Four-dollar-a-gallon gas is good for business — if you run a bike shop. Commuters around the country are dusting off their old two-wheelers — or buying new ones — to cope with rising fuel prices, bicycle dealers say.
Hey, if the Parisians can do it, why not New Yorkers? Look how much fun they’re having!
Michael Brewer, an accountant who had always driven the 36-mile trip to downtown Houston from the suburb of West Belford, said he had been thinking about switching to the bus for the last two years. The final straw came when he put $100 of gas into his Pontiac over four days a couple of weeks ago.
“Finally I was ready to trade my independence for the savings,” he said while waiting for a bus.
His *independence*… wow!! Personally, I love the independence of letting someone ELSE do the driving while I read, listen to podcasts, look out the window…
Our neighbors to the north at Hawthorne Street blog in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens (part of Flatbush? You decide…) have been discussing the horrifically dangerous entrance to Prospect Park at Ocean and Parkside Avenues for some months now, and have formed a local Livable Streets group called PLG Public Works to address this and other traffic-related issues. Today they provide details on an upcoming public meeting to discuss potential re-design ideas for the dreaded intersection:
Some help may be on the way for the Ocean & Parkside intersection at Prospect Park: park reps have informed us that the entrance will be redesigned as part of a massive Park development project due to begin next year.
Of course, how it will be redesigned remains to be seen. We’d urge anyone and everyone concerned about the Park entrance to attend the upcoming public meeting: Monday, May 19, 6:30 p.m. at Wollman Rink.
The current situation is a nightmare for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike, and Transportation Alternatives has lobbied for improvements here in the past. But new opportunity for change exists due to an upcoming project called Lakeside Center, which will be replacing Wollman Rink. While the green design principles described on their website sound nice and all (LEED Gold buildings, rainwater retention basin to irrigate landscaping, passive ventilation, recycled and local materials, native trees and shrubs), for starters I’d be happy just to be able to get across the street and into the Park without risking my life! Once again, the public meeting is on May 19th at 6:30, Wollman Rink.
When I attended last year’s Brooklyn Blogfest at the Old Stone House in Park Slope, Sustainable Flatbush had been online for only a few weeks. Most of the names and people and language of the blogging world were very new to me, everyone at the event seemed to be from Fort Greene or Prospect Heights, and covering Atlantic Yards was the primary reason for many of the blogs’ existence.
This year’s Blogfest (held at the Brooklyn Lyceum) was much larger and more diverse, and the one topic we could all agree on was that the word “blog” has become inadequate to describe the many different forms an online journal can take. Brooklyn blogs range from highly trafficked sites that specialize in real estate trends to painfully personal virtual diaries, and everything in between. Text, drawings, photos, and video are all part of the expressive palette, and Brooklyn bloggers wield these tools with great expertise, creativity, and humor. It’s a pretty impressive bunch. Did I mention that I had a great time?
Like a true sustainability geek, I was thrilled to meet the Chair of Brooklyn’s Solid Waste Advisory Board and chat briefly about anaerobic digestion. But mostly it was great to get introduced to new people/blogs such as Brooklyn Ron, CyclechicNY, and Gardenfork; to see the faces behind recent favorites like Clinton Hill Chill Blog, BedStuy Banana, and Flatbush Pigeon; and to hang out with the folks from Reclaimed Home, Fading Ad Blog, and those perky youngsters from Supervegan. A lovely evening, and an inspiration to continue with this adventure of blogging.
This afternoon I received word of a petition supporting a re-design of Vanderbilt Avenue (Prospect Heights) to include separated bike lanes. By providing designated space for cars, bicycles and pedestrians, this design would meet what the Department of Transportation calls the “gold standard” for safety.
Full disclosure: I am a huge fan of separated bike lanes. I was signature #21.
If you think this is something we need here in Brooklyn, you can add your name to the petition here. And do it quick — rumor has it that if there are enough signatures by Monday this plan will get extra support from one of the elected officials below.
Physically Separated Bike Lanes, courtesy of Streetfilms
[Full text of petition]
To: Councilmember Letitia James, Assemblymember Hakeem Jeffries, State Senator Eric Adams, Community Board 8 Chairperson Robert Matthew, Councilmember David Yassky, Councilmember Bill deBlasio, Councilmember John Liu, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz & Rohit Aggarwala:
On Monday April 28th, NYC DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan officially launched the City’s Sustainable Streets plan. It kicked off with Safety, and as the plan articulates: “Safety is the first priority for any transportation system.” In her presentation, she also discussed Manhattan’s Ninth Avenue Class I protected bike lane, and called it “the gold standard.” That protected bike lane is safer for bicyclists, motorists, and pedestrians alike.
Simultaneously, Brooklyn’s Vanderbilt Avenue is undergoing a complete renovation from Atlantic Avenue to Grand Army Plaza. The design has been approved by the City and by CB8 and the renovations are underway. We are gracious (sic) that bike lanes were included in the design. However, these are on-street, unprotected bike lanes. In other words, these are dangerous and thus NOT the gold standard.
We, the undersigned, therefore demand a redesign to include protected bike lanes (either on opposite sides of the Avenue, or immediately adjacent to each other, on one side of the street.)
We realize that a redesign to include protected bike lanes would delay the project. However, considering the painfully slow rate for infrastructure repair and upgrade, we believe it is worth the wait.
We respectfully ask you to do all that you can to ensure that Vanderbilt Avenue in Brooklyn has the safest bicycle lanes possible. We deserve no less.
May is Bike Month! So many great events, so little time… check our calendar for a somewhat Brooklyn-centric assortment of great stuff to do on a bike this month. Look for the events marked “BIKE MONTH”… can’t say we don’t make it easy!
Don’t forget to register for Tour de Brooklyn on May 25th!
I’ve recently learned from Streetsblog that a church choir director from the suburbs of Washington DC is leading groups around the nation in prayers for lower gas prices.
“God, deliver us from these high gas prices,” Twyman said. “That’s all they have to say.”
THAT should work, right?
According to a San Franciso Chronicle article, Rocky Twyman has been traveling around the country staging pray-ins: “God is the only one we can turn to at this point,” said Twyman, 59. “Our leaders don’t seem to be able to do anything about it. The prices keep soaring and soaring.”
To his credit, Twyman also points out that we mortals have to take some responsibility for ourselves:
Twyman knows his approach to gasoline prices may sound simplistic. He’s quick to point out that anyone praying for cheaper fuel also has an obligation to do something more active about the problem.
“People have to walk more, leave those cars at home, and carpool, man,” he said. “We have to become more practical.”
Well, yeah. And for a few extra spiritual points, how about this:
Have I mentioned that I’m a huge fan of New York City’s Department of Transportation Commissioner, Janette Sadik-Khan? (Answer: yes, you’ve mentioned it.) She’s more like a rock star than a public official. She bikes to work, is a great speaker, and has traveled to cities all over the world in search of best-practice ideas for improving our streets and transportation systems.
Yesterday Sadik-Khan gave a talk at the Municipal Arts Society to unveil a new strategic plan for 2008 and beyond called “Sustainable Streets”. Many people were unable to attend because the reservations were at capacity a week before the event (it’s that rock star thing). Fortunately Clarence Eckerson of Streetfilms was able to wangle entrance for himself and his camera to record the event for posterity:
… a few selected quotes from yesterday’s wreckage…
• “While some Queens politicians are claiming that the plan is elitist, the reality of it is that the elites killed this plan. With money going toward transit and a better environment for our city as part of the payoff, congestion pricing was and always will be a populist plan.” (Second Avenue Sagas)
• “The ball is in your court Mr. Silver. The city needs tens of billions of dollars in new transit infrastructure investment. This plan has died on your doorstep. Now it’s up to you to FIND THE MONEY.” (Brooklyn Streets, Carroll Gardens)
(And how about Silver’s statement: “Let me be clear: If I were making the decision alone, I might have made a different decision,” Mr. Silver said. Actually, he’s being as UNclear as possible, so that when budget deficits and fare hikes rear their ugly heads he can always say he MIGHT have made a different decision! What a coward…)
• “The fundamental facts remain the same. The traffic problem and air pollution problems are real. The need for better transit is real. Two-thirds of New Yorkers support congestion pricing if the funds are used for transit. The success of congestion pricing in other cities is real. The reality is that we have to come up with a plan to solve our traffic and transit crisis, if not today then tomorrow.” (Michael O’Loughlin, Campaign for New York’s Future)
• “It will be interesting to see how the country’s most worthless and corrupt state legislative body will justify raising transit fares (a “TAX” on the working class if ever there was one). They seem perfectly comfortable voting for a 22% pay raise for themselves- for a part time job. How can they justify turning down 350 million in federal money for the rest of us??” (Streetsblog comment)
• “More important than the cost to a small percentage of commuters is the cost of maintaining the status quo and not implementing a congestion pricing plan. Millions more people will clog our roads over the next few decades without viable alternative mass transportation options, making daily commutes far more unbearable.” (Nassau County Assembly Democrat Michelle Schimel, via Streetsblog)
As a supporter of Congestion Pricing, I felt that this week was the time to do whatever I can to help get this legislation passed. So last Saturday I spent some time in Crown Heights (Brooklyn) asking people to take the time to compose a personal letter in their own handwriting to their local representatives (in that case State Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries and State Senator Eric Adams). I was quite amazed at how many people were willing to do this (it’s not an easy thing to ask for!). On Monday morning I went to City Hall for the Council hearings (wearing the green t-shirt pictured below) and heard testimonies from Speaker Quinn and DOT Commissioner Sadik Khan. Yesterday morning I was part of a small group that met with an aide to City Council member Kendall Stewart, who represents the 45th District (Flatbush, East Flatbush, Flatlands), and I also spoke briefly with Stewart himself afterwards.
What I can attest to from talking to ordinary citizens (meaning, NOT politicians) is that even those who weren’t sure where they stood on Congestion Pricing (or knew nothing at all about it) were in favor when told that the revenue would be dedicated to improving subway and bus service. A few expressed understandable skepticism that the money would actually be used for transit improvements, but were somewhat reassured when told that it would go to a dedicated lockbox.
As for our elected officials, many of them seem to be earnestly asking for the data and information that will enable them to answer their constituents’ doubts. Questions about neighborhood parking permits and whether New Jersey and Long Island commuters should pay more than those from the five boroughs seem to be sticking points for some people. But for those of us who don’t drive – a solid majority in all five boroughs – the need for better bus and subway service is not in question.
More posts on Congestion Pricing and Transit Equity in New York City:
Check out coverage at the NY Observer here, NY Times City Room blog here, and WNYC here…
from City Room:
“I think Mayor Bloomberg’s proposal for congestion pricing is a thoughtful and innovative approach to the problem,” Mr. Obama told Bob Hennelly of WNYC, in an interview that is scheduled to be broadcast during National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered” at 4 p.m. Mr. Obama said that revenue from congestion pricing should not replace federal financing for mass transit, WNYC said in a statement describing the interview.
Sustainable Flatbush provides a neighborhood-based forum to discuss, promote and implement sustainability concepts in Brooklyn and beyond. This blog is maintained and moderated by Anne Pope. She promises to keep real estate and politics out of the discussion. (Well, maybe a little politics.)
Subscribe To Our Email List
To receive news about Sustainable Flatbush events and activities, sign up here.
Check Out Our CALENDAR!
This somewhat Brooklyn-centric collection of events and activities will help you get your Green on. Most are cheap or free! Have a look!
Upcoming Events
Tue, May 13
7p - BIKE MONTH - Ladies' Night at Recycle-A-Bicycle
