Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Livable Streets Community

Livable Streets Community News: UWS Synagogue Joins Up

B__naiJeshurunCongregation B'nai Jeshurun. Photo via Wikipedia.

Some good news comes to us this week of an Upper West Side synagogue's support for Livable Streets. From Gil Kulich on the Upper West Side Streets Renaissance group blog:

"I’m involved in an effort at Congregation B’nai Jeshurun, one of thelargest and most influential synagogues on the Upper West Side, todevelop a plan for greening our street, the 200 block of West 88thStreet, between Broadway and West End Avenue. The Environmental Action Hevra, one of several committees in the synagogue’s social justice/social action program, has adopted this as its primary objective for this year. Using the UWSSR Blueprint as our handbook, we’re examining various options, including chicanes to divert through traffic, angled parking to replace parallel parking, secure bike parking, curb extensions, etc. We hope to make ours a model block and hopefully to extend the redesign to neighboring blocks." 

The committee plans to work with other businesses and residents as well as its community board, and hopes to get a proposal to DOT in six months' time. On a larger scale, Gil also brings word that Hazon -- an organization "promoting environmental awareness and action in the Jewish community" -- has recently begun working with synagogues throughout the UWS to further the livable streets platform.

The blueprint guiding Congregation B’nai Jeshurun's work includes many solutions applicable to other neighborhoods, and is available for download from the UWSSR group homepage. This group has a treasure trove of useful resources like these templates for letters to community boards in support of bike lanes and traffic calming.

Also this week, Safe Streets & Cycling, a grassroots transportation advocacy group for Co-op City in the Bronx, has joined the Community to connect with other organizations. They've started discussion forums on speeding in Co-op City, Bx12 Select Bus Service, and the Hutchinson River Greenway. Get in on their discussion or contact them to join up!

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Adams Backs Lower Speed Limits, Calls Crashes ‘Accidents’

The mayor wants New York City drivers to "slow down," but it's not clear yet how many streets will get lower speed limits.

May 8, 2024

Wednesday’s Headlines: Trump Posts About Congestion Pricing Edition

Donald Trump comments on congestion pricing — no surprise, he's against it. Plus more news.

May 8, 2024

DOT Aims to Build First Ave. Tunnel Bike Lane Before September’s UN General Assembly

DOT hopes to have the concrete-protect tunnel bike lane installed this summer, but its exact plans are still in development.

May 7, 2024

Waste Reforms Could Require Data on Crashes, Dangerous Driving

The proposal affects at least one trucking company with a deadly driving record.

May 7, 2024
See all posts