There has been a shift in NYC for the last few years towards healthier lifestyles. More New Yorkers are found commuting on their bicycles, walking, and enjoying green spaces(where access exists). We have also seen an investment by city planners to develop more and more bike lanes around the city. The first ever bike share program was developed. And while it's great that more people are able to ride bicycles around town, it raises some serious questions on how we can make significant reforms in regards to street safety.
One of the organizations that has been at the forefront of raising awareness on the subject is Transportation Alternatives (TA). TA is a non-profit organization whose mission statement includes, “[our] mission is to reclaim New York City's streets from the automobile and to promote bicycling, walking, public transit.”
TA spearheaded the Vision Zero action plan that was adopted by the city under Mayor de Blasio and is going on its first year this February. A direct result from the plan has been the lowering of the speed limit to 25mph on what are called arterial slow zones. Lowering of the speed limit is one of those things that we can come to a consensus on from a safety perspective. Regardless of how you feel, it's safer for pedestrians, cyclists, as well as other vehicles if accidents happen at a lower speed. But another, less publicized result of the action plan is the installation of speed enforcement cameras citywide near schools, this is where things get a little tricky.
Who will really benefit from these changes?
Those who break the law can get summonses that start at $30 for first-time offenders to $100 fines and suspension of the license for multiple offenses. Many of the cars in the streets are taxi drivers who make up a large industry of workers. This automatically includes the Taxi and Limousine Commission - a city agency responsible for licensing and regulating New York City's medallion (yellow) taxicabs, for-hire vehicles (community-based liveries and black cars), commuter vans, paratransit vehicles (ambulettes) and certain luxury limousines. With the vast amount of cars on the road, it can be easily ascertained that the city can make a pretty penny off the breaking of the new speed limit.
It is obvious that TA had good intentions when coming up with the Vision Zero action plan. However, the enforcement is reflective of a punishment over rehabilitation strategy that exist in capitalist society. A more impressive plan would have focused more on traffic safety through a more thorough education program for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.
What would real change look like?
If the intention is to really be productive, then we deserve plans that get to the root of problems rather than continuing to slap people on their hands. This approach would not only fix issues but potentially improve the overall quality of life in the city.
It can be difficult to openly criticize Vision Zero because the ads for the plan highlight young children, and family members who have been killed by traffic accidents. While tragic and a real problem, the truth is that if someone is going to speed, they are going to speed regardless of the speed limit. Placing more emphasis on why a law is broken will mean asking questions that are not ready to be answered. Breaking the law is not anything new and changing the culture is more difficult than handing out punishment, which is most likely why this is the method that is not preferred; it means real work.
Handing down punishment has shown to have its drawbacks; what other methods do you think would work to achieve street safety?
Check out this episode of RevFitRadio that we did a few months back about bike safety and the politics behind it with Diego Quinones of Transportation Alternatives (TA).
