File #: Res 0587-2006    Version: * Name: Commissioner of the NYC Dep't of Transportation to give community boards significant input with respect to accepting or rejecting bicycle lane proposals in their districts.
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Transportation
On agenda: 10/25/2006
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation to give community boards significant input with respect to accepting or rejecting bicycle lane proposals in their districts.
Sponsors: David I. Weprin, Gale A. Brewer, Vincent J. Gentile, Alan J. Gerson, Rosie Mendez, Michael C. Nelson, Robert Jackson, James F. Gennaro
Council Member Sponsors: 8

Res. No. 587

 

Resolution calling upon the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation to give community boards significant input with respect to accepting or rejecting bicycle lane proposals in their districts.

 

By Council Members Weprin, Brewer, Gentile, Gerson, Mendez, Nelson, Jackson and Gennaro

 

                     Whereas, The City Charter gives community boards the responsibility to, among other things, “cooperate with, consult, assist, and advise any public officer, agency, local administrators of agencies, legislative body, or the borough president with respect to any matter relating to the welfare of the district and its residents;” and

                     Whereas, Community Boards are comprised of residents and other people with significant interest in their respective districts who are knowledgeable about conditions in such districts, including usage of streets and traffic patterns; and

Whereas, The placement of bicycle lanes in a community can drastically affect the way residents and other people use the streets, including encouraging more people to ride bicycles and attain a healthier lifestyle, as well as affecting traffic patterns; and

Whereas, The increased safety associated with riding a bicycle in a bicycle lane is evidenced by the Department of Transportation (“DOT”) statistics indicating that as of September 12, 2006, there was only one reported fatal crash of a bicyclist involving a motor vehicle when a bicyclist was in a City-marked bike lane; and

Whereas, Residents, local community groups and other people with significant interest in a district are best equipped to determine whether new bike lanes will be integrated well into a community or may cause conditions, such as limited visibility, that may affect the safety of motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians; and

                     Whereas, Community Boards should be allowed to give significant input into DOT proposals to install bike lanes that may affect the quality of life in their districts; now, therefore, be it

                     Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation to give community boards significant input with respect to accepting or rejecting bicycle lane proposals in their districts.

 

 

 

RK

LS# 1388

10.2006, 10 am