December 2002
Dear Friend,
We’re proud to announce that New York City is going to host BikeSummer in 2003! BikeSummer is a month of activities promoting bicycling and improved bicycle infrastructure, held in a different city each year. BikeSummer 2003 is going to be held June 27 – July 25 in all five boroughs. TIME’S UP! has been the catalyst behind this project in New York, and we think it will be a great opportunity to show New Yorkers and out-of-town visitors all the city has to offer.
At this year’s BikeSummer in Portland, Oregon, TIME’S UP! presented a video update on some of the campaigns we’ve been involved in over the past year. From Critical Mass to community gardens, and from promoting cycling and skating to public space issues, we’ve had a busy year.
2002 brought a big victory for community gardens in New York City. In September, an agreement was reached between gardeners, community activists and the city, recognizing and saving over 300 gardens. A lot of work still has to be done to make sure they are made permanent, and that others not on this list are also saved. However, it was a major victory for a cause TIME’S UP! has long been involved with.
Another highlight of our year was implementing the first-ever Bike Center at Clearwater’s Hudson River Revival, a major environmental festival up the Hudson in Croton. Despite rain, we valet parked 100 bicycles, preventing nearly 500 pounds of pollution and sending a very visible message to the many people who drive to the festival. We also answered lots of questions, gave out free information about local riding, and educated people about the environmental, social, and health benefits of bike riding.
For years, TIME’S UP has supported a community-based environmental perspective on public space. Campaigns such as Critical Mass and Reclaim the Streets, in which TIME’S UP! members play a pivotal role, continue to send a strong message. Greenways and bicycle lanes are becoming more prevalent throughout the city. Memorial stenciling and other campaigns we’ve been working on over the years also continue. In 2003, we hope to bring back the traffic-calming ride through Central Park and add one through Prospect Park.
Our calendar for bicyclists and skaters is still going strong with Critical Mass leading the way. The monthly Critical Mass, in fact, has become one of NYC’s most spectacular and fun events, with a clear message about balancing the use of our streets and sharing space between pedestrians, bikes, and cars. While TIME’S UP! does not lead or control the route for this event, we work on publicity, themes, and post-ride events. We’re confident that these efforts have contributed significantly to building Critical Mass in NYC.
TIME’S UP! also continues to conduct a number of ongoing activities, including ecological tours in the South Bronx, on the Lower East Side, and around New York City’s waterfront. We also make educational presentations at schools, the New York City Bike Show, and other public events, during which we often screen videos produced by our volunteers.
TIME’S UP! is run on a shoestring budget solely by volunteers. All of the above was accomplished thanks to their enormous efforts. But we couldn’t do it without your financial support. With BikeSummer coming up, we need your help more than ever. Please remember TIME’S UP! when you are making your year-end contributions. TIME’S UP! is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization, and your donations are tax-deductible according to the law. We gratefully accept donations online (through PayPal) and by mail.
Faced with threats to public space and the environment, and the prospect of a war driven by America’s dependence on oil, the work of organizations such as TIME’S UP is more important than ever. We hope you’ll join us in 2003, at our events, and for BikeSummer. Hopefully, together we can build a more peaceful, more sustainable world, starting in our city.
Thanks for your support!
Sincerely,
Bill Di Paola
Executive Director, TIME’S UP!
P.O. Box 2030
New York, NY 10009
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