FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE:   02/25/03            CONTACT: Ivan Vamos, Legislative Director nybc@nybc.net; 518.436.0889

New York Bicycling Coalition’s Objectives for Re-Authorization of TEA-21

With the re-authorization of the nation’s transportation bill, known as TEA-21 or TEA-3 occurring this year, the NYBC urges that the enhancements below be adopted to give hundreds of thousands of people throughout the State improved access and safety as they seek alternatives to pollution and congestion causing vehicles. Such enhancements can also bring other benefits to New Yorkers, such as recreation and exercise, increased tourism, and more pleasant communities. And, in this age of Homeland Security, they can provide an added measure of evacuation capacity during national and regional emergencies by carving out new bike and pedestrian byways for retreat from danger.

We represent the major cycling organizations in the state and we would like to achieve the following objectives with TEA-3:

1)      Enhance the Safe Routes to School Program: Many areas in New York City’s borough of the Bronx have benefited from this program, allowing children to go to school in safer, more ecological ways. Many families in suburban areas would also like to decrease their dependence on motorized transportation, gain relief from vehicular congestion and parking problems and seek a healthier lifestyle.  We ask that TEA-3 allocate more funding to Safe Routes to School.

2)      Create bike-friendly road and transit systems: Although ISTEA and TEA-21 made substantial gains in this area, much of our transportation systems are still unfriendly to cyclists. On-street cycling lanes need further development in all towns and cities so people can safely ride on a daily basis from home to work, to school and to shop. Although many inroads have been made in several New York communities, many buses, trains and subways do not yet accommodate cyclists and their bicycles without posing financial and logistical barriers. This improvement effort should also focus on those who cannot drive cars or do not own them, including children and the elderly.

3)      Strengthen existing Transportation Enhancements, CMAQ and other TEA-21 programs for improved bicycling facilities; We believe existing programs to develop cycling facilities should be enhanced and expanded. To that end, eligibility for bicycling improvements should be more explicit; and incentives should encourage the use of funds for bicycle projects.

4)      Create major bike and pedestrian routes for all cities and towns in the event of an emergency; The National Transportation Security Act must account for regional emergencies that might cause panic. For instance, sabotage of power plants or subways can shut down mass transit. In suburban areas, many people escaping at once can create motorized gridlock. We need to define in advance clear and safe methods for non-motorized emergency movement of people across large areas. NYBC asks TEA-3 to provide funding and direction for the development of bike and pedestrian “corridors”.

5)      Use the rebuilding of the World Trade Center area as a nationwide model for accommodation of cycling commuters. The rebuilding of the WTC site is an ideal opportunity to demonstrate how large complexes such as office parks, transportation hubs, and other traffic generators can accommodate and encourage bicycle commuting.

See Detailed Statement for a more detailed description of the proposals suggested here.    

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