Considers Daily Driving Fee, The Detroit News, 7/8
Gridlocked Manhattan Considers Daily Driving Fee, Contra Costa Times, 7/8
Manhattan on $8 a Day -- Just to Drive, Los Angeles Times, 7/7
Faux Holy Roller Gets Arrested for Preaching The First Amendment at Critical Mass, Huffington Post, 7/6
What Shade Are You?, Time Out New York, 7/5
94th Seizes Bikes on Bedford, Queens Ledger, 7/5
Starting in July, Fulton St. Will Mostly Be Closed for Over 2 Years, Downtown Express, 6/29
First Annual Jane Jacobs Award, Mobilizing the Region, 6/29
Express F Rally Today, with Council Members, StreetsBlog, 6/28
David Byrne on Bicycling in NYC, StreetsBlog, 6/28
Barry Benepe, Greenmarket founder, gets Jacobs Award, The Villager, 6/27
Cyclists Ride the Police Over 'Bike Blitz' Operation, The Villager, 6/27
Parks Commish's Dad Founds Greenmarket, Wins Award, Scolds Son, New York Magazine, 6/26
10 New Racks an Incentive for Bike Riders, Staten Island Advance, 6/26
Congestion Plan Road to Riches, New York Daily News, 6/24
Seniors to DOT: Fix the light!, Brooklyn Paper, 6/23
Two Bicyclists Die in Separate Incidents, gothamist, 6/23
As Vespa Popularity Rises, City May Try To Make Vroom, New York Sun, 6/20
NYC Gets Boost as Sweden Adopts Traffic Plan, Crain's New York Business, 6/20
Write to Speaker Silver at a Congestion Pricing Letter-Writing Station, StreetsBlog, 6/17
Victim of Bike Theft Says Racks Aren't Safe, Brooklyn Paper, 6/16
Going Green in the Big Apple, The Star, 6/15
If Congestion Pricing Had to be Approved by a Legislature…, StreetsBlog, 6/14
Grab Your Picnic Basket and Popcorn - Eight 'Movies With A View' to Roll at Brooklyn Bridge Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park, Courier Life Publications, 6/14
NYMTC at Greenway Summit, NYMTC News and Notes, 6/13
Parks Dept: Central Park Cyclists Must Stop at Traffic Signals, StreetsBlog, 6/12
Transportation Alternatives is a member-supported non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Join T.A. today! |
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