Livable Streets: Calmer Streets, Safer Driving and Biking
Earlier this month, the Livable Streets Committee reviewed all of our initiatives for calmer streets in the new year.
For example, we discussed the possible reduction of the speed limit in our residential neighborhood to 20 miles per hour, down from 30. (The city’s Department of Transportation is looking for a community to host a pilot program for this change, as outlined in its Pedestrian Safety Study & Action Plan (downloadable at www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/about/pedsafetyreport.shtml.
We will circulate data on what effect(s) a reduced speed limit can yield — i.e., fewer fatalities — before the next committee meeting. State Senator Eric Adams, a proponent of the reduced speed limit, will speak at the meeting. In addition, we will invite officers from the 78th Precinct to weigh in on their thoughts about this decrease and the impact on enforcement.
(The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 3, 8 a.m., but that may change so the above guests can attend. E-mail us at livablestreets@parkslopeciviccouncil.org to confirm.)
In addition, we will send letters to car-service owners to let them know when their drivers are breaking the law — running red lights, speeding, making illegal U-turns, etc. — and ask they urge drivers to comply with traffic regulations. Letters will be drafted in English, Spanish, and Arabic, and we’ll send copies to local elected officials and Taxi and Limousine Commissioner David Yassky so they will know about these problems as well. We talked about how we can offer positive reinforcement to promote better behavior, such as free advertising on the Civic Council website or letters of commendation.
Committee members also discussed the Police Department’s increased attention to bike riders not complying with rules of the road. We agreed that more education is needed among cyclists — and the general public as well — on those rules.
Two excellent publications are available online that cover these rules. One, “Be Smart. Be Civil. Share the Road,” is from Borough President Marty Markowitz’s office (brooklyn-usa.org/pdf/Be%20Smart-%20Road%20Safety-%20Brochure%2012-3-10.pdf). The committee has already begun to distribute this brochure throughout the neighborhood, at synagogues and churches, real estate offices, retail outlets, and PTA groups.
Transportation Alternatives has an excellent book of rules just for cyclists: “Biking Rules,” available at bikingrules.org/handbook.
Members also discussed requesting DOT to convert old parking meter posts to bike racks — the project had started, but many are not yet converted — and to get bike racks on buses, which many other cities around the world already have.
— Candace Woodward and Judith Lief are co-chairs of the Livable Streets Committee.
Sustainability: Fracking, Mulching, and More
At our January meeting, Jim Vogel from State Senator Velmanette Montgomery’s office gave a great overview on the hydro-fracturing issues. “Fracking,” as the process is better known, is the injection of high-pressure water to induce fissures in gas-trapping shale so as to release natural gas. Chemicals are added to the water to make it flow better; these are not flushed effectively and thus end up in the water table. In addition, the natural gas disperses and winds up in unexpected places. Previously stabilized radon gas is also released.
Fracking is being done in the Allegheny Mountains in upstate New York, and Pennsylvania has borne the brunt of the bad effects so far. A moratorium on the process expires May 11; a stronger bill, supported by two-thirds of Democrats in the State Senate, did not pass.
An Environmental Protection Agency study is due two years from now, and there’s no guarantee the EPA will come down on the positive side of the issue. In the interim, licenses can still be issued.
Vogel suggested reaching out to “sister cities” where existing opposition is in place, and to sister organizations both here and upstate (for a list, e-mail sustainable@parkslopeciviccouncil.org).
We discussed whether the Civic Council could pass a resolution expressing its concern and stake a position on the issue, and perhaps focus next year’s annual forum on the topic.
Meanwhile, our work on Mulchfest was a success. We did not have too many people signing in at the Civic Council table, however. Next year, we might offer more hot chocolate at the table to draw more people, and be more forceful about e-mail sign-ups. We also considered possible alternatives to Mr. Rubbish: Could the Civic Council rent its own trucks (and are there any liability issues)? Could the Sanitation Department help haul trees? We’ll bring the latter up with Councilmember Brad Lander’s office and/or work with Councilmember Letitia James.
The tree-pit enlargement issue is not resolved; Toby Willner is going ahead on the matter, and we will discuss it next month.
We also considered whether we can get the Lower East Side Ecology Center to do electronics-waste recycling at the next Civic Sweep, on Sunday, April 17 (which might require payment).
Finally, on the plastic-bags issue, what would it take to pass a local ordinance to ban bags? How do we sell the benefits? Merchant opposition is expected. We could work on a slogan. One idea to promote this, a raffle, was considered to be too much work.
The next meeting is tentatively set for Wednesday, Feb. 23 (rescheduled from the usual third Monday, which is a holiday). Please confirm by e-mail.
— Robert Gilbert and Chandru Murthi are co-chairs of the Sustainability Committee.
from the January 2011 Civic News