Feeling remarkably similar to Bogota's Ciclovia, the New York City Department of Transportation held its first Summer Streets event on Saturday by opening 7 miles of city streets to pedestrians and bike traffic only. From 7 AM to 1 PM, roads were car-free from 72nd Street to the Brooklyn Bridge along Park Avenue. It was splendiferous.
Archive for the ‘People/Organizations’ Category
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Summer Streets 2008 (NYC)
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Bike The Falls
Olaf Eliasson's "New York City Waterfalls" is installed along the East River in Lower Manhattan until mid-October. The fastest and most fun way to see all four waterfalls is by bike. The NYC DOT has produced a "Bike the Falls" guide, featuring a map of viewing points and written directions to ensure that seeing the [...]
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Queens Boulevard: Complete Street Campaign Rally
Last February, 22-year-old Asif Rahman was hit and killed by a truck while riding his bicycle on Queens Boulevard. Though the infamous "Boulevard of Death" is a lot safer than it used to be, it still produces far too many injuries. According to the chart below from crashstat.org before Queens Boulevard underwent some street redesign [...]
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LPI - Leading Pedestrian Interval
Leading Pedestrian Intervals (or LPIs) are a traffic signalization strategy that allows pedestrians an exclusive 3 to 5 second signal (in some cases much longer) to begin crossing the street before cars get a green light. Consequently, they are also known by their sassier nickname, Pedestrian Head Start. But in my view the best variation on what LPI stands for comes from Christine Berthet of the Hells Kitchen Neighborhood Association who proposes: "Life Preserving Interval"
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Vélib’
On July 15, 2007 Paris debuted the world's largest self-service "bicycle transit system" called Vélib outdoing previously designed bike share programs. Vélib is a balance of scale and functionality, clocking in with more than 20,000 bikes, and 1,451 docking stations, which are never more than 1,000 feet apart. As a result, Vélib is effectively [...]
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Block Party Summer
It is 4th of July weekend. Can't think of anything fun to do? Might a Block Party fancy you? There are over 3000 block parties in New York every year. There is bound to be one in or near your neighborhood. Check the Block Party NYC list of locations. Or, if you know about a party that is not listed, just add it yourself. Here is a taste of the 87th Street Block Party in June.
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Portland (Green) Bike Box!
Earlier this year, Portland's Office of Transportation installed many high visibility bike boxes that are colored lime green to help cyclist avoid right hook collisions. So while in Portland for the World Car-free Conference, we decided to have a little fun and publish a sequel to our very popular "How to Use a Bike Box".
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Mayor Bloomberg & Friends Announce “Summer Streets”
A large heaping of news media and livable streets advocates converged at Astor Place for the Mayor's presser to make the official announcement of "Summer Streets." Essentially the plan opens Park Avenue to pedestrians and cyclists from 72nd thru to the Brooklyn Bridge (using other connectors) on August 9th, 16th, and 23rd from 7 [...]
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Ciclovia (Express Version)
Since many cities around the world are now flirting with the idea of doing their own Ciclovia-style street closures, we have been asked by a few individuals and advocates for a shorter version of our Ciclovia film, which is helping push the debate from idea to reality in some places. And so we have [...]
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Car-free Prospect Park Street Theater! (from 2002)
Back in 2002 there was a huge push on for a three month trial ban on cars in Prospect Park, Brooklyn (I mean really are we still fighting for this?! Come on Mayor Bloomberg it's time to do a trial!) In any event, Aaron Naparstek (with future wife Joanne) organized a fun Halloween street theater event where we all dressed up as cars and raised some eyebrows Saturday morning at the Grand Army Plaza Green Market.
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Tour de Queens 2008
Not even the heat and humidity of a 96 degree day could keep nearly 500 people from pedaling the inaugural Tour de Queens. The beautiful course - which hugged much of the northwest perimeter of the borough was put together by the Queens T.A. Committee and featured "lots of smiles per hour."
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RAB Ladies Repair
Every Tuesday evening after Recycle-A-Bicycle closes, Susan Lindell teaches bike mechanics 101 to women.
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Snackin’ & Schwag for Cyclists in Queens
If it's Bike Month, then Transportation Alternatives must be hosting their annual commuter pit stops with help from NYC DOT and the five Boro President's offices. Yesterday, it was a Queens afternoon snack and we thought we'd take the pulse of cyclists departing the QBB as they got some rehydration and filled their packs with literature (and mega safety schwag!)
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Kicking-Off Bike Month
City Commissioners & Transportation Alternatives kick off bike month with ride down the 9th Avenue's protected bike lane.
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Melbourne: A Pedestrian Paradise
In the last 15 years, the city of Melbourne has altered its landscape with more car-free spaces, wider sidewalks, greener streets, eclectic cafes, public art and a bustling pedestrian haven where people relate more to their environment
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Janette Sadik-Khan’s “Sustainable Streets”
Commissioner, Janette Sadik-Khan, unveils NYC DOT's "Sustainable Streets" - a strategic Plan for 2008 and beyond.
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Hal (and Kerri) Grade Your Bike Locking
In our follow up to "Hal Grades Your Bike Locking," two experienced mechanics offer advice and grades on the bike locking ability of New Yorkers.
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The Mayor and Tyra Plant a Tree!
While out filming livable streets improvements around Gansevoort and Ninth Avenue today, we roamed into a quagmire of paparazzi in a feeding frenzy. Soon it was apparent why: Mayor Bloomberg and Tyra Banks showed up briefly to beautify our physically separated bike lane on Ninth Avenue by planting a tree!
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Lounging & Lollygaging in Wodonga
On Fridays, residents of Wodonga, Australia take back the downtown by placing sofas in the street and programming music and games for families. David Engwicht author, philosopher and creator of the Walking School Bus and Mental Speed Bumps, has taken on "the challenge of a lifetime" - to revitalize this downtown district and make the streets more vibrant and livable.
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Lady Liberty Marries Mr. Transit
Rev. Billy Preaches Bikes & Transit at the NYC Auto Show in a performance with Transportation Alternatives.
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Chicanes In My Neighborhood
Sometimes double-parked cars and street regulations form their own temporary traffic calmed conditions.
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Lessons from Bogotá
In Part 3 of our Bogotá trilogy we look at Cyclepaths, Parks, and some of the great initiatives undertaken to make it a more livable city.
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The Street Life of Havana
Ethan Kent from PPS takes us on a pictorial journey of his trip to the streets of Cuba.
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Enrique Peñalosa talks with COMMUTErs
Enrique Peñalosa encourages New Yorker activists to fight for positive change and Bus Rapid Transit.
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From Tragedy to Advocacy: Mary Beth Kelly
Mary Beth Kelly's husband, Dr. Carl Henry Nacht, was killed while riding a bike, but it hasn't stopped her from doing something she enjoys nor fighting for safer streets.
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Transforming NY City Streets
Neighborhood activists, professional planners, and experienced advocates gathered this week to share their secrets on how New Yorkers can transform the public realm.
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Bus Rapid Transit: Bogotá
In Part 2 of our Bogotá trilogy, we examine the tremendously successful Bus Rapid Transit system which has revolutionized transit there.
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Street Stars: Christine Berthet
Check out this profile of one of NYC's great neighborhood activists and how she gets things done.
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How to use a Bike Box
There are dozens of Bike Boxes popping up all over NYC, wanna find out how to use them?
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Merry Gridlock
Streetsblog's Aaron Naparstek talks with drivers about their commute and congestion pricing.
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Illustrating Parking Reform with Dr. Shoup
Dr. Donald Shoup illustrates with toy cars and a table-sized model of NYC streets the benefits of proper parking pricing.
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Ciclovia: Bogotá, Colombia
In Part 1 of our Bogotá trilogy watch as every Sunday & holiday, every week, the City of Bogotá, Colombia closes down over 70 miles of roadways to cars and let people bike, walk, talk, exercise, picnic, sunbathe, I could go on and on. Just watch the video, it's amazing.
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Transportation Ethics
Executive Director Mark Gorton interviews NY Times' Ethics columnist Randy Cohen about urban automobility.
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Bay Ridge Express Bus Riders Discuss Congestion Pricing
Brooklynites talk about the travails of riding buses from Bay Ridge to lower Manhattan.
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A Walk around the Upper West Side
Mark Gorton and neighbor Lisa Sladkus point out traffic calming features they'd like see on the UWS.
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NYC Streets Renaissance with Jan Gehl
Jan Gehl headlines an exciting livable streets event at the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan.
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UWS Streets Renaissance: Space Allocation
Mark Gorton and neighbor Lisa Sladkus examine how the width of sidewalks affects the pedestrian environment.
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UWS Streets Renaissance: Double Parking
Mark Gorton and neighbor Lisa Sladkus point out the perils of double parking on the UWS.
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In Davis’ Platinum City Even the Munchkins Ride Bikes
Davis, California is the only Platinum bike city in the U.S. Come see why.
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David Byrne Celebrates NYC Bicycling in Style
Last night, I was one of 1200 lucky ticket holders attending "How New Yorkers Ride Bikes" a David Byrne presentation at Town Hall as part of the 2007 New Yorker Festival. Stuffed with laughs, entertainment, and bicycle inspiration, it was hard not to be psyched about the current state of cycling in NYC. [...]
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Ninth Avenue Gets a Physically Separated Bike Lane
NYC is getting a separated bike lane. Pinch us! Pinch us!!
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Minding the GAP (Grand Army Plaza)
DOT press conference for GAPCO ped/bike improvements.
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LOOKing to Make Cycling Safer in NYC
New public safety initiative from the NYC DOT.
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PARK(ing) Day NYC 2007
In Fall 2007, T.A. & The Trust for Public Land organized a of group of motley advocates in liberating nearly two dozen parking spaces and turning them into open green areas for city residents to enjoy. Parking Day rules!
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Paint a Parking Lot, Put Up a Paradise
In the shadow of the Manhattan Bridge, a triangle that once was home to two dozen car parking spots now is a green pedestrian plaza. If that ain't cool, we don't know what is.
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Trading Car Parking for Bike Racks
In a historic move, the New York City Department of Transportation has replaced three car parking spaces in Williamsburg with on-street bike racks to accomodate about 30 bicycles.
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Street Lessons from a Blizzard
Back in Feb 2006, as the largest ever recorded NYC snowfall (26.9") was winding down, I ran outside with a camera to try to capture some traffic calming, transportation and livable streets lessons.
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Campaign for New York’s Future: Congestion Pricing
The Campaign for New York's Future explains the health and transportation benefits of congestition pricing, one of the 127 proposals included in Mayor Bloomberg's ambitious PlaNYC2030.
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Tour de Brooklyn 2007
The third annual Tour de Brooklyn 2007 attracted over 2,000 riders including new, New York City DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan.
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Secure Bike Parking Just Cents Per Hour
At many locations in the Bay Area you'll find electronic, on-demand Bike Link locking facilities where you can park your bike securely for between 3 to 5 cents per hour!
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Gridlock Sam: Car-free Central Park
Sam Schwartz, former NYC Commissioner of Traffic, explains how closing Central Park to cars will not result in traffic chaos.
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Future Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway
In the next few years, much of a 15-mile, Hudson River-style greenway will finally become reality along Brooklyn's shores, thanks largely to Brooklyn Greenway Initiative.
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Hal Grades Your Bike Locking
Mechanic Hal Ruzal from Bicycle Habitat grades the bike locking ability of New Yorkers. Avoid a bad grade and listen to his advice.
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Little Legs for Green Streets
Students at P.S. 321 in Park Slope participated in an Earth Day walkathon to raise money for three non-profit green groups, including Transportation Alternatives.
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Talking Transportation with Bob Kiley
Bob Kiley who served as Commissioner of Transport for London from 2001 to 2006 talks about congestition pricing, the benefits it has brought to London, and possibilites for New York City.
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David Byrne’s Bike STOLEN!
Sad news to report...David Byrne's bike has been taken by a cowardly thief!! Dang!
You may ask yourself, "Who would do such a thing?" Unfortunately, those of us in NYC know it is all too common. In fact if you've only had one bike stolen, consider yourself lucky.
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Icons of a Living City
Icons of a Living City is a trio of uplifting posters from Transportation Alternatives encouraging New Yorkers to walk, bike, and take mass transit.
We here at StreetFilms love 'em and their positive vibe. So much so, we got our hands on some high resolution files to present some of the fine details in what might be the first of its kind: a one minute commercial for posters!
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Room To Breathe: NYC
Transportation Alternatives (T.A.) gathered a gaggle of cyclists on 42nd Street in Manhattan to stage a dramatic visual that shows how much street space is gained if more people rode bicycles or took mass transit instead of driving personal cars.
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Another 3rd Avenue Fatality
In this clip, Aaron Naparstek of Streetsblog, standing at the intersection of Third Avenue and Baltic Street in Brooklyn where four year old James Nyprie Rice was killed in a crosswalk while walking with his aunt talks candidly about long delayed safety improvements for the area.
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Reclaiming Grand Army Plaza
The Project for Public Spaces recently led a Brooklyn Placemaking workshop in which fifty members of the community met to brainstorm ideas of how to make Grand Army Plaza safer, more accessible, greener, and people-oriented.
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NYCSR in Chicago
The Project for Public Spaces visited Chicago to meet with many of the key leaders in the Livable Streets movement.
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Dr. Shoup: Parking Guru!
According to Dr. Shoup, reforming "free parking" policies will lead to a better pedestrian environment, cleaner streets, less pollution and safer downtown shopping districts. Here is part of our interview with him.
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Park Slope: One Way Is The Wrong Way
Most advocates believe that two-way streets function better for pedestrians, cyclists, commerce, and livable streets. In Park Slope, Brooklyn the NYC DOT is headed the wrong direction.
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T.A. Rides with Peñalosa & David Byrne!
The staff of Transportation Alternatives rides with Enrique Peñalosa & David Byrne to the "Manhattan on the Move" transportation conference.
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Physically Separated Bike Lanes
Physically separated bicycle paths exist in cities worldwide. This video explains what they are, how they work, and asks: "Why not here?"
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Manhattan on the Move
An overview of Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer's historic October 2006 Transportation Conference.
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Interview with Enrique Peñalosa
Former Bogotá mayor Enrique Peñalosa discusses his amazing success transforming Bogotá into a livable city for cyclists and pedestrians.
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A conversation with Lou Riccio
Discussion about the transportation planning with former NYC D.O.T. Commissioner Lou Riccio.
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Car-free Central Park Rally
A Transportation Alternatives rally on the steps of City Hall demonstrates residents' support for a car-free Central Park.
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Jan Gehl in Times Square
Jan Gehl (Gehl Architects) and Mark Gorton discuss the potential for pedestrian-friendly changes in Times Square.
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Gridlock Sam: Parking Policy & Permits
Part Two of our interview: Sam Schwartz and T.O.P.P. founder & Executive Director Mark Gorton discuss how the modal split into NYC's Central Business District (essentially south of 59th Street) has changed over the last half century and how some of those numbers could easily be reversed by revoking free parking permits for NYC Governmental [...]
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San Francisco: Removal of the Embarcadero Freeway
In 1989, a 7.1 earthquake struck the Bay Area which severely damaged many of its elevated highway structures. The Embarcadero Freeway - an ugly, double-decked highway - was replaced with a grand boulevard which emphasizes access to the waterfront and provides people with transportation options like walking, mass transit, and bicycling instead of an emphasis [...]
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PSA-Dirty Little Secret
An inequitable use of parking by government agencies is a dirty little secret in Chinatown.
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Psychic Space
Mark Gorton, founder of The Open Planning Project, points out how parked cars and street use makes a difference in two streets just blocks apart in SoHo are felt by pedestrians.
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Interview with Enrique Peñalosa (Short Version)
As mayor of Bogota, Colombia, Enrique Penalosa accomplished remarkable changes of monumental proportions for the people of his country in just three years.
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The Sidewalk Nibblers
A proposed plan by DOT for a subway station at 96th street will leave pedestrians with 18 ft. less sidewalk space!
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Canal Park: The Re-Emergence of a Park!
Richard Barrett talks about his community's struggle to rebuild Canal Park, a task deemed impossible by New York City's Department of transportation.
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Miracle Ticket
Sometimes when you are armed with a camera in New York City, miracles do happen.
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Introduction to the NYC Streets Renaissance
Mark Gorton introduces the goals of the NYC Streets Renaissance project.
