11/6 Mayor's tolls talk not swaying local politicians, The Villager

11/4 A Vow on Downtown Redevelopment: City says Olympic plans won’t hurt lower Manhattan, Newsday

11/2 Rumble Over West Side: Sides line up for stadium fight if city gets Olympics, Newsday

10/28 Olympic VIPs To Be Easy Riders, New York Post

10/27 Why Use the Park to Ease Traffic Congestion? New York Times

10/27 Where Big Rigs Roll, Howls of Dismay, New York Times

10/24 On Bridges, Raising Money but Not Blood Pressure, New York Times

10/23 East River tolls could float without Albany's OK, Daily News

10/22 Mayor Weighs Plan to Turn Over Bridges to Transit Authority, New York Times

10/20 An Old Idea, Still Rolling: Fewer Cars in the Park, New York Times

10/19 The free ride could be over: Mike talkin' tolls on E. River spans, Daily News

10/18 Big Apple Biking, The Savvy Traveler

10/13 Taking the Cross Out of Crosswalk: Bloomberg's new traffic ideas may have us dancing in the streets, Daily News

10/1 The Sum of the Parts, The Ride

10/1 NYC CityRacks Program in Gear, The Ride

10/1 The Activist: Ken Coughlin, Transportation Alternative's Car-Free Central Park Campaign, The Ride

9/29 How Traffic Lights Can Add to the Danger, New York Times Letters

9/26 Go Ride a Bike, Bronx Times Reporter

9/23 DOT Rejects Car-Free Park, Park Slope Courier

9/22 For Those Who Park Cars on the Street, Sunday Is No Longer a Day of Rest, New York Times

9/8 To Bikers, an Open Door Is No Invitation, New York Times

More Quotes...

Come to the Magazine Mailing Party, Wednesday, November 13th at 6 pm at the T.A. Office (115 West 30th, #1207). 

Paid Advocacy Internship/
Asst. to Executive Director

16 to 20 hours a week. Minimum commitment of one semester. Visit transalt.org/jobs for details.

Time on your hands? Eager to make a difference? T.A. needs folks who are retired, work part-time or between jobs to help our top-notch advocacy staff make the city a better place for bicyclists, pedestrians and transit riders.
Call 212-629-8080 or e-mail info@transalt.org.

Valet Bike Parking Coordinator Needed

Organize volunteers to provide valet bike parking at events throughout the year. You are encouraged to seek out events, though not required. Register online to express your interest in this opportunity.

T.A. still has two open internships: 

- Advocacy (work with T.A. program staff)
- Bicycle Advocacy

Please visit transalt.org/intern for more information.

Donations Wish List

Help cycling and walking and get a tax deduction. Donate to T.A. We need:

-Pentium II or better PCs
-Laptop computer (P 100+)
-Digital Camera
-Good chairs for conf. table or desks
-Computer Projector

Contact Matt: info@transalt.org

Do Your Part for Safer Streets!  Report:

Potholes and Hazards:
212-CALLDOT (hit 0 to speak with a human) or report them online at transalt.org/
hazard  

Sidewalk obstructions: Mayor’s Quality of Life Hotline at 888-677-LIFE/
5433

Read more about T.A.'s work to reduce street hazards at transalt.org/haz

Report Dangerous Cabs: 212-221-TAXI or report them online.

Read more about T.A.'s work to make cabs safer for pedestrians and cyclists at transalt.org/cabs

The T.A. Bulletin is a bi-weekly publication of Transportation Alternatives. The Bulletin has 22,000 subscribers.

Transportation Alternatives is a 5,000-member NYC-area non-profit citizens group working for better bicycling, walking and public transit, and fewer cars. We work for safer, calmer neighborhood streets and car-free parks. Join T.A. today!

Week of November 11, 2002

T.A. Poll: Cycling and Transit

It is very likely that the base subway and bus fare will be raised to as much as $2 this winter. Will you start cycling more in response? 

All polls are anonymous. If your e-mail program does not support forms, simply visit this page online to participate in this poll.

Read more about transit issues.

It’s Magic! Get Cars off of Sidewalks and Out of Crosswalks

At a recent City Hall meeting, top advisors to Mayor Mike Bloomberg encouraged T.A. to get cyclists and pedestrians to use the Mayor's Quality of Life Hotline and to keep an eye out for its upgraded successor, the new #311 system. The hotline is a great way to get cars moved off sidewalks and out of crosswalks: 888-677-5433. The number is always answered by a real human being.

A leading NYC pedestrian expert reports

“I have the number programmed into my mobile phone and routinely call it--because it works. For instance, two cars on the sidewalk in DUMBO were gone by the time I walked around the block. Some trailers parked on the sidewalk near my house were gone the morning after I called. And these things are kept track of, so if enough people call in, it will get higher priority.” 888-677-5433.

Read more about T.A.'s work to reclaim the sidewalks and crosswalks.

Like Crashing in Potholes?

Then don't read on. Everyone else, take note: the DOT now has pothole reporting on-line. And it actually works. Don't delay, take a minute and report that dangerous pothole. Too lazy to help yourself? Report it anyway and think of it as a public service.

nyc.gov/html/dot/html/signs/potholeform.html

Read more about T.A.'s work for street hazard reduction.

Five Easy Things Gov't Should Do to Make Bicycling Better in 2003

There are many, many things that government should do to make cycling better in NYC. Indeed, we have identified hundreds in Transportation Alternatives Magazine and the Bicycle Blueprint. Here are just five that should be accomplished in 2003. Listed next to the goals are the responsible agencies. Also listed are the responsible persons to whom you can address a letter to make these things happen. Please Cc T.A. at info@transalt.org on any letters you send.

Make Brooklyn Side of the Manhattan Bridge Safe (DOT)
The DOT must make it safe to walk and ride to the Brooklyn side of the Manhattan Bridge. It is surprising that no cyclist or pedestrian has been killed there since the new path opened on June 25, 2001. Now, more than 500 days since its opening, a thousand people walk and bike over the bridge everyday--and it is still scary and unacceptably dangerous to get to the bridge. Motorists speed and illegally turn off the bridge's blind curve exit ramp onto Jay Street. It has been more than 3,800 days since T.A. first expressed concerns to the DOT (in 1992) about dangerous traffic on Jay Street. But the DOT's response has simply been to create a nonsensical quarter mile route to the path that requires cyclists to dismount.

Commissioner Iris Weinshall
NYC DOT
40 Worth Street
NYC 10013 
nyc.gov/html/mail/html/maildot.html

Read the latest news about the Manhattan Bridge.

Remove the Stop Signs on the Hudson River Greenway (State DOT)
The illegal stop signs that pock the Hudson River Greenway below 59th Street must go! They give the false impression that turning traffic--not greenway users--have the right-of-way. Each weekday, this puts 5,000 people at risk of being hit by a vehicle turning across the greenway. Greenway users always have the right-of-way over other traffic. The stop signs are dangerous and send a conflicting message to greenway users and motor vehicles. State DOT, end the confusion and remove the stop signs.

Douglas Currey, Director
NYS DOT Region 11 
47-40 21st Street
Long Island City, NY 11101

Read the latest news about NYC greenways.

Fix All Disappearing Bike Lanes (DOT)
The DOT should survey every bike lane and repair and remark them as needed. For example, parts of bike lanes on Broadway, 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue are now gone. In their place, contractors have left blocks of metal "skid" plates, unfilled utility cuts, asphalt ramping, holes and patches of blacktop with no bike lane striping or symbols. The DOT needs to repair these hazardous street conditions and replace bike lane striping and symbols where they have disappeared. NYC's streets take a beating, but never have bike lanes been in such dire shape. They are not safe and must be restored.

Commissioner Iris Weinshall
NYC DOT
40 Worth Street, NYC 10013 
nyc.gov/html/mail/html/maildot.html 

Read the latest news on bike lanes.

Provide Bike Access to All City-Owned Buildings (Department of Citywide Administrative Services)
New Yorkers need secure places to park their bikes while they work; lack of secure parking is the number one reason why people do not bike to work. The City should lead by example and allow anyone who works in any of its 81 buildings to bring his or her bicycle inside and safely park it while at work. It is up to the Department of Citywide Administrative Services to mandate that employees can bring their bicycles into all city-owned buildings.

Commissioner Martha Hirst
NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services
1 Centre Street, NYC 10007 
nyc.gov/html/mail/html/maildcas.html 

Read the latest news about indoor bicycle parking.

Track Different Types of Summonses Issued to Cyclists (NYPD)
The NYPD breaks down statistics for motor vehicle summonses such as speeding and failure to yield. This helps the police develop effective enforcement strategies. The NYPD must also break down and track summonses issued to cyclists (e.g. red light running, riding on the sidewalk, riding the wrong way). This will help the NYPD develop sensible bike enforcement strategies, respond to public safety concerns and reduce meaningless quota-filling ticket traps.

Commissioner Raymond Kelly
NYPD
One Police Plaza
NYC 10038 
nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mailnypd.html

Read the latest news on cyclist ticketing.

Press Watch: Long Island Protestors Paint Crosswalk

After being denied any provision for safe pedestrian crossing of Middle County Road, protestors in Long Island took matters into their own hands. 

Read the whole story on the New York Times Web site.

Press Watch: Plans for Downtown Include Greener FDR

While much of the public debate has centered around the future of West St., planners are also considering various improvements to the elevated FDR Drive between the Brooklyn Bridge and Battery Park:

• Closure of a northbound lane of the FDR drive to create a tree-lined esplanade over South Street
• Tearing down the FDR below the Brooklyn Bridge and creating a street-level boulevard
• Leaving the elevated viaduct as it is and creating new facilities around it, including a boat basin and cultural buildings

Read the whole story on the Daily News Web site.

Read more about rebuilding Lower Manhattan.

Fall 2002 T.A. Magazine  
This issue is being mailed to all T.A. members. It includes news on bicycle, pedestrian and car-free Central Park and Prospect Park, sensible transportation, features and much, much more! View the Table of Contents or request a copy!

MAD AS HELL?  DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

Call the Mayor's Quality of Life Action Line (real people 24 hrs a day): 888-677-5433 or 888-677-LIFE.

POTHOLES, STREET HAZARDS GOT YOU IN A RUT?

Call DOT at 212-225-5368 and hit 0 to skip the message and speak with a human. You can also report them online at transalt.org/
hazard.

STAY SMART & INFORMED

Savvy transit riders get their lowdown on the subways here:

straphangers
.org
The ultimate source for bus and subway service changes, rider comments and complaints that produce action. Help yourself and T.A.’s favorite transit advocates. Check it out.

Sensible Transport Junkies:

Subscribe to the Tri-State Transportation Campaign’s e-weekly, Mobilizing the Region.  tstc.org

The daily Gotham Gazette

Bikes in Bogota? Car-Free Cartagena? Tel-Aviv by Train?

Go global at itdp.org!

Give on-line at transalt.org/join 

Check our maps page for links to NYC-area bicycle and transit maps.

RIDES AND WALKS

Saturday, November 16, 7:30 am. Westport, CT. Grand Central Terminal. 5BBC.

Saturday, November 16, 9:30 am. East Side Esplanade. In front of South Ferry Terminal. Shorewalkers.

Saturday, November 16, 10 am. Pre-Thanksgiving Ride: The Greatest Turkey in Queens. HI-AYH. 5BBC.

Sunday, November 17, 9 am. Apple Peaches Pumpkin Pie. Plaza Hotel. 5BBC.

Sunday, November 17, 9 am. Quick Spin - Bronxville Brunch. HI-AYH. 5BBC.

Sunday, November 17, 9 am. Orchards. New York side of the GWB. Fast and Fabulous.

Sunday, November 17, 10 am. History & Topography of Central Park. Equestrian Statue, 59th St. & Fifth Ave in front of Plaza Hotel. Shorewalkers.

Tuesday, November 19, 10 am. TBA. Central Park Boathouse. The Weekday Cyclists.

Saturday, November 23, 9 am. Jersey Diner Series: Northvale. Chelsea Piers, 22nd St. and 12th Ave. 5BBC.

Saturday, November 23, 9 am. Great Neck. Cunningham Park. 5BBC.

Saturday, November 23, 11 am. Jersey City Geometric. In front of Path System, Sixth Ave and 32nd St. Shorewalkers.

Sunday, November 24, 9:30 am. A Ride to South Mountain Reservation - Orange, NJ. Newark's Penn Station. 5BBC.

Sunday, November 24, 9 am. Piermont, 2002 "AD". Chelsea Piers, 22nd St. & 12th Ave. 5BBC and NYCC.

More Rides and Walks...