T.A. Advisory Council Member Mary Beth Kelly is Streetfilms' commuter of the month. The video, like its star, is wonderfully inspiring. Image courtesy Angela Coppola.

Congestion Pricing's Frontline

T.A., Citizens Committee for NYC and Environmental Defense fired the first salvo in the ad campaign to win congestion pricing.

Last week, T.A. launched a major push for congestion pricing that plays to our grassroots strength. With only a handful of weeks before the legislative deadline to pass pricing, we have rolled out full-page ads in 13 weekly community papers in key areas of Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan. Each of the newspapers serves a neighborhood that is due for major traffic reduction and transit benefits under congestion pricing. And to extend our reach, dozens of T.A volunteers have taken to the local subways with flyers letting straphangers know exactly what congestion pricing promises for their commute.

The ads and flyers direct New Yorkers to GetNYCMoving.org where visitors can tell their state legislators to support congestion pricing with the click of a button. With our allies in the Campaign for New York's Future moving on the lobbying and research fronts, T.A. has found its niche in traditional grassroots campaign work. Our advertising and flyering efforts this month will be the frontline of the fight to pass congestion pricing--a line we'll continue to advance as the March 31st legislative deadline approaches.

Take Action! T.A. is joining dozens of other organizations for a citywide leaflet drop during the morning rush hour on Tuesday, February 26th. Join us at one of 10 major transit hubs across the five boroughs on your way work to get the word out about the transit benefits of congestion pricing. Email wiley@transalt.org to sign up and get details on selected stations.

Take a Bite Out of Traffic Crime

Speeding contributes to 1/3 of all traffic crashes.

In neighborhoods throughout New York City, traffic crime is rampant. Speeding, red light running, failure to yield to pedestrians, and driving and parking in bike lanes, among other traffic violations, contribute significantly to the 12,000 pedestrians and cyclists injured and killed on New York City streets each year.

Each minute, NYC drivers run 1,712 red lights, according to a 2001 study by the NYC Comptroller. Speeding is rampant too, and a car traveling just 10 mph over NYC's 30 mph speed limit has a 70% chance of killing a pedestrian if there is a collision. Left unchecked, traffic violations can disrupt the safety and comfort level of our streets and cause many more unnecessary injuries and deaths.

To raise the safety and comfort of city streets for all users, T.A. is working on a traffic violations study to expose the problem across the city and push for effective enforcement of traffic laws. Our first efforts will be focused on the Brooklyn neighborhood of Prospect Lefferts Gardens. Afterwards, we'll be expanding to neighborhoods citywide. We all know that dangerous traffic is an everyday problem. Now you can help document it and make a case for change. If dangerous and reckless drivers are threatening your community, talk about it with your neighbors and get T.A. on the case. Email will@transalt.org.

If you live in Prospect Lefferts Gardens and want to get involved, Transportation Alternatives will discuss neighborhood traffic calming at a forum organized by hawthornestreet.com on Thursday, March 13th from 7–8:30 pm at Church of the Evangel, 1950 Bedford Avenue.

Help Us Help You Throw a Block Party!

Check out this video to see how great a block party can be.

This summer the New York City Streets Renaissance Campaign is introducing Block Party NYC, an exciting new program that is bringing old fashioned block parties with a new livable streets twist to neighborhoods throughout the five boroughs.

Block Party NYC will build on the fun and community spirit of a traditional block party by helping you close your street to traffic and giving neighbors access to a planner who can help them imagine a safer, greener street through a one-day community-led design session. So in addition to tasty treats and a chance to dance in the streets, residents will have the opportunity to imagine the kind of block where they would like to live. And we're awarding mini-grants and administrative assistance to help people turn their visions for a great party into a reality! The application deadline is March 1st.

For more information, you can visit the Block Party NYC website or contact Nathan John by email at nathan@transalt.org or over the phone at 646-873-6025. But don't wait too long, applications are rolling in and grant money is limited.

Bike Month 2008: Call for Events

The Street Art and Graffiti Bike Tour was one of the many events held in 2007. Plan an event and post it on BikeMonthNYC.org.

Bike Month NYC is an annual celebration of cycling that takes place every May throughout the City. It features over 200 events, something for cyclists of every age and ability level. Who puts on all these great happenings? People just like you! Organize an event for Bike Month NYC, a ride to the beach, an architectural tour, a food themed outing or anything else you could imagine, and promote it for free on the official Bike Month NYC 2008 events calendar by registering it at BikeMonthNYC.org today. While you are there you can check out the great events from 2007 and request a 2008 calendar of events (to be distributed in late April).

Transalt.org Launch Party

Help us celebrate the new T.A. website with drinks and dot com jokes at D.B.A. on Monday, February 25th. Hundreds of work hours are behind the new face of T.A. and those responsible ought to sit back, sip a few and smile as the rest of us ooooh, aaaaah and join in the good times.

$1 off all beer before 7:30 pm.

We hope you can make it.

Monday, February 25th
6 pm
D.B.A.
41 1st Ave (between 2nd and 3rd)
Manhattan

Bike Film Fest Deadline Extended

The deadline for submissions is now March 7th.

The Bike Film Festival, one of Bike Month's most popular events, has extended its submission deadline to March 7th. For more information on the festival, a list of other host cities and details on how to get involved, check out bicyclefilmfestival.com.

Art, Advocacy, Media and Direct Action

The connection between street memorials and advocacy will be one of the topics discussed at this year's Grassroots Media Conference focused on media justice.

Transportation Alternatives will be sitting on a panel with the NYC Street Memorial Project, Streetfilms and Time's Up! at the 2008 NYC Grassroots Media Conference. The Art, Advocacy, Media and Direct Action panel will take place on Sunday March 2nd, from 12:15-1:45pm. Please visit nycgrassrootsmedia.org for more details and to register online.

Bike Commuting 101

Image courtesy Bike New York.

Are you interested in commuting by bike, but a bit unsure of the hows and whats? Bike New York is holding a free class on commuting. Check it out and get great tips from good people.

Sunday, February 24th
3:30-5:30 pm
Hostelling International
891 Amsterdam (at 103rd Street)
Manhattan

Click here to RSVP.

The State of the MTA Address

Elliot G. Sander will deliver the State of the MTA on Monday, March 3rd.

As the region grows in population and concerns mount about global warming and U.S. energy dependence, what will the transportation network look like 40 years from now? How will the ambitious plans laid out for system expansion--from a full-length Second Avenue Subway to the extension of the 7 line to greater interconnectivity between the region's railroads--be funded in an era of escalating construction costs?

Find out March 3rd when Elliot G. Sander, executive director and CEO of the MTA, presents the first State of the MTA address to reflect on the organization's progress, and his vision for the Authority's future.

Monday, March 3rd
10:30 am (doors open at 10 am)
The Great Hall of The Cooper Union
7 East 7th Street
Manhattan

RSVP: mta.info/ceo-rsvp or 212-878-0292

Reinventing Grand Army Plaza

Grand Army Plaza is one of New York City's greatest unrealized assets. To catalyze Grand Army Plaza's rebirth, the Design Trust for Public Space, in partnership with the Grand Army Plaza Coalition, has launched an international ideas competition to generate new visions for every aspect of the plaza's design.

The jury will award three cash prizes. First prize is $5,000; second: $2,000; and third: $1,000. In addition, winners and top entries will be exhibited in a fall 2008 outdoor exhibition at Grand Army Plaza. Find more of what you'll need to know here.

Power to the Pedal: Bike Accessory Design Contest

Got inventions? Ideas for bike related add-ons that will change the way people ride? Now's the time to let the world know!

Design 21 is holding a contest that's all about biking accessories or add-ons for existing bikes that would improve the bicycling experience and encourage more people to make biking their primary means of transport--more convenient, more enjoyable, safer and more integrated into daily lifestyles--whether it's for commuting, working, shopping, transporting, leisure or all of the above.

For more information and all the fine print, go here.

Sustainability Summit

Upper Green Side is one of the sustainability summits many forward-thinking co-hosts.

Do you live on Manhattan's East Side? Are you interested in simple ways that all New Yorkers can change their behavior and improve our environment? Join elected officials, advocates and concerned community members for a sustainability summit.

Monday, February 25th
6-8 pm
Hunter College School of Social Work
129 East 79th Street (between Park & Lexington)
Manhattan

Two-Wheeled Troubadour Returns to NYC

Jeremy Fisher will be cycling to a stage near you.

Back in 2002, two-wheeled troubadour Jeremy Fisher rode a cross country tour in support of T.A.'s sister organization, the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy. This summer, Jeremy is doing another advocacy bike tour, playing all along the East Coast in support of T.A.'s "Complete Streets" (PDF) campaign. As a preview, Jeremy is playing two NYC shows, tonight and tomorrow.

Thursday, February 21st
Luna Lounge
361 Metropolitan Avenue
Brooklyn

Friday, February 22nd
Canal Room
285 West Broadway
Manhattan

T.A. in the News

Reinventing the Apple, Outside Magazine, 03/01

Mary Beth Kelly: From Tragedy to Advocacy, StreetsBlog, 02/18

Red Light Camera Blitz Saving Lives, Staten Island Advance, 02/17

NYPD Pulling Parking Privileges For Some Officers, NY1, 02/11

Thieves Target Parking Placards, gothamist, 02/10

Commission Recommends, Officials Respond, Queens Ledger, 02/7

Helping Old New Yorkers Get Around Town, Gotham Gazette, 02/6