Come to the Volunteer Mailing Party, Wednesday, January 28th at 6 pm at the T.A. Office (115 West 30th, #1207)! Free beer, soda, snacks and scintillating conversation. 

1/13 Car alarms could be banned in Vancouver, CBC

1/12 Taxis, Gotham Gazette

1/11 The Sidewalks Are Now Clear of Trash but, Oh, Those Restaurant Basements, The New York Times

1/7 Gov's driven to get killers off the road: News crusade the spark, Daily News

1/5 Mad as Hell Dept.: Cause for Alarm, The New Yorker

1/1 DOT Reexamines Manhattan Bridge Bicycle and Pedestrian Access, The Ride

12/31 Gridlock Sam's Gridlock Buster of the Year Awards, Daily News

12/29 State spares the rod for those who kill with cars, Daily News

12/16 TA Slashes 468 Subway Jobs, New York Post

12/15 MTA Committee Recommends Cuts, Newsday

More Quotes...

NYC Century Bike Tour Coordinator Wanted
See transalt.org/jobs for more information.

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 Volunteers Needed

Volunteer to provide valet bike parking at events throughout the year. 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 (Pentium II or better)
-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 26,000 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!

January 16, 2004

Higher Pay and Safer Cab Drivers

On January 12th, T.A. released a new report entitled "Higher Pay, Safer Cabbies: The Relationship Between Driver Incomes and Taxi Crashes in NYC," that concludes that when taxi drivers are paid more, they are safer drivers.

This is of great interest to the many bicyclists and pedestrians who encounter cabs while traveling in Manhattan south of 60th Street. The report was prepared by Bruce Schaller, a widely-respected transportation analyst. It compares crash records of different groups of drivers for the same time period, examining changes in the number of taxis involved in crashes and changes in driver incomes. The report’s release was timed to influence the decision on raising cab fares and drew the attention of the news media:

• It's a fare assumption: Study: Hack hike will curb crashes, Daily News, January 12, 2004
• Fair Hike Could Mean Safer Cabs, New York Post, January 12, 2004

Background

• Medallion cabs constitute 30% to 50% of traffic on major Manhattan avenues.
• In 1999, cab drivers were involved in 16% of all injury crashes in Manhattan.
• Citywide, cab drivers injured 4,478 people in 1999, including: 1,005 pedestrians and bicyclists, 875 taxi passengers, 772 taxi drivers and 687 people in other vehicles.

Analysis
According to Schaller, taxi drivers who are under greater financial pressure tend to work longer hours, become more fatigued and are more likely to make mistakes that cause crashes. Financial strains may also pressure drivers to drive dangerously. Driver incomes also affect the overall attractiveness of the job. Higher pay makes driving a cab more attractive, and produces a more qualified and experienced driver corps. Conversely, studies suggest that lower incomes contribute to rapid turnover among drivers as they seek better-paying jobs.

T.A. Calls for Higher Pay and Safer Drivers

Given the results of the report, T.A. is urging the Taxi and Limousine Commission to increase cab fares by 25% to 45% and pass on a large portion of that increase to cab drivers. Paying cabbies more will make New York City streets safer. From a public safety perspective, the Taxi and Limousine Commission should substantially raise cab fares and driver incomes. Transit riders are paying more, and so should taxi riders, who are typically wealthier than other New Yorkers.

Contact the Taxi and Limousine Commission and tell it that you want higher fares and better paid and safer cab drivers.

Send a fax using the easy form below and modify the subject and body of the text as you see fit. If your e-mail program does not support forms, simply visit this page online:

www.transalt.org/press/askta/040115.html 

Daily News Joins Fight against Killer Drivers
Outrage that only 14% of Killer Drivers Charged

T.A. applauds the NY Daily News for its "Save a Life, Change the Law" campaign to pressure the governor and state legislature to make killer drivers accountable for their actions. The campaign has already won a pledge by Governor Pataki and some legislators to reform state laws to make it possible to prosecute and convict killer drivers.

The News found that between 2000 and 2002, motorists killed 580 New York City pedestrians, but only 80 motorists were charged with a crime. Prosecutors interviewed by the News confirmed T.A.’s long-time assertion that state law makes it almost impossible for prosecutors to convict even the most reckless killer drivers. According to Brooklyn D.A. Maureen McCormick, under existing law killer driver "cases are as heartbreaking as they are difficult to prove." One victim’s son told the News, "If you kill someone with a car, you are in very good shape." He is right. In New York, killer drivers who use the "Oops, I blacked out" before my car jumped the curb at 60 mph excuse are impossible to prosecute.

Governor Proposes New Laws for Killer Drivers

Thanks to the Daily News' "Save a Life, Change the Law" campaign, Governor Pataki is proposing a package of new laws with which to hold killer drivers accountable for their actions. T.A. supports measures to hold killer drivers accountable. As reported by the News, the Governor seeks to:

• REMOVE district attorneys’ burden of proving criminal negligence when a driver under the influence of drugs or alcohol seriously injures or kills someone, flees from a cop or violates traffic laws and has a history of infractions.
• GIVE consecutive sentences to drivers who kill or seriously injure more than one person, which means much longer stays behind bars.
• BOOST top penalties for deadly hit-and-run drivers from four to seven years in prison. Licenses would automatically be suspended for drivers who flee the scene of a fatal crash.
• CRACK DOWN on unlicensed drivers by requiring them to be fingerprinted, making it harder for them to get new licenses under phony names.
• REVOKE licenses of drivers who break traffic laws and kill or seriously injure another person in the process.

Observers believe that the new laws will pass the state senate but face stiff opposition in the state assembly, whose leader, Speaker Sheldon Silver, is a former defense attorney and deeply skeptical of pro-prosecution measures.

Brooklyn Neighbors Worried About Proposed Nets Arena

Sports arenas and stadiums raise big transportation and quality of life questions. Huge numbers of people come and go from arenas at the same time during events, overwhelming local streets and transit. But there are still no easy answers when it comes to where to put stadiums and arena. Should stadiums be on top of concentrations of public transit, like Madison Square Garden or Downtown Brooklyn, or in the middle of nowhere, where people will drive to them? Recently, mega-developer Bruce Ratner proposed constructing a $2.5 billion development which includes a new arena for the NBA Nets and high rise residential towers at Flatbush Avenue and Atlantic Avenue in Downtown Brooklyn. Ratner is reported to be near purchasing the Nets. In addition to getting City Hall’s approval, and conducting environmental impact studies, Ratner would also have to get the MTA to grant him air rights over its LIRR yard at Flatbush and Atlantic. Still, his proposal has neighbors alarmed. Critics observe that the arena would require the City to widen Flatbush Avenue, demolish three blocks of historic buildings and threaten plans for a car-free Prospect Park. Proponents say a new arena and residential development would fill a "void" in Downtown Brooklyn.

Big Doings in Downtown Brooklyn

Brooklyn's New Skyline?

Dwarfing the possible Nets stadium is City Hall’s plan to rezone Downtown Brooklyn to allow 14 million square feet of new office space in addition to the estimated 25 million square feet of new office, residential and commercial space already planned or underway. The developments are the equivalent of a new Downtown San Diego for Downtown Brooklyn. Though there is widespread agreement that Downtown Brooklyn needs to be revitalized, T.A. and local civic and community groups are extremely concerned by City Hall’s failure to figure out how to provide transportation for the many new workers and residents who will be entering and leaving the area.

A study of the plan by the City Economic Development Corporation assumes that 70% of new workers would arrive by subway, but it does not consider potential train and platform capacity and crowding and how much new service is needed. Community groups are right to be concerned given New York City’s blasé attitude towards overdevelopment and the overcrowding it produces. In Midtown Manhattan, rush hour commuters on the way to Penn and Grand Central Stations are forced to walk in busy, car filled streets and avenues. After braving the traffic, they then often have to wait for two or three jammed subway trains to pass before being able to board. Is this, and car clogged streets, the future of Downtown Brooklyn? It does not have to be.

Study Shows Americans Want to Stop Driving to Work

A recent study commissioned by WageWorks Center for Commuter Studies surveyed 747 people in metropolitan Chicago, DC, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco about their commute. The results demonstrate Americans’ growing dissatisfaction with driving to work and increasing interest in public transportation, walking and bicycling.

66% would prefer not to drive to work

Despite the fact that a majority of the respondents (53%) commute by car, only 34% of them believe that driving is the ideal way to commute; 24% would like to walk to work; 30% take the train, subway or bus; and 5% bicycle. According to the report, "A majority of respondents liked the reduction in stress (61%) of taking public transportation, followed by the reduction in cost over driving (58%). In the open-ended statements, reading and convenience were reiterated. Relaxation was another key feature. For some, they were freed from the expense and responsibility of owning a car."

See www.commuterstudies.com.

T.A. Response: Allowing right turns at red lights creates dangerous conditions for pedestrians because it increases the likelihood that a motorist will crash into them. According to national studies, 50% of motorists do not stop before turning right on red. Most crashes between motorists and pedestrians at New York City intersections are the result of motorists failing to yield right of way to pedestrians in a crosswalk while turning. This problem is only aggravated when, as motorists turn right, they look left for on-coming traffic and turn blindly into the path of pedestrians.

T.A. Response: Write to the NYPD and asking it to take immediate action and ticket all of the vehicles illegally parked in the Adams Street bike lane:

T.A. Response: We believe the New York City Department of Transportation plans to do bike lane re-striping throughout Manhattan in 2004. We suggest writing to DOT Manhattan Borough Commissioner Forgione and request that the agency re-stripe the Central Park West bike lane. T.A. will also contact the Department of Transportation about this.

T.A. Response: Thanks for reporting this problem. It comes at an opportune time. Right now, the New York State Department of Transportation, which designed and built the Hudson River Greenway, is redesigning a number of dangerous intersections along the path. See transalt.org/press/magazine/023Summer/13hudson.html  for details. I encourage you to send a note about motorists driving on the greenway to State DOT Regional Director Douglas Currey. Include the exact location and time of day and factors you think led the motorist to drive on the bicycle path (sounds like you already have most of this together).

Press Watch

NY Times Agrees: Manhattan Waterfront Greenway is Really Cool

On January 12, the New York Times ran a long, lyrical pseudo-torial (what do you call the piece below the editorial box?) by veteran reporter Francis X. Clines describing a scenic ride and praising the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway. Clines discovered what many city cyclists already know to be true: that the greenway is "One of the modern wonders of Manhattan: the Waterfront Greenway bike path that circumvents the island by shoreline. Splendid. Most shocking, it is perfectly sign-marked; no way to miss a turn. Whoever heard of such consideration in New York? Must be a new and cunning biker's lobbyist at City Hall."

Cheers to Clines. Hopefully, his praise will help encourage City Hall to keep working to complete the Manhattan greenway and new cycling routes throughout the city.

Read more about the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway.

Join T.A. today to start receiving Transportation Alternatives Magazine, our members-only in-depth quarterly magazine—
just one of the many personal benefits of T.A. membership!

Request a sample copy!

THE T.A.
E-BULLETIN

• Sign up for T.A.'s free bi-monthly e-bulletin (fresh news for area cyclists and pedestrians) and win a $1000 folding bike!

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TAKE THE TOUR!
NYC Century Bike Tour

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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.

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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

Insiders Breakfast on Fresh Baked NYC Politics & Policy

The daily Gotham Gazette: gothamgazette
.org
NYC News summaries and savvy commentary.

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

Go global at itdp.org!

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Give on-line at transalt.org/join 

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Quick! What's your city council
member's name? Don't know? See: nypirg.org

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GET THERE!

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

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RIDES AND WALKS

Sunday, January 17, 8:30 am. The Waters Around Bear Mountain. Shortline Bus from Port Authority. Shorewalkers.