2005-11-29 Reasonable Demands – Ride Magazine

“Reasonable Demands” Released by Time’s Up!

http://www.ridezine.com

The Ride Magazine Issue 129

December 9-11, 2005

New York–Time’s Up!, a New York City-based environmental group that
uses events and educational programs to promote a more sustainable, less
toxic city, has issued a set of demands to the city about the future of
metropolitan biking. Their main suggestion is that “Bicycling should be
viewed not as a problem for the city, but as a solution to the city’s
problems.”

Called “Very Reasonable Demands Regarding the Future of Bicycling in
New York City,” Time’s Up! believes that the quality of life in New York
City would be enhanced by improving the City’s cycling infrastructure. More
than 100,000 people use a bicycle for daily transportation in the city and
Time’s Up! cites greenway improvements, the city’s bike map and bike-to-work
programs, as well as group rides offered by cycling and environmental
groups, as contributing factors.

On the other hand, Time’s Up! disapproves of the city’s failure to
penalize motorists who kill or injure cyclists and the apparent unwillingness to
provide adequate cycling infrastructure. They state: “The City of New
York fosters a lack of respect for cycling as a viable form of
transportation and creates a hostile climate for bicyclists, fueling dangerous and unsafe
conditions. This must change.”

Time’s Up! asks that the city rethink its priorities by viewing
bicycling as a key solution to decreasing congestion and reducing car crashes, air
pollution, obesity and asthma. Immediate suggestions include: cease the
arrest of cyclists and confiscation of their bicycles for simply riding
their bike; halt the removal of bikes locked to public property,
including parks, as all bikes not parked in “official” bike racks are not
“abandoned property.”

In the short term, Time’s Up! asks that summonses and/or appropriate
criminal charges be brought in all accidents where motorists kill or
injure cyclists or pedestrians. Additional suggestions include: increasing
education for drivers about bicycles and sharing the road; giving prior
notification to the cycling community about closings of cycling
thoroughfares; and assigning an urban planning specialist to work with
the NYC cycling community to improve safety conditions for cyclists and pedestrians.

Long-term goals include reinstating a Bicycle Advisory Council of urban
planners and the cycling community to work with the NYC Department of
Transportation. Such a group could plan a contiguous bicycle
transportation network that includes adequately sized on-street bike lanes, greenways
and bridges. Beyond that, they ask for a timetable for the completing of
the Manhattan East Side Greenway.

Will Time’s Up! get what they want? Keep up to date on their work at
www.times-up.org.

Copyright 2005, Ride Magazine

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