Congestion Pricing is Here: Let’s make it work for everyone.

Congestion pricing officially started this Sunday! This historic win will pave the way for safer streets, faster commutes, cleaner air, and billions in funding for public transportation.?

We didn’t get here overnight. After decades of fighting alongside you, we want to begin by saying: Thank you.

Now with fewer cars on the road, we can get to work to improve our air quality, lower asthma rates, speed up emergency response times, expedite bus commutes, and create safer spaces for walking and biking for all New Yorkers.?

To fully realize these benefits, congestion pricing and street design must work together to create the transportation network New Yorkers deserve.

Here are just a few examples of how New York City must meet the moment by

• Building car-free bus lanes and busways
• Carving out more pedestrian spaces
• Daylighting intersections
• Installing new protected bike lanes

Read our full report for a detailed guide on how to make congestion pricing a success. Whether you drive, walk, bike, or take the bus, this program is designed to give you more freedom to choose how you get around — and improve every commute.

Congestion pricing is here. Now let’s make it work for everyone.

Read our full report.

Three Things to Know

Mayor Adams falls behind Streets Plan benchmarks — again. For the third year in a row, Mayor Adams' administration has failed to meet the legally mandated requirements of the Streets Plan further, jeopardizing public safety and eroding trust with New Yorkers. This year, the administration delivered just 5 miles of bus lanes out of the required 30 miles and only 23 miles of protected bike lanes out of the mandated 50 miles. Every missed benchmark puts lives at risk. The Streets Plan isn’t optional — it’s the law. We’re glad to see the City Council pushing for a Streets Plan tracker to ensure this administration — and future ones — are held accountable.

E-scooter ridership is taking off — let’s make sure it stays that way.? Rentable e-scooter programs in Queens and the Bronx are proving to be a huge success, logging millions of trips and offering New Yorkers a sustainable, convenient way to get around. For e-scooters to remain a safe and reliable option, we need streets and infrastructure that support them. Instead of rolling back these programs, we should redesign our streets and adapt our transit systems to make sustainable transportation more accessible — especially for those in transit deserts. Show your support for e-scooters in Eastern Queens by signing our petition! Do you live in Queens and love using e-scooters? Join Council Member Williams’ virtual town hall on e-scooters at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, January 13, and help shape the future of mobility in your neighborhood.

In the news. Here's what we're reading this week:

• Check us out in The New York Times! Whether you drive, walk, bike, or take the bus, congestion pricing can improve your commute and give you more freedom to choose how you get around. Read the full coverage.
• With congestion pricing starting this week, DOT has yet to implement promised street-level improvements, including the long-awaited bike and pedestrian path expansion on the Queensboro Bridge, according to Streetsblog.
• Commercial waste haulers have long posed a safety risk on our streets. However, with the launch of the city’s first commercial waste zone in Central Queens, reported by QNS, we can expect safer and more sustainable streets.?

Two Things to Do

Join us for our first New York Safe Streets Coalition lobby day of 2025. Sign up to join Families for Safe Streets, Transportation Alternatives, and other advocates on January 28 in Albany as we meet with elected officials to push for the SAFE Streets package. A bus will be provided from Manhattan, and we’ll also host two lobby day training sessions to help prepare you for the big day. RSVP now to secure your spot and be part of the movement for safer streets for all New Yorkers.?

Kick off 2025 with your first activist's committee meeting of the year. ?Our borough activists are gearing up to launch this year's advocacy season, and you won’t want to miss out on what we have planned. This year, we're focused on giving every New Yorker the freedom of choice to get around however they want — safely and sustainably. Meetings vary by committee, so be sure to check out our website for times, updates, and all the ways you can get involved. We’ve got big plans and fun events ahead — let’s make 2025 the year we reshape New York’s streets for the better!

One Action to Take Now

Sign our petition to make The Miracle on 42nd Street a reality. Great news: three Manhattan community boards officially voted to support our Miracle on 42nd Street campaign in December!?Now, let’s build on this momentum and make Midtown safer and more accessible for pedestrians, cyclists, and bus riders. By prioritizing people over cars, we can transform 42nd Street into a vibrant, welcoming space that enhances everyone's quality of life. Join the Miracle on 42nd Street today.