Statement on Mayor de Blasio’s State of the City Transportation Announcements

NEW YORK CITY — In response to tonight’s State of the City address, in which Mayor de Blasio made major announcements on Open Streets, public spaces, bike boulevards, and bridges for the people, Transportation Alternatives released the following statement: 

Statement from Executive Director Danny Harris:

“City streets must become fairer, safer, and more vibrant as we recover from the pandemic, and this announcement is a significant step towards reaching this goal. Transportation Alternatives has long been the leader in calling for a citywide network of protected bike lanes, permanent Open Streets, and more space for cyclists and pedestrians on our bridges, and we are thrilled to see Mayor de Blasio embarking on these new plans. We are heartened to know that the clear majority of New Yorkers support these life saving improvements, and hope that these projects will be delivered without delay. We look forward to partnering with Mayor de Blasio and NYC DOT on these visionary projects as we convert our streets into a pathway to recovery.”  

Additional information on background:

• This week, Transportation Alternatives released a Siena College Research Institute poll showing a clear majority of New Yorkers in all five boroughs support Open Streets as well as safety and transit improvements in their neighborhoods, even at the expense of car parking.

• In July, Transportation Alternatives released a report calling for improvements and expansions to the Open Streets program, including making the program permanent and correcting inequities in distribution.

For more than four decades, Transportation Alternatives and grassroots partners have advocated for more space for pedestrians and cyclist space over the East River bridges, culminating in the now-successful Bridges4People campaign.