Over 315,00 bus riders cross the Hudson River each weekday. More than half of these bus riders travel through the Lincoln Tunnel but the exclusive bus lane that only operates during the morning rush hour is at capacity. Is it time to change this?
Archive for the ‘New York City’ Category
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Hudson River Crossings: Improving Bus Capacity
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After School with Livable Streets Education
Livable Streets Education brings real world issues into the classroom and the classroom out into the real world.
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Block Party NYC
2008 was the kickoff for BlockParty NYC, a new on-line initiative to promote block parties in the five boroughs. To celebrate block parties where people enjoy their blocks free from the usual hazards of car-filled streets, we created this mini film.
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Commuting with the Commissioner on NYC’s Bike to Work Day
Between 2007 and 2008 bicycling in NYC leapt an amazing 35%. And looking at the streets it's easy to see why: bike lanes, racks & other amenities are popping up everywhere; it's practically a renaissance. There are now 185,000 daily riders on the streets.
Today, NYC DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan was one of them, leading a commuter ride from [...] -
Hal Grades Your Bike Locking 3: The Final Warning!
It's Bike Month - which means there are scads of neophytes out there nationwide giving cycling a try. Oh goody! But, oh baddy - it also means more improper locking - and we all know there are predators just licking their chops at the thought of stealing all or part of your bike. So we [...]
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Idle-Free NYC
Did you know that 25% of all New York City School children are affected by asthma? May 5th was World Asthma Day and Idle-Free NYC Day, and supporters gathered at City Hall to celebrate new legislation, Intro 631-A, that reduces the time a motor vehicle can idle in a school zone from three minutes to [...]
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The Search for the Zozo
Thanks to a marked improvement for pedestrians and cyclists in public spaces in NYC, Zozo's - purple, pleasant creatures who once roamed NYC's streets before the presence of the automobile but thought now extinct - are making a comeback. Watch our mockumentary as we go in search of the ever-elusive Zozo! Will we find it?
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Making Streets Safer for Seniors
This video is an overview of what Transportation Alternatives, New York State Department of Health, NYC DOT, community groups, and elected officials are doing to promote safe streets for seniors.
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Introducing Livable Streets Education
The newest member of the Livable Streets Initiative, Livable Streets Education (LSE), partners with schools, cultural institutions and community-based organizations working for improved urban livability, greener transportation, and safer streets. This spring, LSE is in residency at fifteen schools around New York City, working with students in grades K-8, as well as partnering with [...]
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Straphangers Tell Albany to Save Transit
Straphangers from across New York City headed to Albany on Wednesday to meet with representatives and tell them: We can't afford the doomsday fare hikes and service cuts looming for our subways and buses, and we support bridge tolls as a fair and equitable solution to fund transit.
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Sign Now to Save Transit!
Queens transit riders oppose MTA fare hikes and service cuts and support bridge tolls.
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The Transformation of NYC’s Madison Square
We already touched on Madison Square in our in-depth interview with Janette Sadik-Khan last fall, but we always felt that it deserved a much closer examination based upon all the footage we couldn't use in that Streetfilm. Take a freaking look!
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NYS DOT Commissioner, Astrid Glynn
An interview with New York State DOT Commissioner, Astrid Glynn.
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Transformando las Calles de Nueva York: Una conversación con Janette Sadik-Khan
Desde que empezó en su nuevo puesto como comisaria del Departamento de Transporte en la mitad del año 2007, Janette Sadik-Khan se retó a transformar las calles de Nueva York. Se reto a mejorar la comodidad y seguridad vial para peatones y ciclistas y a reorientar el foco del departamento al diseño de calles [...]
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Daylighting: Make Your Crosswalks Safer
Daylighting is a simple pedestrian safety strategy which removes parking spaces surrounding an intersection in order to create better visibility for all street users and reduce the risk of conflict.
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NYC Street Memorial 2008
On Sunday, the Street Memorial Project held its 4th annual ride/walk to honors cyclists and pedestrians that have been killed on New York City's streets.
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P.S. 87 Kindergartners draw car-free streets
Got a minute to spare?
Livable Streets Education has been working in New York City schools, encouraging students to explore and question the environments around their school and in their neighborhoods, and to voice the changes they want to see on their streets. We recently asked Kindergartners at P.S. 87 what they would do if there [...] -
An Alfresco chat with Jan Gehl
Every time we manage to snag an interview with Jan Gehl, it ends up being one of the coldest days of the Fall. But that didn't stop the Danish livable streets maestro from grabbing a table in New York City's new wonderful public space, Madison Square, to chat with Streetsblog's Editor-in-chief Aaron Naparstek.
It was [...] -
Transforming NYC Streets: A Conversation with Janette Sadik-Khan
Since taking over as New York City's Commissioner of the Department of Transportation in mid-2007, Janette Sadik-Khan has taken on the challenge of making NYC streets more bike & pedestrian friendly while emphasizing livable streets and re-orienting them to accommodate all modes. She and her staff have done it quickly with innovative concepts, thinking outside [...]
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Wikis Take Manhattan
Wiki and free-culture enthusiasts travel around the five boroughs to snap photos for use in Streetswiki and Wikipedia articles.
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NYC CityRacks Design Finalists
The Department of Transportation along with Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, Google and Transportation Alternatives have been sponsoring a CITYRACKS design competition. Yesterday, the designs of the ten finalists hit the streets and were put on display at the museum. The winner will be announced on October 24th. Make sure to check out the nearest public [...]
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PARK(ing) Day 2007 NYC (en español)
Park(ing) Day fue un gran éxito en la ciudad de Nueva York el año pasado. Se convirtieron muchos espacios de estacionamiento en espacios verdes para la gente. Se acerca Park(ing)Day 2008, viernes, el 19 de septiembre ocuparemos 50 espacios en los 5 condados de la ciudad.
To watch in English with no subtitles, click [...] -
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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Summer Streets PSA
Here's the official 30 second PSA promo that Streetfilms edited to help promote Summer Streets! The event is very similar to other great worldwide street happenings we have brought you - from Ciclovia in Bogotá, Colombia to Sunday Parkways in Portland, Oregon.
In NYC on three consecutive Saturdays - August 9th, 16th, and 23rd - a [...] -
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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How Bike Share Might Be?
It is a big week in Bike Share. Paris' velib program is turning one. The NYC DOT says it will test the bike sharing waters. And yesterday, the New York Bike-Share Project launched a five day bike share demonstration. It will wrap up Monday evening with a reception at City Bakery featuring DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan (and my Velib video will [...]
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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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Bike vs. Car vs. Transit
Transportation Alternatives held its 7th annual Commuter Challenge pitting cyclist, driver, and transit rider in the ultimate showdown of speed. In the end, the bike proved swiftest over the 4.5 mile course which began in Brooklyn's Fort Greene and ended in Manhattan's Union Square.
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National Bike To Work Day
The League of American Bicyclists started Bike-to-Work Day in 1956 as a part of National Bike-to-Work Week, which in some cities has turned into Bike Month. We had cameras in many cities so check out how Bike-to-Work Day 2008 went in Austin, San Francisco, New York City and Portland, Oregon.
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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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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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Street Transformations: Meat Market Plaza
Check out the dramatic before and after video of this now public space.
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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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Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Give Me a Ticket!
A humorous but enlightening look at the visual signals drivers send to try to avoid getting a parking ticket.
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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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Block Party NYC!
Get to know your neighbors. See how differently your block can look. Apply for your 2008 block party grant today!
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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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Crosswalks #1
The streets of NYC can be very dangerous for pedestrians. And we think this footage is on the mild side.
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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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2007 NYC Street Memorial Ride & Walk
In 2007, 23 bicyclists and over 100 pedestrians died on NYC streets. The Street Memorial Project honors them.
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The Street Memorial Project (NYC)
A memorial is placed at sites to remind passerby where pedestrians were killed by cars.
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Transportation Ethics
Executive Director Mark Gorton interviews NY Times' Ethics columnist Randy Cohen about urban automobility.
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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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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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T.A. Century 2007
Hitch a ride along Transportation Alternatives annual Century ride, one of the most enjoyable and friendly rides in the nation. Here is the 2007 campaign.
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NYC Metamorphosis!
Copious amounts of positivity coming from the NYC DOT. Check out these before and afters.
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Make Music New York
Summer Solstice 2007. Hundreds of bands take to the streets and sidewalks of New York City. Here are just a few in our tribute to the day.
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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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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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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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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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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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Tribute to Eric Ng
A memorial ride for Eric Ng, who was killed by a drunk driver on the West Side Highway Bike Path.
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Public Space Transformations
These photo simulations from the Project for Public Spaces show how we can transform some of our misused intersections into amazing spaces full of life, commerce, and vitality.
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PSA-Cab in a Crosswalk
See how much disruption and danger one taxi cab stuck in a Times Square crosswalk can create.
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PSA-Pedestrian Density
Cars get more space than pedestrians do on the streets, which leads to overcrowded sidewalks.
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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 [...]
