Cop Cars on Sidewalks, City Adopts Impregnable Chicago Bike Rack, Car-Pool Rule Under Attack (Again), Don't Fence Me In, Everyday in NYC, Thousands Drive on the Sidewalks

T.A. News

Come to the volunteer mailing night on Wednesday, February 13th at 6 pm. Free snacks, soda and beer.

Delivery People Wanted!

T.A. is looking for people to deliver City Cyclist to bike shops throughout NYC every two weeks. Person must be willing to be responsible for maintenance of store display. Must be able to carry heavy load long distances. $10/hour. If interested, please call Kit at 212-629-8080. Delivery starts ASAP.

T.A. still has three open internships:

- Advocacy (work with T.A. program staff)
- Bus Rapid Transit (paid research internship for a graduate student)
- Bicycle Research and Policy

Please visit transalt.org/intern for more information.

T.A. Brooklyn Committee Monthly Meeting, Monday the 18th of February at Eco Books. 837 Union St., 2nd floor, upstairs from the Ecomat, near 7th Ave (in Park Slope across from Dixon's Bikes and the Food Co-Op). Take the 2/3 to Bergen St., then walk along 7th Ave. For more info call Clarence Eckerson at the T.A. Office or e-mail brooklyn@transalt.org

Brooklyn Committee meetings are free and open to all.

T.A. In the News

transalt.org/media

Latest

2/25 Brooklyn Bridge ready to battle over Bloomin' bridge tolls, The Park Slope Paper

2/19 Pol Raps Car Policy, Daily News

2/19 Councilman targets carpooling, Staten Island Advance

2/18 A Walk on the Wild Side: City's streets a big threat to pedestrians, Daily News

2/15 Mayor Looks at Tolls for Bridges on East River, New York Times

2/15 Mike Eyes East River Tolls: Bloomberg weighs charging drivers to use four bridges, Daily News

2/15 Plan Would Take Toll on Bridges, Newsday

2/15 Bloomy's Budget Taking a 'Toll' on East River Bridges, New York Post

2/15 Bloomberg Proposes Tolls For Brooklyn, Manhattan, Williamsburg and Queensboro Bridges, NY1

2/14 East River Bridge Tolls, CBS 2

2/14 Dangerous Intersections, Fox 5

2/14 East River Bridge Tolls, Bloomberg Radio

1/25 Makeover for WTC Area? Plants, open air and light, Daily News

1/23 7% Drop in Accidents, But traffic deaths increase slightly, Daily News

1/18 Gifted Gifford, The New City Council Speaker: So What's Miller Mulling Over?, On the Line, WNYC Radio

1/17-23 Pelham Parkway intersection named to "deadliest" list, The Bronx Times Reporter

1/15 Traffic trouble zone: Beep pushes safe routes in University Heights, Daily News

1/11-17 Residents Protest Another Dangerous Crossing, Queens Tribune

1/9-15 Think Queens Blvd. Is The Borough’s Most Dangerous Road? Think Again. Residents Demand More Safety Controls on Northern Blvd., Queens Courier

1/7 Dangerous Bronx intersections named, News 12

1/6 Danger Is Lurking Where Speed And Thickets of Humanity Meet, New York Times

1/3 It's All Aboard, if They'll Fit, as Sept. 11 Jolts Mass Transit, New York Times

12/29 Police Release Driver of Van as a 7th Accident Victim Dies, New York Times

12/29 7th Crash Victim Dies: Survivors angry runaway van's driver wasn't charged, Daily News

12/28 7 Killed in Herald Square by Out-of-Control Van, New York Times

12/20 Review and Comment: Calming & Contradiction, Brooklyn Heights Press and Cobble Hill News

12/10 Car Flips Over Inside Prospect Park, Park Slope Courier

12/3 Technology Desk: IT, Marketplace

11/26 Parking Garages Suffer From Manhattan Security Rules, New York Times

11/12 For the New Mayor, a City's Advice on Challenges That Must Be Faced, New York Times

11/5 Park Advocates Jeer Winter Traffic, Park Slope Courier

10/22 THE ROAD BACK: NYC Bike Riding Up 50% Since Sept. 11, Wall Street Journal

10/15 Downtown commuter woes need fix: Pressure building for new bus lanes; many fear job losses because of PATH, Crain's New York Business

10/5 Trade-Off by Environmentalists on Rebuilding, New York Times

10/1 Cycling in a New World, Bicycle Wire

9/27 Off Limits to Solo Drivers, New York Post

9/27 Transit System Faces Tough Test, Newsday

9/19 Commute Eases, With Mass Transit: Holiday helps trim gridlock, Daily News

More Quotes...

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.

Transportation Alternatives is a 5000-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 February 11, 2002

Cop Cars on Sidewalks

New York City cops have tough jobs. They deserve our gratitude. But no one, not cops, not firemen, not government officials--no one--should be parking on sidewalks. It's dangerous, disrespectful and arrogant.

As pedestrians in NYC, we face aggressive motorists threatening us in crosswalks and menacing us at every turn. The last thing we need is the police--those sworn to protect us, and our children--blocking sidewalks and intruding on our safe space. If the City can't find parking space for its official vehicles, it should rent garage space or take more space away from parked private cars. It is completely unacceptable and obnoxious to shift a police parking shortage onto the walking public.

Police vehicles completely blocking sidewalk, January 27th, 2002. (Photo by John Kearns)

Tell Police Commissioner Kelly to get police cars off the sidewalks. Use the text below or compose your own text--just click "Send my letter" when you are finished. If your e-mail program cannot handle forms, simply visit this page online. A copy of your message will be sent to T.A. as well as Commissioner Kelly.

Subject:

Dear Commissioner Kelly:

Congratulations on your return as Commissioner. I appreciate the no-nonsense, yet fair, approach you bring to this difficult job. The New York City Police Department truly is one of the finest. As such, the public looks to police officers to live up to the Department credo of "Courtesy, Professionalism and Respect." Unfortunately, too often the public is reading these words off the sides of police cars parked on the sidewalk. Indeed, it would be fair to say that there is a five borough epidemic of police cars parked on sidewalks, in crosswalks and in driveways. As you know, parking on the sidewalk--by anyone--is dangerous, illegal and disrespectful to the surrounding community. I know that the police have a tough job. But by parking on the sidewalk, officers alienate the public, destroy good will and create a sense of disorder. Please instruct your precinct commanders to get police vehicles (public and private) off of sidewalks, and out of crosswalks, bus lanes and bus stops. In addition, please aggressively ticket sidewalk-parking offenders as a part of your quality of life campaign.

Thank you,

First Name:
Last Name:
Street address:
City:
State: Zip:
E-mail:

Please include your full contact information so that your message will be treated as official correspondence!

City Adopts Impregnable Chicago Bike Rack

When it comes to bike theft, NYC is the undisputed champion. Our thieves are more determined, more persistent and more numerous. So, one would imagine that NYC has the most theft resistant bike racks. Nope. Chicago uses a steel, heavy-gauge, square-tubed, super rack that makes ours look flimsy. Now, the "Chicago Rack" is coming our way. The City Art Commission just approved the design, and the new, sturdy racks will start appearing this Spring.

E-mail Dan Orlando at NYC DOT and thank him for adopting the Chicago Rack.

For more information on T.A.'s work for better outdoor bicycle parking, visit transalt.org/outdoor.

Car-Pool Rule Under Attack (Again)

A recently released study conducted for the real estate industry by Sam Schwartz concludes that the Car-Pool Rule on East and Hudson River crossings is severely damaging the city's economy. However, an analysis of the study reveals many significant flaws. Chief among them is that it posits, without evidence, that pre-9/11 transit riders have continued to ride, while pre-9/11 motorists have stopped coming to the city altogether. However, what very well could be happening is that large numbers of transit riders have stopped coming into the city and have been replaced by former motorists who are now taking transit instead. But since the study contains no surveys, this shift in travel modes is difficult to determine.

Additionally, the study does not compare business at transit- and walking-dependent retailers to those with more car-borne customers. Nor does it compare changes in business at Broadway shows on weekends--when the Car-Pool Rule is not effect--with those on weekdays when it is.

Factoid: Prior to 9/11, 90% of am peak hour trips into Manhattan south of 60th Street were by transit.

Don't Fence Me In

What is it with the DOT Bureau of Bridges and fencing in scenic bicycle and pedestrian paths on the East River Bridges? First the agency fenced in the Williamsburg, then, last year, the new Manhattan path and now the Queensboro. In early January, the DOT Bureau of Bridges held an "interested parties" meeting to discuss installing an eight-foot high chain link fence on the Queensboro Bridge path. Unfortunately, despite three decades of activism, two lawsuits, 40 demonstrations and innumerable letters, T.A. was not considered interested enough to warrant an invitation. Nor was the DOT's own Bicycle Program, which is still often shown disrespect within the agency.

While we can't say what lurks in the minds of the DOT Bridge Engineers, we can say this: chain link fences surrounding scenic bridge paths are oppressive, offensive and unpleasant. Additionally, there is no justification for installing them. While "safety" is often cited, the fact is that in decades of use no cyclist or pedestrian has ever accidentally fallen off the bridge. Nor have path users proven a safety danger to people below. (Though, it's notable that during much of 1980's and 1990's very large steel bolts and pieces of rusted steel regularly fell off the bridge onto Roosevelt Island and near Vernon Boulevard in Queens.) Nor have terrorists hurled bombs or fired missiles from the bridge; nor has there been an epidemic of people flinging their bodies off the bridge. More so, none of these undesirable activities would be thwarted by the easily-cut chain link. New Yorkers who bicycle and walk across the bridges deserve better.

For more information on T.A.'s work for improved bridge access, visit transalt.org/bridgeaccess.

Reclaiming the Sidewalks: Everyday in NYC, Thousands Drive on the Sidewalks

You heard us right. Even in the heart of Midtown Manhattan where pedestrians outnumber motor vehicles 15 to 1, thousands of cars drive on the sidewalks everyday. Most of them are entering parking garages and lots using shallow ramps in the sidewalk called "curb cuts." Obviously, the problem with these cuts is that they allow turning vehicles to cross the path of people walking on the sidewalk.

It does not make much sense that pedestrians on the sidewalk are expected to look for turning cars. Unfortunately, there's a good chance that the motorist won't be looking either. Motorists in NYC are notorious for not yielding to pedestrians: 54% of pedestrians struck in crosswalks are crossing with the light. Failure to yield is a serious problem for pedestrians at curb cuts too.

Here and there, the walking public is starting to fight back against curb cuts and cars on sidewalks. Landmark West, a West Side civic group, is opposing a special permit to open a public parking garage and add another curb cut at 1926 Broadway (64th to 65th Streets.) The enormous 29-story mixed-use building already has two curb cuts and the developer proposes adding a third curb cut and a 250 car garage. Multiply three curb cuts per building by tens of thousands of buildings, and you can see why neighbors are concerned. Creeping clusters of curb cuts crush the City's already threatened pedestrian spaces.

Write to Manhattan Borough President Virginia Fields. Tell her to work for fewer curb cuts and support the community’s fight against the garage at 1926 Broadway.

For more information on our campaign to reclaim the sidewalks, visit transalt.org/sidewalks.

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Winter 2002 T.A. Magazine
This issue is currently being mailed to all T.A. members. It includes news on bicycle, pedestrian and sensible transportation issues, features and much, much more! View the Table of Contents or request a copy!

Selected articles

Bike Rack - Tree Guard Unveiled

Bike Parking Coming to Union Square

Hudson River Greenway is Back

DOT Constructs Long Awaited Sunset Park Connector

Manhattan Bridge: Danger is Around the Corner

Metrocard Mayor

SI Right on Red Vetoed

Reclaiming the Sidewalks

The Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway: Growing out of the Shadow of the BQE

Take Action

T.A. has many volunteer opportunities. Please visit our site to learn more about how you can help. Come to the volunteer night, Wednesday, January 13th at 6 pm. Enjoy free beer, snacks, and the company of fellow advocates.

transalt.org/volunteer

Advocacy Committees
Want to do more? Step into the front lines of T.A.’s campaigns for better cycling, walking and car-free parks. Join a T.A. volunteer advocacy committee. Read more at: www.transalt.org/volunteer/advocacy

Bronx@transalt.org

Brooklyn@transalt.org,
transalt.org/campaigns/brooklyn

Centralpark@transalt.org,
transalt.org/campaigns/cpark

Gowanus@transalt.org,
transalt.org/campaigns/sensible/gowanus.html

Citywide:
Info@transalt.org,
www.transalt.org

JOIN T.A. TODAY
• Online membership sign-up now available! T.A.’s members support our advocacy for bicyclists and pedestrians. So should you.

MAD AS HELL? DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

Dangerous streets; cars parked on sidewalks; car alarms; blocked sidewalks?

Call the Mayors Quality of Life Action Line (real people 24 hrs a day) 888-677-5433 or e-mail Mayor Bloomberg.

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.

PRESS WATCH

Read Let’s Ban Car Alarms in the Winter 2002 edition of the City Journal.

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.

Give on-line at transalt.org/join

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

GET THERE!

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

RIDES AND WALKS

Saturday, February 16, 9:30am. Saturday Around the World. HI/AYH, Amsterdam Avenue at 103 Street. 5BBC.

Sunday, February 17, 9am. Ride to Rockefeller State Park Preserve. Central Park Boathouse. Fast and Fabulous.

Sunday, February 17, 10am. Frostbite Series #12: Coney Island Dreamin'. City Hall. 5BBC and NYCC.

Sunday, February 17, 10am. Brave the Winter Winds at Breezy Point, Rockaway Peninsula. Meet at token booth in No. 2 subway station on Flatbush Avenue (Brooklyn College). Shorewalkers.

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

Friday, February 22, 7pm. Critical Mass. Union Square Park NORTH (temporary location due to construction). Time's Up!

Saturday, February 23, 9:30am. Byram River Gorge. Meet at Bainbridge and Jerome Avenues, street level (Woodlawn stop on #4). Shorewalkers.

Saturday, February 23, 10pm. Riverside Ride. Columbus Circle. Time's Up!

Sunday, February 24, 9am. Ride to Nyack. Central Park Boathouse. Fast and Fabulous.

Sunday, February 24, 10am. Frostbite Series #13: Ride to the World's Greatest Pancakes. City Hall. 5BBC and NYCC.

Sunday, February 24, 1pm. Narrows Trail and Brooklyn Green Belt. Meet at Entrance of Ft Hamilton Parkway N Station. Shorewalkers.

Tuesday, February 26, 10am. TBA. Central Park Boathouse. The Weekday Cyclists.