Biking to School Through a Park
Open Plans, Inc.
Founded in 1999, Open Plans promotes civic engagement for livable streets.
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It’s tempting to get nostalgic for the days when it was commonplace for kids to walk and bike to school.?
Children a few generations ago had much more freedom to move around their neighborhoods than kids today, but a combination of factors, most notably an increasingly dangerous built environment that prioritizes the fast movement of cars over the independent movement of kids, has made today’s children reliant on others for their basic mobility in a way that makes everyone worse off.?
But we'd be wrong to settle for nostalgia.?
Our kids are hungry for more freedom and independence of movement, and biking to school is a perfect way for them to get it back.
The Upper West Side is home to over 60 public and private schools that draw families from a wide area, including Central Harlem and the Upper East Side. Many west side families, teachers and administrators travel east to attend a similar number of schools on the other side of the park.?
Exact figures aren’t available for how many kids get to school by bike on the UWS, but the numbers are certainly growing.?
We know the biggest barrier to cycling, particularly among children, is the lack of a safe place to ride. Our on-street bike infrastructure has a long way to go to be safe and accommodating to children.
Given its size and location, Central Park is ideally situated to help kids regain some of the bygone independence of biking to school.
But there’s a problem. There are scant legal ways to actually bike across the park, pitting parents, students, and teachers against rules that have neglected to take them into account.
While the Central Park Loop is ideal for recreational cycling, it’s much less practical for anyone crossing the park for transportation, especially on kid-sized legs which can’t easily go an extra mile or two out of the way when a relatively straight line on a relatively flat park path is an easier, more intuitive way to go.
Just 0.83% of the 58 miles of park-controlled paths in Central Park are legally accessible to people using wheeled devices. So what’s a kid and a parent to do?
We’re organizing a letter to the Central Parks Conservancy and the Parks Department to advocate for numerous convenient, safe, and legal paths to cross the park for students, parents, administrators—anyone dedicated to the education and development of kids.??
Add your name to the letter by clicking on the form below. The more who sign, the louder the message.?
Kids should be allowed to ride a bike through a park to school. This shouldn’t be controversial.
Together we can make it normal again.
What Else?
Livable Streets News You Can Use?
Super Sidewalks
Sidewalks are great but have you seen the new Super Sidewalks? On a stretch of Ninth Avenue between 58th and 50th Streets, the DOT is prototyping an inexpensive way to claim more space for pedestrians from otherwise car-dominated streets. Now, let's bring these expanded sidewalks uptown on Columbus & Amsterdam Aves.? WATCH >
Pedestrian Mobility
Speaking of sidewalks, the DOT recently released their Pedestrian Mobility Plan, "a holistic, data-driven framework to?identify pedestrian needs?and provide?design guidelines." It's encouraging to see institutional care being paid to the pedestrian experience. Hopefully this can be a useful tool in helping to put pedestrians first in the built environment.??READ >
Daylighting?
We talk a lot about daylighting, which is a simple and effective way to make our streets safer for all who use them. UWS elected officials agree! Council Member Gale Brewer authored a letter to the NYC DOT, signed by other local UWS electeds, "in support of recent community-led efforts for universal daylighting at intersections across New York City.” ? ?READ >
To Do List
Take Action and Make Change
?? CONGESTION PRICING! ??
Many Upper West Side elected officials have been speaking out against Governor Kathy Hochul’s catastrophic and illegal congestion pricing "pause," but we need to keep up the pressure.
There is no legitimate justification for the Governor to unilaterally shut down a program that stands to improve the lives of every New Yorker and positively transform our city for generations. The only way she gets away with it is if we—and our elected representatives—let her.
That's where you come in—it's time to make phone calls!
Those elected officials who have been vocally opposed to the Governor's political stunt should be thanked. Those who have been less vocal should be politely encouraged to speak up now. And, those who have been at the center of this crisis should be implored to reverse course and do the right thing.
When you call, be kind but firm. Remember the staffer on the phone is just the messenger. What's most important is that they record your sentiment, so be clear about why you're calling.
Call to THANK ??
"I appreciate your vocal support for implementing congestion pricing on schedule. It's making a real difference! Please keep it up until the Governor follows the law and allows the program to go forward!"
Call to ENCOURAGE ???
"I noticed you have not made a public statement in support of implementing congestion pricing on schedule. Please speak up on behalf of the overwhelming majority?of your constituents who?will benefit from?congestion pricing and tell the?Governor to follow?the law and allow?the?program to go forward."
Call to IMPLORE ??
领英推荐
"Congestion pricing is the law of New York State, and the Governor is illegally blocking its implementation jeopardizing essential MTA transit funding, cleaner air, and safer streets. Congestion pricing must be allowed to move forward on schedule!"?
You can find more info on your elected representatives' public positions and contact info in this document. If you're not sure who represents you, look that up here.
Phone calls work! They can move the politics of this, meaning you—yes, YOU—can save congestion pricing!
CALL TODAY!! ??
Reading List
Items of interest
??? NYC’s shift to e-cargo bikes for last mile delivery of goods is picking up steam.
??? For all its flaws (and there are many), Vision Zero is working, in terms of making streets safer and also saving nearly $20M a year in Medicaid costs alone.
??? We’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: car ownership is extremely expensive.
??? EV charging is a bad fit for the curb lane—there’s just not enough space.
??? People are more likely to support sustainable changes to the built environment when they’re shown images of what’s possible.?
??? And finally, a Canadian study shows that ebike rebates (which NYS does not have) reduce driving.
Street Life
Happenings on and around local streets
??? ?Make Music New York – Park-to-Park 103?
TODAY! More people-powered music featuring Lizzie Blazquez, Jules Avoalon, James Dalton Baker, James Eric Adler, Paul Handelman, Pluto & The Forms, Eliza & Catherine String Duo ?– INFO >
Where: Balsley Park (9th Avenue at W. 57th St.)
When: TONIGHT, Friday, June 21, 2022
Time: 4pm to 7pm
??? Make Music New York – Balsley Park
TONIGHT! Enjoy live music with "New York City’s only music festival for the people and by the people." See performances by Kaufman Music Center's Special Music School, Olivia Chindamo Jazz Quintet (presented by Lincoln Center); and Harmal Duo, playing middle eastern classic, blues and folk (presented by Symphony Space) at ?– INFO >
Where: Balsley Park (9th Avenue at W. 57th St.)
When: TONIGHT, Friday, June 21, 2022
Time: 4pm to 7pm
?
??? Columbus Avenue Open Street?
THIS WEEKEND! It's your last chance to enjoy the Columbus Avenue Open Street until September. Get out there and enjoy music, food, shopping, and neighbors in a wide swath of public space that's usually closed to people. You can even host your own event! – INFO >
Where: Columbus Avenue from West 68th to West 77th Streets
When: June 23
Time: 11am to 7pm?
?
??? Amsterdam Avenue Open Street?
ONGOING. Stop by this long-running neighborhood open street for activities, events, and a diverse choice of restaurants. Hosted by the Columbus–Amsterdam BID. – INFO >
Where: Amsterdam Avenue from West 106th to West 110th Streets
When: Saturdays and Sundays
Time: 12pm to 7pm
Last Word
Pass it on
“From time to time, leaders are called upon to envision a better future, be bold in the implementation and execution, and be undaunted by the opposition.”
– Gridlock Governor Kathy Hochul proudly touting her political courage on congestion pricing just months before she became the opposition.
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