Res. No. 386
Resolution calling upon the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to conduct a pilot program involving the installation of structures on subway steps designed to facilitate movement of bicycles.
By Council Members Menchaca and Cohen
Whereas, Bicycles are permitted on the subway, but most stations do not have elevators; and
Whereas, Carrying a bicycle up and down the stairs in the subway system can be difficult and unwieldy at best and impossible for some people; and
Whereas, Other cities, including San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Seoul, have installed narrow bicycle ramps along the sides of stairways in their public transportation systems to facilitate the movement of bicycles; and
Whereas, The San Francisco ramps cost approximately $100,000 per stairway; and
Whereas, The ramps are situated mostly under handrails in space not otherwise used by individuals using the stairway; and
Whereas, Ramps also alleviate the obstruction, bottlenecks, and potential hazards that can be caused by customers lugging their bicycles up and down subway stairs; and
Whereas, Cycling is an environmentally-friendly and healthy transportation alternative; and
Whereas, New York City has undertaken numerous measures to encourage cycling, most notably expanding its bicycle lane network and introducing a bicycle-share system; and
Whereas, Narrow bicycle ramps on subway stairs would be an unobtrusive and relatively inexpensive method of continuing to make New York a bicycle-friendly city; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to conduct a pilot program involving the installation of structures on subway steps designed to facilitate movement of bicycles.
LS# 2135
8/5/2014
JM