Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
NYPD

NYPD Transpo Big: Pedestrian Safety Ranks Behind Motorist Happiness

joe_ellis.jpgNYPD's Joseph Ellis. Photo: NYC.gov

If there is any doubt about NYPD's callous attitude toward the safety of millions of New York City pedestrians, consider the recent testimony of Joseph Ellis, traffic manager for the Traffic Intelligence Unit.

At last week's pedestrian safety summit at Elmhurst Hospital Center -- where auto-inflicted injuries lead all causes of trauma admissions -- Ellis made the department's priorities clear. TSTC's Mobilizing the Region reports:

NYPD's representatives at the summit did nothing to dispel the conventional wisdom that the agency cares more about moving cars than protecting pedestrians. Joseph Ellis of the NYPD's Transportation Bureau warned against "slowing down vehicular traffic to speed up pedestrian traffic - you can't just do that. The motorists are unhappy."

According to a city bio, Ellis's job entails overseeing traffic for film and television shoots:

If necessary, he will arrange a tech scout to visit the site, make further suggestions and execute a plan involving the least disruption to vehicular and pedestrian traffic – and he always reviews the camera angle to ensure that traffic agents are placed outside the sight lines.

It would seem that safety is not job one for the TIU. (Witness last year's "Sorcerer's Apprentice" crash that injured two in Midtown.) Still, if you're wondering how an official in Ellis's position could make such a statement, particularly at a time when pedestrian fatalities remain static even as overall traffic deaths fall, so are we. Streetsblog has a request in with NYPD to see if Ellis will talk about improving safety on city streets.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Hit-and-Run Driver Kills Pedestrian on Bedford Av. Hours Before Long-Stalled Safety Redesign Begins

The driver was traveling so quickly that the victim was tossed high in the air before landing back on the car hood and being tossed to the side of the road as the killer drove off.

October 11, 2024

Manhattanites To DOT: Open Queensboro Bridge Pedestrian Path ‘Without Delay’

"It’s really inappropriate for the DOT to delay," said one member of Manhattan Community Board 6.

October 11, 2024

Council Seeks to Force DOT to Build 175 E-Bike Charging Hubs 

A new bill would force the DOT to build over 100 charging hubs, but will it be enough to keep up with demand?

October 11, 2024

Friday Video: A Vision for West 72nd Street

Maybe someday, a roadway that devotes 88 percent of its space to a tiny minority of users (drivers) could finally work for everyone. We can dream, can't we?

October 11, 2024

Friday’s Headlines: Yes, We Will Mention the Yankees Edition

We are praying for the first Subway Series since 2000. Plus other news.

October 11, 2024
See all posts