Promoting safe bicycling in city

As more bikers ride through the streets of New York City, Transportation Alternative is making sure they pedal with safety in mind.
Transportation Alternatives’ new Bicycle Ambassador campaign has collected over 9,000 signatures in support of safe bicycling in New York City. By declaring themselves “New Yorkers for Bicycling” signees pledge to support the three pillars of safe cycling in New York: responsible riding is safer for everyone, bike lanes keep everyone out of each other’s and harm’s way and a public bike share program gives New Yorker more transit choices.
T.A.’s Bicycle Ambassadors promote safe cycling throughout the five boroughs during the non-winter months through community organizing and outreach.
“The bike lane outside my business benefits my customers and delivery staff by making the street safer and a more pleasant place to be,” said Tom Birchard, the owner of Veselka Restaurant.
Veselka Restaurant is one of T.A.’s Bike Friendly Businesses. The Bike Friendly Business campaign brings Bike Ambassadors and business owners together to create and encourage safe bicycling and healthy businesses in New York City.
A recent Quinnipiac University poll found 55 percent of Queens residents thought additional bike lanes was a good thing because it’s greener and healthier for people.
Besides collecting 9,015 signatures since May, the Ambassadors have handed out 9,500 pieces of safety literature, had 90 outreach events and five training events with working bicyclists.
Over the past 10 years, commuter cycling has increased 262 percent in New York City, according to DOT’s latest Sustainable Streets Index. More than 11,000 bike racks and 250 miles of bike lanes have been added in the five boroughs over the last four years encouraging more people to bike while making it safer and easier throughout the city.
The New York City Bicycle Ambassadors will also be participating in NYC Summer Streets by holding group bike rides from Queens Plaza and Grand Army Plaza to Park Avenue and 24th Street from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on August 6, 13 and 20.