2009 Letter – Year in Review

November 24, 2009

Dear Friend,

Here in New York City, nonpolluting transportation and environmental awareness are on the rise. Over the past three years, the city has installed 200 miles of bike lanes and ridership has increased by more than 45 percent. TIME’S UP! and all of our members and supporters can be proud of the role we are playing in getting the City to respect nonpolluting transportation and create the infrastructure needed to sustain its future. We hope that you will support our ongoing, effective work for environmental change by making a year-end contribution to TIME’S UP! We can’t do it without you!

TIME’S UP! is excited to announce that our remarkable 22-year history is currently being archived at the Tamiment Library at New York University. This archive will be open to the public and serve as an important resource for scholars, planners, innovators and activists. Our uniquely effective style of direct action—combining fun with education—is documented in 22 years of calendars introducing hundreds of group bike rides that have encouraged new riders and empowered network building, as well as posters announcing events to secure our first amendment rights and promote community gardens, public spaces and green alternatives. Videos, audio tapes and myriad other outreach, education and promotional resources will be permanently available for those who take up the fight in the future to extend all of the effort we’ve put into building a greener New York City.

TIME’S UP! has seen considerable success on the policy front and on the streets this past year. Thanks to volunteer mechanics and coordinators, Time’s Up is now running community classes and bike repair workshops five nights a week. Through the generous donation of a space in Brooklyn at the foot of the Williamsburg Bridge, we’ve been able to expand our much-needed services to new communities. We’ve also continued a full schedule of workshops at ABC No Rio, a local arts and organizing venue in the Lower East Side. Nonetheless, to better serve all New Yorkers, our goal is to find a permanent space that can act as an ongoing meeting center for all of our visitors, volunteers, educational events, repair workshops and other projects.

We strongly believe that local solutions are key to global issues like climate change. As you read this letter, members of Time’s Up! are preparing to attend the United Nations COP 15 Climate Conference in Copenhagen to share our experience in changing New York with the world, and to learn from others. Lessons learned will help shape our future agenda as we strive to make New York a healthier, greener and more fun place for all.

Please support TIME‘S UP! with a year-end donation. With your help we will continue to create changes we can see in our city. Join us in 2010 as we expand our impact with rides, campaigns, and educational activities. Together, we are building a more peaceful, sustainable world, starting here.

Sincerely,

Bill Di Paola
Executive Director

PS: Remember TIME’S UP! merchandise for your holiday purchases! Go to http://www.times-up.org/store.php for more information.

Year-End Summaries