Health Dept: New Yorkers Get Their Exercise By Getting Around Town
The New York City Department of Health is out with a new bulletin [PDF] articulating the public health benefits of walking, biking, and taking transit. Encouraging those modes -- and curbing the amount we drive -- will reduce deaths and injuries from traffic crashes, prevent lung disease by lowering exposure to air pollution, and improve cardiovascular health by increasing exercise.
May 20, 2011
Queens CB2 Asks, “Where’s the Bike Lane?” And DOT Adds One to LIC Plan
When DOT presented plans for traffic calming along Long Island City's 44th Drive in March, the department chose to put the four lane street on a road diet, using some of the reallocated space for a painted median. That still left enough space in the extra-wide parking lanes for a bike lane, however, a fact which Queens Community Board 2 pointed out at the time.
May 20, 2011
Eyes on the Street: Second Crash in Three Days at Columbus Ave. Corner
On Tuesday evening, a van driver headed east on 72nd Street jumped the curb at Columbus Avenue and crashed into a light pole. Last night, a driver jumped another car at the same intersection, ending up with a front wheel perched on its mangled hood. Reader Liz Patek sent in the shot above.
May 20, 2011
Top Traffic Cops Promise Pedestrians-First Enforcement at West Side Forum
Top NYPD brass expressed surprise at West Side residents' unhappiness with the department's traffic enforcement policies and vowed to do better at a meeting of Manhattan CB 4's transportation committee last night. They also announced a new citywide "pedestrians first" policy for the department.
May 19, 2011
Leroy Comrie Weighs in on New Jamaica Bus Lanes
With thousands of bus riders per hour traveling each direction on Archer Avenue, DOT's proposed bus improvements for Downtown Jamaica are some of the most important street redesigns on the table right now. But previous bus improvements in this part of Queens have been politically vulnerable -- a proposed Select Bus Service route along Merrick Boulevard was scuttled after local merchants fought against it in 2007. So, for one perspective on the political prospects of the project, we checked in with Council Member Leroy Comrie, who represents Jamaica and hosted an open house on DOT's proposal Tuesday night.
May 19, 2011
Judge Sides With City Over NBBL in Preliminary Procedural Question
In the opening round of the court case against the Prospect Park West bike lane, the city says that the judge sided with its lawyers on the procedural question at stake in today's hearing. Said a spokesperson for the city's Law Department, which is representing the defense in the case:
May 18, 2011
No Verdict on PPW Lawsuit Today
The opponents of the Prospect Park West bike lane had their first day in court today. Attorneys for both sides argued privately at the bench of Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Bert Bunyan for around five minutes. Afterwards, each side would only say that they would be back in court on June 22. We're following up with the city's Law Department to find out what was discussed and decided today and what it means for the case moving forward.
May 18, 2011