Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Alan Gerson

Gerson Looks to Rein In Runaway Safety Improvements

gerson_1.jpgNot long ago, Alan Gerson spoke in favor of giving pedestrians more space at Petrosino Square.

Alan Gerson's office has more on what we suspected was a bill intended to give the Lower Manhattan City Council member and his colleagues more power over DOT implementation of new bike infrastructure. Judging by this comment from Gerson communications director Paul Nagle, the new law would not be limited to bike lanes, but would mandate a "review" of basically any outrageous new project designed to improve conditions for transit users and pedestrians.

[T]here will not be a DOT "bike lane" bill introduced by Gerson [on Tuesday]. Gerson is working on a bill with lawyers to create a betterprocess of review for both Council and Community input into streetreconfigurations, which can, but don't necessarily, include bike lanes.In our district alone this bill would refer to the "bus bumps" on LowerBroadway, the "stripes" on Rutgers Street, the Grand Street trafficislands and the Chatham Square reconfiguration. This last fiasco hasthe community up in arms, as DOT came to the CB3 hearing last week andbasically announced no major changes to the plan could be made nomatter what the community said at the hearing.

So after decades of cars-first transportation planning, which has been particularly unkind to Gerson's constituents, now that DOT is acting in the interests of cyclists, pedestrians, and transit patrons -- i.e. the overwhelming majority of street users -- it's clearly time for City Council and community board oversight.

We put in a call to Transportation Alternatives to get their take on Gerson's initiative. Here's what Wiley Norvell had to say:

Street designs by their very nature will never achieve consensus. It doesn't matter whether we're talking about truck routes, whether we're talking about bike lanes, whether we're talking about parking.

Safety is not the job of community boards; it's not the job of council members. It is the job of the Department of Transportation.

More on Gerson's bid for streets reform reform as it develops. In the interim, think it's time to rain fire yet?

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

The Dream of All-Door Bus Boarding is Victim to MTA’s Fare Evasion Fears

"I'll take my lumps on the back door," MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber said about his continued unwillingness to let bus riders pay in the front or back of the bus.

January 30, 2025

Q&A: Whizz CEO Has Lessons For E-Bike Regulation

Company CEO Mike Peregudov sits down with Streetsblog to talk about his industry and why putting license plates on e-bikes is a non-starter.

January 30, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines: Duff Man Enters

The new federal Transportation Secretary's first official act aimed to rollback emissions standards. Plus more news.

January 30, 2025

‘Miracle On 34th Street II’: Midtown Strip May Finally Get A Busway 17 Years After Bloomberg Plan

New York City is taking steps towards reviving the idea of a 34th Street busway — 17 years after Mayor Bloomberg nixed a plan for just that.

January 30, 2025

Wednesday’s Headlines: V is For Vendetta Edition

Council Member Vickie Paladino says a Streetsblog editor should be punched in the face. It's just the latest example of her espousing violence. Plus other news.

January 29, 2025
See all posts