Complete Streets Passes Legislature Unanimously, Cuomo Expected To Sign
Complete streets legislation passed both houses of the state legislature unanimously yesterday. With Governor Andrew Cuomo expected to sign the legislation, safer and more inclusive road design should be coming soon to streets across the state.
June 21, 2011
Transit Photo Contest Down to Ten Finalists – Time to Vote
The transit photo contest held by the Straphangers Campaign and Transportation Alternatives has moved into the final round. Five finalists have been selected for the photo that most captures New York City's transit system at its best, and five have been chosen to represent the system at its worst. You can vote for your favorite here.
June 20, 2011
Upper Manhattan Finally Talks Out Bike Projects at CB 12 Forum
Despite a committed group of local advocates, official consideration of new bicycle infrastructure in Upper Manhattan has been on hold for years. A public forum held by Manhattan Community Board 12 last week could finally lead to some forward movement on street safety and bicycle issues for the neighborhood.
June 20, 2011
Community Board 9 Endorses Car-Free Park Trial, Reverses Committee Vote
Manhattan Community Board 9 became the latest to endorse a car-free Central Park trial last night. By a vote of 32-9 with five abstentions, the board overwhelmingly overturned the 2-1 vote of its transportation committee, which had been the only committee in the borough not to endorse the plan thus far.
June 17, 2011
From London to D.C., Bike-Sharing Is Safer Than Riding Your Own Bike
People riding shared public bicycles appear to be involved in fewer traffic crashes and receive fewer injuries than people riding their personal bicycles. In cities from Paris and London to Washington, D.C. and Mexico City, something about riding a shared bicycle appears to make cycling safer.
June 16, 2011
Eight Senate Democrats Join GOP in Vote to Repeal MTA Payroll Tax
In a 40-22 vote last night, the State Senate voted to phase out the payroll mobility tax, which generates about $1.5 billion per year for the MTA. The Senate proposal would eliminate the tax entirely in suburban areas while reducing it in New York City. Though the bill is expected to go exactly nowhere in the Democratic Assembly, it's a sign of the intense opposition to the payroll tax among Republicans and in the suburbs, as well as the collective delusion about the state of the MTA's finances.
June 16, 2011
Can Brooklyn Build a Pedestrian-Friendly Arena at the Atlantic Yards Site?
Ready or not, come September 28, 2012, Brooklyn will once again be home to a major professional sports venue. The Barclays Center at Atlantic Yards is scheduled to open by next fall, while progress on the rest of Forest City Ratner's mega-development is lagging far behind. In the words of local City Council Member Letitia James, "All we're getting is an arena and a large parking lot."
June 15, 2011