By Bill Parry
Mayor Bill de Blasio signed a package of legislation, passed by the City Council in recent weeks, designed to further his Vision Zero plan to make streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists Monday in Woodside.
He held the event at PS 152, where he first outlined his initiative in January, just weeks after the tragic death of Noshat Nahian, an 8-year-old student who was struck and killed by a tractor-trailer while crossing Northern Boulevard one block from the school.
The mayor inspected improvements made by the city Department of Transportation at the intersection at 61st Street, where the schoolboy was killed. Changes include two pedestrian islands, enhanced crosswalks and newly timed traffic signals that enable pedestrians to cross Northern Boulevard while traffic is stopped.
De Blasio then spoke before the media and dozens of family members of traffic collision victims including the third-grader’s parents, Nargish and Mohammed Nahian.
“Every parent at that moment understands, when you stand in a spot where a child was lost, you feel something,” de Blasio said. “And I certainly felt again the loss of a young boy that we wish so deeply was here with us today, and we in his memory are taking real action to make sure we won’t lose other children.”
The mayor signed 11 bills meant to improve traffic safety while increasing the penalties for dangerous driving. The DOT will be required to install seven neighborhood slow zones this year and next and lower speeds to 15 to 20 mph near 50 schools annually.
Another bill provides for tougher penalties on drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians and cyclists, and the city Taxi & Limousine Commission will be able to strip cab drivers of their licenses if they injure or kill anyone in a crash. Another piece of legislation prohibits stunt behaviors on motorcycles.
“We have promised the people of this city that we will use every tool we have to make streets safer,” de Blasio said. “Today is another step on our path to fulfilling that promise, and sparing more families the pain of losing a son, a daughter or a parent in a senseless tragedy.”
The mayor also praised the state Legislature for approving a measure that allows New York City to lower its standard speed limit to 25 mph.
“This is a huge step forward for New York City,” de Blasio said. “When you think about Vision Zero, all of its components, fundamentally it comes down to reducing speed, reducing reckless driving. This is an essential element to that plan and it’s been achieved.”
Paul Steely White, a safety activist from the Transportation Alternatives nonprofit, attended the bill signing and marveled at the speed at which the de Blasio administration changed the culture surrounding the Vision Zero plan to cut traffic deaths.
“I continue to be amazed at the mayor’s follow-through these past six months,” he said. “Promises have turned into action and now we hold our breath as the focus shifts towards enforcement.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4538.
