NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC MONITORING TOOLKIT

Transcription

1 NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC MONITORING TOOLKIT

2 table of contents Introductions and Welcome to the Neighborhood Traffic Monitoring Kit Step One: Go Find your Community Step Two: Choose your Study Location Step Three: Choose your Study Focus Step Four: Choose you Study Parameters Step Five: Including Opinions in your Data The Pedestrian Intercept Survey Step Six: Informing your Public Representatives Step Seven: Preparing Volunteers Step Eight: Survey! Step Nine: Tallying your Results Step Ten: Following Up with your Precinct Easily Identifiable Traffic Law Violations NYC Community Boards 101 If You Don t Show Up, Don t Complain Introduction to Form Letters Forms and Examples: Form Letter to your Community Board Chair Forms and Examples: Form Letter to your Precinct s Executive Officer Forms and Examples: Form Letter to your City Council Member Forms and Examples: Form Letter to your Community Council President Forms and Examples: Flyer for Precincts Cycling on the Rise Forms and Examples: Pedestrian Intercept Survey Forms and Examples: Sample Spreadsheet Forms and Examples: Blank Spreadsheet Forms and Examples: Violation Tally Sheets

3 Congratulations! You have taken the first step towards making your neighborhood a safer place. This kit is designed to make the process of documenting neighborhood traffic both easy and accessible. Over the following pages, you will learn exactly how to document the extent and pervasiveness of dangerous driving in your neighborhood, and how to use your findings to bring about real change. You ve sought out the Neighborhood Traffic Monitoring Kit because you understand that the traffic in your neighborhood is dangerous. Your experiences as a road-user are testament to the impact dangerous traffic has on the quality of life in your community. With the tools included here, you will be able to make those impressions quantitative, by putting your community s traffic problems into indisputable facts and figures. As you embark on your study, remember that T.A. is your devoted resource and number-one ally in making New York s streets safer, starting on your corner. What is the purpose of collecting data on traffic? There are many reasons for having an estimation of the state of our streets. For one, in a chaotic, bubbling metropolis like New York, the only way to understand what is occurring citywide is to take samples and document aspects of it. Another reason is that no agency in NYC government is tasked with doing it. The activities and policy decisions that the Mayor s Office, NYPD and DOT undertake happen without knowledge of how lawless traffic is out there. Your data collection sets an example for them, and what they should be doing to understand the extent of the problem. Most of all, we collect this data in recognition of its power to prove in non-negotiable terms the level of lawlessness on our streets, where the problem is most extensive and how targeted enforcement can correct it. All real change is the product of a little labor, and the Neighborhood Traffic Monitoring Kit you now hold is no exception. Please don t be intimated by its length. Everything you need, besides a few friends to volunteer their time, is included in these pages. Get ready to understand your neighborhood in a whole new way, through scientific observation, and learn how your findings can change the place where you live. And remember, as you venture to make your neighborhood a safer place, Transportation Alternatives is here to support you every step of the way. Please be in touch and let T.A. know of your plans. To discuss your study, get suggestions for locations and parameters, and find answers to any questions you may have, contact: Transportation Alternatives info@transalt.org 3

4 FIND YOUR COMMUNITY Once a month, your Community Board holds a full board meeting. Many Community Boards have committees tailored to certain areas of urban living; Land Use and Transportation Committees may exist in your district. Precinct Community Councils also hold meetings monthly. If you aren t already doing it, now is the time to show up. These gatherings are your most formal and legitimate tool for a voice in your local community. The first step in your study is to be present. GETTING YOUR FOOT IN THE PRECINCT DOOR First, go to your Community Council Meeting. Community Affairs Officers from your precinct will be present at this meeting to respond to community complaints. After the meeting, introduce yourself to your Community Affairs Officers. Mention that you re working with Transportation Alternatives, and that you will be conducting a study. Let them know you d like to speak or meet with the Precinct s Executive Officer, and that you ll be calling to follow up. On the next convenient day, call your Community Affairs Officer to follow up. Identify yourself as a resident of the district, and as a person collaborating with Transportation Alternatives. Make sure you explain what T.A. is too. Here s what you could say: Hi. My name is [ Your Name ] and I live on [ Your Street ]. I am collaborating with Transportation Alternatives, a New York City membership group that works for safer conditions for pedestrians and cyclists on a traffic safety study. I d like to speak with the [ Precinct Number ] Precinct s Executive Officer. I d be happy to arrange a time to call that is convenient. 4

5 TIP The best route to go through when contacting your precinct is the Community Affairs Officers. They usually have answering machines. Be patient with them and understand they are commonly very busy people who are not paid very well. Some officers will always call you back, others won t. Be respectful but do not hesitate to be persistent. Being persistent means calling every other day until you get a response. If you get to speak with your Executive Officer, tell them you are collaborating with Transportation Alternatives, and generally explain your study. You do not need to tell the officer where you will be conducting your study. Be sure to let the Executive Officer know that you will contact them as soon as the study is complete, and hope to arrange a meeting to discuss the results then. (More on this on Page 18) TIP The ultimate person to speak to about traffic safety at any precinct is the Executive Officer. The Executive Officer is the number-two person in command at a precinct, and they report to the Commanding Officer, who is in charge of the entire precinct. The Executive Officer (colloquially called the EX-OH ) supervises the precinct s traffic safety officers and attends TrafficStat meetings with the NYPD Transportation Bureau Chief and other Executive Officers in their borough. If policy changes are going to happen at the precinct level, it s the Executive Officer who s going to push them through. If after two weeks, you have not been able to speak with your Executive Officer, it s ok to give up and send a letter. Send a version of the form letter on Page 29 and see the guide to using the form letters on Page 27. TIP See if you can find out if your Executive Officer has a secretary. This is usually another officer who is on desk duty, and should be referred to as such. If they do, get their name. When you call the precinct, ask to speak to them, as they will be your closest link to the Executive Officer. 5

6 Choose Your Study Location In this section, you will choose the location for your study. Pay close attention to your commute, your travels, your trips to the market. In your observations, try to look for locations which would most benefit from increased attention and traffic law enforcement. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER IDEAS FOR STREETS TO OBSERVE On what streets is traffic in your neighborhood most intimidating to pedestrians? On what streets do you feel threatened while walking? What streets are most lawless? While the observed unpleasantness of an area of traffic is not necessarily reflected in the number of crashes that have occurred there, it is a good idea to consider these figures in determining where to conduct your study. Transportation Alternatives CrashStat.org catalogs all crashes in which a pedestrian or cyclist was injured or killed. See if a street in your neighborhood stands out as having a conspicuously high number of crashes. 6

7 RULES Observe no more than two streets or intersections per study. Observe high traffic streets, that are either two-way or have at least two lanes. ALL of your chosen streets or intersections should lie within the boundary of the following:»» The boundary of your Police Precinct District»» The boundary of your City Council District»» The boundary of your Community Board District RESOURCES Find the boundaries of your local police precincts here: Find the boundaries of your local Community Board here: Find the boundaries of your local City Council District here: Find the locations for crashes in which cyclist or pedestrians were killed or injured in your neighborhood, access CrashStat here: WHAT T.A. CAN DO TO HELP Contact us by phone or in this stage, and we can help you narrow down your intersection choices. 7

8 Choose Your Study FOCUS In this section, you will choose the focus for your study, particularly what violations are most rampant, and easily identifiable at the site. After choosing the location for your study, informally observe of the study area. Consider the following questions: QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER What makes you feel threatened while walking? What are the most common violations at the study location? What violations can you easily identify at your study location? What violations are you unsure that you can identify correctly? Note that the relative danger, or fear-inducing potential, of certain traffic law violations may put them at the top of the list as to the worst of your neighborhood s traffic, but that does not necessarily make those violations the best candidates for observation. It is difficult for the untrained eye to recognize speeding on site, it could be difficult to determine what qualifies as reckless driving; these are not violations you should be surveying for. RULES Choose no more than five traffic law violations to observe. Observe only for violations which are easily identifiable. RESOURCES Find a list of easily identifiable traffic law violations, recommended for observing in your study, on Page 20. Find a list of all NYS Traffic and Vehicles Laws here: WHAT T.A. CAN DO TO HELP Contact us by phone or in this stage, and we can help you narrow down your choices. 8

9 Choose Your Study PARAMETERS to Gather Legitimate Sample Data In this section, you will create the parameters of your study to ensure that you do not outline an excessive amount of labor for yourself and to guarantee that the data you collect is scientifically legitimate. Methods such as observing the intersection at peak traffic times and avoiding recording instances that are not egregious examples of a violation will create indisputable, consistent data. You will be conducting a sampling study. A sampling study uses a small subset of data, in this case a snapshot of a street or intersection, to presume the data for a larger area, in this case an entire neighborhood of similar streets. Sampling studies are considered scientifically legitimate to presume data for a large area without measuring the entirety of the area, and they are used by both government agencies in New York City and Transportation Alternatives to provide quick understanding of a large area. RULES Observe traffic in sessions lasting two hours each. Observe traffic for a minimum of four two-hour sessions. Record only egregious violations. If you are unsure whether a violation should be counted, do not record it. This allows your combined data to be a minimum result. Observe traffic during peak hours (7:30-9:30 am and 4:30-6:30 pm) on Monday through Friday. Observing traffic on weekends or holidays will skew your study results due to changes in traffic levels. Observe traffic using two to three volunteers, including:»» One volunteer to observe driver behavior on the street mid-block prior to the intersection»» One volunteer to observe driver behavior on the street at the intersection 9

10 RULES (cont.)»» One volunteer to conduct a Pedestrian Intercept Survey (Optional. More on this in the next section.) RESOURCES WHAT T.A. CAN DO TO HELP Some examples of Sampling Studies include:»» Red Light Means Go, by former New York City and State Comptroller Alan Hevesi: Terminal Velocity, by Transportation Alternatives: From Chaos to Compliance, by Transportation Alternatives: Contact us by phone or in this stage, and we can help you make sure your study plans will produce scientifically accurate results. 10

11 Choose TO INCLUDE A PEDESTRIAN INTERCEPT SURVEY IN YOUR STUDY In this section, you will choose whether to include a Pedestrian Intercept Survey in your study. The Pedestrian Intercept Survey is a tool for recording the qualitative impressions of people who travel through your neighborhood how traffic affects their daily lives. While using the Pedestrian Intercept Survey to aid your study is optional, there is a significant advantage to its inclusion. Having data that demonstrates a percentage of people in the neighborhood are upset by unsafe traffic provide both argument and reason for precincts and community officials to respond. The results of the Pedestrian Intercept Survey will make the data you will collect more significant, by drastically widening the swath of people presenting their problem with the lawlessness on your streets. Including the Pedestrian Intercept Survey in your study requires three volunteers during each observation session, rather than two. TIP Don t be worried about approaching strangers. A good opening line is, Hi. I am conducting a survey about traffic in our neighborhood. Would you mind answering a few questions about how you get around and how you feel about traffic here? It ll take less than a minute. RULES Ask everyone who passes by the survey site to answer the questions of the Pedestrian Intercept Survey. Encourage all interviewed parties to fill out the survey themselves, unless they request you fill it out as they respond to questions. RESOURCES The Pedestrian Intercept Survey can be found on Page

12 INFORM YOUR PUBLIc REPRESENTATIVES In this section, you will inform local elected officials and policy makers of your plans to study traffic law compliance in your neighborhood. It is important to make contact with people in power, even before you get down to the labor of your study. Make yourself known to these people, and make your hopes for safer streets a presence in their work. Using the cover letters in this kit, contact all relevant local government agencies to inform them about your study before it occurs, and after the fact to request a meeting to discuss your findings. TIP When contacting any member of a government agency, it is always best to assume that they are overwhelmingly busy, and that you may be low on their priority list. To counteract this, always send a hard-copy letter for original communications, keep a copy for your records, and always follow-up with a phone call to ensure the letter was received. RULES Announce your study to all relevant parties before you begin. Always contact your public representatives first via snail mail, with a formal, typed and signed letter. Always call the offices of relevant parties one week after mailing to ensure your letter was received. Call repeatedly every three days to one week until you receive a confirmation. Only send a letter to the Executive Officer of your precinct after making repeated attempts to contact them, as outlined on Page 4. RESOURCES Find a form letter announcing your study for you to personalize to your Community Board on Page 28. Find a form letter announcing your study for you to personalize to the Executive Officer of your local precinct on Page

13 RESOURCES (cont.) Find a form letter announcing your study for you to personalize to your City Council Member on Page 30. Find a form letter announcing your study for you to personalize to your Community Council on Page 31. Find out all about how your Community Board works, and how to get it to work for you on Page 24 (Reprinted from Reclaim magazine). WHAT T.A. CAN DO TO HELP Contact us by phone or in this stage, and we can help you choose the best approach to use to contact your local representatives, and see if T.A. already has a relationships with your local officials. 13

14 PREPARE VOLUNTEERS In this section, you will arm a pack of friendly fellow surveyors with all the knowledge and tools this kits has provided you thus far. Your volunteers, whether they are friends and neighbors or activist strangers, are the most important factor in the success of your study. You can t do this alone, and once you ve gathered helpers, be sure offer profuse thanks. Here at T.A., we want our volunteers to feel ownership of the campaigns they help create (and we often show our thanks in the form of pizza and drinks). You will want to host an information session, and hopefully get your volunteers in the same knowledgeable place you are at. Explain your study location to your helpers, and give them assignment as to where to stand. Consider visiting the intersection together, or showing your volunteers a diagram of the area. Instruct your volunteers on the different violations of New York State Traffic Law you will surveying for, and give examples of what to record and what not to. Be prepared that all your volunteers may not be able attend your scheduled meeting, and be willing to set up discussion one-on-one. Try to keep things simple for volunteers, orienting them shouldn t take more than an hour. RULES Print all of the forms listed below for your volunteers. Provide volunteers with extra forms so that they do not run out while in the field. Print out a list of the NYS VTL for your volunteers for reference in the field, on which you highlight the violations they are to survey for. Emphasize to your volunteers the necessity of accuracy and of only recording egregious violations. Everyone wants big numbers, 14

15 RULES (cont.) but when it comes time to publish your results, we will want to be able to say that these numbers are a minimum, only a documentation of the most egregious, indisputable violations. RESOURCES Find Traffic Violations Tally Forms for all survey time periods on Pages Find a list of NYS VTL to survey for on Page 21. Find the Pedestrian Intercept Survey Form on Page 33. WHAT T.A. CAN DO TO HELP Contact us by phone or in this stage to set up a meeting. T.A. can introduce you to other likeminded volunteers in your area and arrange for you to borrow our space for training your volunteers. We can also handle a great deal of the groundwork in approaching local representatives, and let you know who T.A. already has a relationships with your area. 15

16 SURVEY! Gather your volunteers and materials. Set your alarm. Get out there are count those violations. SURVEYING MATERIALS CHECKLIST Don t forget to print extra survey sheets in case you run out in the field. Make sure you survey for the full time allotted. Keep your eyes on the road and be safe Blank Violation Tally Sheets Blank Pedestrian Intercept Survey Sheets Clipboards Pens TIP People may approach you to ask what you are doing. Let them know you are counting traffic violations. In some neighborhoods, T.A. volunteers have been hassled while conducting similar studies. While you should be careful to not block pedestrian traffic on the sidewalk, and to stand on the sidewalk instead of in the street, you absolutely have the legal right to stand on any New York City street corner and observe its traffic. Be sure to be friendly and informative to your curious neighbors. You may need them to help later on! We can t wait to see what you find out! 16

17 TALLYING your results In this section, the fruits of your labor come in the form of real hard data that quantifies the extent of the traffic safety problem in your neighborhood. With a few tips and tricks within a spreadsheet document, your tallies will become statements of what you observed. RULES You can try to develop a spreadsheet based on the example provided on Page 35 by accurately transferring your traffic violation counts into a spreadsheet. 2 Transfer all your data accurately, and as it was recorded. Contact Transportation Alternatives so we can begin to rally the media to cover your results. RESOURCES Find a template filled with example Traffic Violation data, and subsequent calculations, on Page 34. Find a blank template, for computing your Violation data, on Page 35. WHAT T.A. CAN DO TO HELP Contact us by phone or in this stage to set up a meeting or your results. We can help you understand your data, and how to fashion it into a coherent argument. Just let us know, and congratulations on all your hard work. 17

18 PRECINCT ACTION STEPS Upon completing your study, and turning your raw data into hard statistics, keep your promise to your Executive Officer and let them know what you found out. At this point, pursue your Executive Officer unrelentingly. Insist on a meeting. Keep calling. Be sure to impart that you now have results from your study, which you will be sharing with the press, your City Council Member and Community Board. Let whomever know that you would like to share these results with the Executive Officer first. When you are able to schedule a sit-down meeting with your Executive Officer, present your study results. Try to do so in a blameless way, with compassion for the fact that officers have an overwhelming job controlling traffic. Let them know that Transportation Alternatives has suggestions as to how to help solve the problem on the precinct level. Discuss the different Action Steps below as ways the Executive Officer can curb the traffic safety problem through his officers, through the audience he has with his superiors, and through public relations. T.A. s Action Steps for Precincts are as follows: SAFER STREETS THROUGH TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT: OFFICER RESPONSIBILITIES Encourage officers to focus their summonsing on the most dangerous moving violations. Enforce this by increasing the expected performance objective for all officers in regards to non-vehicular malfunction moving violation summonsing. If this is too great an increase in labor, increase the expected number of non-vehicular malfunction moving violation summons while decreasing the number of expected parking summons. Require all officers to focus their summonsing activity on the 18

19 violations most likely to cause crashes and fatalities. According to the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles, these violations are:»» Speeding, Driver Inattention (which may include cell phone use), Failure to Yield the R.O.W., Disregard of Traffic Controls (signs, signals and lights), Following Too Closely, Unsafe Passing, and Turning and Lane Changes.»» Increase the number of officers assigned to traffic safety detail, particularly during peak traffic times.»» Deploy officers to Accident Prone Locations. SAFER STREETS = SAFER CITY: REQUESTS TO THE TOP Request from NYPD superiors, in particular the Transportation Bureau Chief and Police Commissioner, that the NYPD support Legislation for Speed Cameras in New York City. Encourage the Transportation Bureau Chief and Police Commissioner to meet with Transportation Alternatives to discuss citywide traffic safety initiatives. SAFER STREETS THROUGH EDUCATION Consider working with local newpapers, TV and radio to get the word out that you are passionate about enforcing the traffic laws. Make sure as many drivers as possible know that they better behave for safety s sake! Do not let fatal and other serious crashes in your precinct pass without your recognition. Reach out to families who ve lost loved ones and comfort them in public. Organize Walk to School events with local schools, with press coverage. OFFICER EDUCATION AND CYCLIST PROTECTION Request that the flyer on Page 32 be distributed to all officers in the precinct, and be posted in prominent places. Print out at least 30 copies of this to bring to your meeting. 19

20 Easily Identifiable Traffic Law Violations: Recommended for Surveying A searchable listing of the entire VTL can be found under the heading VAT Vehicle and Traffic at: Article 24 Section 1110-(a) through 1110-(d): Failure to obey traffic control devices Drivers are required to obey the instruction of all traffic control devices. Traffic control devices include ALL signs, signals and roadway markings, such as stop signs, red lights and turning lanes. TIP Article 25 Relative to the intersection being survey, and the different traffic control devices present there, it may be helpful to survey for the different control devices as separate violations (i.e. count red light running and misusing a turning lane as separate categories rather than recording them all under the larger heading of Traffic Control Devices). Section 1124: Unsafe passing On any two-way street, with at least two lanes in each direction (or four lanes total), drivers may not cross the center line of the roadway. This would include making a U-turn across the center line of the roadway. On any street with more than one lane, drivers must signal a lane change, and thereafter change lanes in a predictable and safe manner. When traffic control devices, such as bus lanes, are demarcated, these devices must be obeyed by all drivers. This includes roadway demarcations that indicate it is dangerous to drive in a certain area, such as a shoulder or other area designated for not driving. 20

21 TIP Article 26 Relative to the intersection being survey, and the different road markings present there, it may be helpful to survey for the different road markings as separate violations (i.e. count driving in the shoulder and driving in the bus lanes as separate categories rather than recording them all under a larger heading). Section 1140-(a): Failure to yield the right of way Approaching intersection A driver approaching an intersection must yield to any vehicles which have already entered the intersection. Section 1141: Failure to yield the right of way Vehicles turning left A driver turning left within or across an intersection must yield to any vehicles approaching from the opposite direction, which are either in the intersection or close enough to present a hazard. Section 1146: Failure to exercise due car for bike, pedestrian or animal Every driver must show care to avoid colliding with any bicyclist, pedestrian or domestic animal anywhere in the roadway. Article 27 Article 28 Section 1151-(a): Failure to yield right of way to pedestrian in crosswalks In crosswalks, drivers must always yield their vehicles to pedestrians. In areas where there are no traffic signals, or where the traffic signal gives the right of way to the pedestrian (i.e. when a vehicle has a green light and is turning onto a street where pedestrians in the crosswalk have a WALK signal), drivers must yield their vehicles to pedestrians in the crosswalk. If a driver is stopped to yield to a pedestrian, no other vehicle may overtake or pass that vehicle. Section 1160: Improper turn In both the approach to a right turn, and the execution, the driver must be as close as possible to the right hand curb. Section 1163: Failure to signal for turn Left turns made on two-way streets should be made from the area closest to the right side of the center line. Left turns made on one way streets should be made from the left-most point of the roadway. No driver should make any turn, or change lanes, without signaling that turn. A signal of intention to turn must be given no less than 100 feet before turning. 21

22 TIP One hundred feet is about one-third of a city block. Article 29 Section 1172-(a): Failed to stop for a stop sign Every vehicle approaching a stop sign shall stop at the stop line marked on the pavement (and if there is no stop line, the vehicle should stop before entering the crosswalk). After coming to a complete stop and before proceeding, the vehicle must yield to drivers crossing the intersection and pedestrians in the crosswalk. Section 1175: Blocking the Box When traffic is stopped on the opposite side of an intersection, drivers should not move their vehicle into the intersection until there is adequate space to pass entirely through the intersection onto the opposite side. The exemption to this rule is if the driver passing through the intersection is turning to the left or right, rather than proceeding straight through the intersection. Article 32 Section 1202: Double parking / Parking or stopping in prohibited places Drivers are not allowed to park, stop or stand their vehicle in the following places: On the roadway side of a vehicle parked, stopped or standing at the curb On a sidewalk, including mounting the curb Within an intersection On a crosswalk Between a safety zone and the curb, or on the curb within thirty feet of the safety zone. A safety zone is a part of roadway set apart for use exclusively by pedestrians Anywhere stopping, standing or parking would obstruct traffic 22

23 TIP A vehicle that is parked has its ignition off, and whether or not it is occupied, it is not stopped temporarily or engaged in loading or unloading. A vehicle that is standing is stopped, and whether or not its ignition is off or it is occupied, it is not stopped temporarily or engaged in loading or unloading. A vehicle that is stopped is pausing momentarily, or any of the above. Where Stopping is restricted, drivers cannot not halt their vehicle at all, even momentarily; where Standing or Parking is restricted, drivers cannot halt their vehicle for longer than momentarily, the time it takes to unload goods or passengers. Drivers are not allowed to stand or park their vehicle, except momentarily to pick-up or drop-off passengers, in the following places: In front of a driveway Within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection Within 30 feet of the approach to any traffic control signal or sign Within 20 feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station, and on the side of the street opposite the entrance, within 75 feet of the entrance Alongside a curb cut, or area where the curb is lowered to provide access to the sidewalk Within 15 feet of a firzant Article 33 Section 1211-(a): Unsafe backing It is illegal for driver to back up their vehicles unless it can be done safely and without interfering with other traffic. Section 1214: Dooring It is illegal for drivers to open the door of their vehicle on the side of the vehicle available to moving traffic unless it is safe to do so and can be done without interfering with moving traffic. It is also illegal to leave a vehicle door open on the side of the vehicle available to moving traffic for longer than is necessary to load or unload passengers. Section 1225-c: Use of mobile telephones It is illegal for drivers to hold a phone to, or in the immediate proximity of, their ear while operating their vehicle. 23

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25 If You Don t Show Up, Don t Complain from T.A. s magazine reclaim spring 2008 Issue In New York City, the traffic laws that prohibit the most dangerous and egregious traffic violations are rarely, if ever, enforced. Speeding, red light running, failure to yield to pedestrians, and driving and double parking in bicycle lanes are some of the illegal motorist behaviors that cyclists and pedestrians are forced to contend with every day. This reckless behavior creates an ever-present sense of danger on the street and prevents their safe and efficient use. Among children aged 5 to 14, traffic is the number one cause of death and serious injury. These traffic violations contribute to more than 14,000 pedestrian and cyclist injuries, and 190 pedestrian and cyclist fatalities each year, the highest rate of pedestrian injury in the state. If you have ever been caught in a police ticketing trap on your bicycle, chances are the crackdown stemmed from a squeaky wheel at a local Precinct Community Council. Each precinct has a council that holds monthly meetings to elicit public input. The meetings are usually sparsely attended, and a handful of speakers can make a big impact on where enforcement gets directed. More often than not, cyclists in particular are under-represented. The good news is that street safety is commonly raised, and more voices can only help the problem. You can turn around lax enforcement of traffic violations by raising your voice and calling on the police to enforce the traffic laws to protect pedestrians and cyclists. A key component of creating change in the culture of our streets and public spaces is to be the voices that we want heard in these open and public Community Council meetings. Most New Yorkers only have the opportunity to interact with police during emergencies, when officers are consumed by the problem at hand. That is why it is so important to engage in a dialogue with your local precinct. You can start by writing paper letters, but the best way is by showing up and speaking out at your Precinct Community 25

26 Council meetings each month. The meetings are forum where residents can comfortably voice concerns about neighborhood issues like traffic crime directly with the Precinct Commanding Officers and other police officials. They ll respond. PUTTING NYPD TO WORK FOR YOU SHOW UP GET ORGANIZED Many pedestrians and cyclists encounter the police under the worst of circumstances after a crash. It can be a frustrating interaction. Police Precinct Community Councils (which are different from Community Boards) offer the chance to get your concerns about enforcement across to the NYPD in a more collegial setting, one in which they are there exclusively to hear what you have to say. Here are three ways to make the most of them: Start attending your Precinct Community Council meetings. Meetings are often poorly attended so you can have a big impact just showing up alone. Let the Council know your concerns about street safety in the neighborhood, and call on them to stop speeding and other dangerous and illegal driving behaviors. At the meetings you may find other community members pushing the police to improve traffic enforcement for safer streets. It s great if there is a groundswell of support. You can be even more effective by showing up with your friends and neighbors to talk about the traffic violations bothering you, whether it s speeding on your block, drivers who don t yield while you re crossing the street, or cars and trucks that consistently block your bicycle lane. Make the monthly meeting more fun by turning it into a social outing that ends in dinner and drinks. JOIN UP After you start attending meetings, you re eligible to become an official member of the Precinct Community Council. Then you can help elect your own officers to administer council meetings and establish a stronger forum to getting street safety taken seriously. Issues relating to livable streets have become a priority at Community Boards around NYC simply because advocates and activists have started to attend the meetings and join the Boards in order to have their voices heard. Each of the more than one hundred Precinct Community Councils meets on a different schedule. Find your precinct at nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/home/precincts.shtml. 26

27 INTRODUCTION to form letters The form letters on the following pages are intended as guides. These letters provide the basis for everything you need to convey to the various intended recipients. However, if possible, personalizing these letters will encourage a positive reception. If a new bicycle lane has been installed in your neighborhood, or your City Council Member has recently supported compelling legislation, add this information to your letter. If there is an appropriate circumstance, compliment the recent work of your letter recipient. Particularly, if you ve had in-person or telephone conversations with anyone in the recipient s office, specify who you spoke with and what was discussed. TIP While you shouldn t use the letter to your precinct s Executive Officer until you ve persistently called the precinct and attempted to engage a conversation, this tactic can be helpful for all other offices. Don t hesitate to call your Community Board and City Council Member s Offices and let them know what you are up to, and that you will be following up with a letter. 27

28 Dear Community Board Chair I am a resident of Community Board and I need your help because I am concerned with the safety of traffic in our neighborhood. Like the vast majority of New Yorkers, many of our community members do not travel by car; they walk, they ride bicycles and they rely on public transportation to get around. Thus in our neighborhood, the safety of our streets is a high priority to mobility, our quality of life and our personal safety. I be lieve the problem of traffic chaos in our neighborhood is defined clearly, every day on our streets. It is evident in drivers committing rampant moving violations and pedestrians intimidated when crossing our streets. We need better enforcement to deter this life threatening behavior. Because problem-solving takes active citizens, I am collaborating with Transportation Alternatives to provide quantitative data to demonstrate the problem of street safety in our neighborhood. And I am asking for your help to compel officials to remedy it. Over the next few months, I will be conducting a survey of traffic violations in our neighborhood. A team of neighbors and community members equally concerned with traffic safety will complete a scientifically-significant sampling study of select dangerous intersections in our community and record the level of traffic law compliance there. When our study produces results, I request the opportunity to present our findings at a Community Board meeting. Just as obesity and diabetes plague our neighborhood, dangerous drivers on our streets discourage physical activity. We want our streets to be safe for children to play and calm enough to encourage a healthy, active community, a goal I know our Community Board shares. Through our upcoming work cataloging dangerous driving in our neighborhood, and by beginning a conversation at our Community Board about supporting safer streets, we have the potential to change the way people drive in our community. I hope you will join us in leading our community towards safer streets. I will be in touch to arrange a meeting to discuss the different ways to improve the safety of our streets, for the health, safety and well-being of all members of our community. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to sharing the results of our work in the future. Sincerely Yours, cc: Community Council President cc: Executive Officer cc: City Council Member NYPD Precinct Community Council District City Council District

29 Dear Executive Officer I am a resident of your precinct, and I need your help because I am concerned with the safety of traffic in our neighborhood. Like the vast majority of New Yorkers, many of the community members you protect do not travel by car; they walk, they ride bicycles and they rely on public transportation to get around. Thus in our neighborhood, the safety of our streets is a high priority to our mobility, quality of life and our personal safety. I believe the problem of traffic chaos in our neighborhood is defined clearly, every day on our streets. It is evident in drivers committing rampant moving violations, and pedestrians intimidated when crossing our streets. My neighbors and I need your help in creating a culture of safety on our local streets. I am collaborating with Transportation Alternatives to provide quantitative data to demonstrate the problem of street safety in our neighborhood; I hope you will use it to act. Over the next few months, I will be conducting a survey of traffic violations in our neighborhood. A team of neighbors and community members equally concerned with traffic safety will complete a scientificallysignificant sampling study of select dangerous intersections in our community, and record the level of traffic law compliance there. As our study produces results, I will be in touch to share our findings. Just as graffiti on our streets or turnstile jumping in our subways encourages greater crime our neighborhood, dangerous drivers on our streets discourage physical activity and create a feeling of chaos and fear. We want our streets to be safe for children to play and calm enough to encourage a healthy, active community, and I m sure your share this goal. Through our upcoming work cataloging dangerous driving in our neighborhood, and your support of safer streets, we have the potential to change the way drivers behave on our streets. I hope you will join us in leading our community towards safer streets, through increased traffic law enforcement in our neighborhood. I will be in touch to arrange a meeting to discuss the different ways to improve the safety of our streets, for the health, safety and well-being of all members of our community. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to sharing the results of our work in the future. Sincerely Yours, cc: Community Council President cc: Community Board Chair cc: City Council Member Community Council District Community Board City Council District

30 Dear Council Member I am a resident of your district, and I need your help because I am concerned with the safety of traffic in our neighborhood. Like the vast majority of New Yorkers, many of your constituents do not travel by car; they walk, they ride bicycles, and they rely on public transportation to get around. Thus in our neighborhood, the safety of our streets is a high priority to our mobility, quality of life and our personal safety. I believe the problem of traffic chaos in our neighborhood is defined clearly, everyday on our streets. It is evident in drivers committing rampant moving violations and a lack of enforcement to deter them. We need better enforcement to deter this life threatening behavior. I am collaborating with Transportation Alternatives to provide quantitative data to demonstrate the problem of street safety in our neighborhood. Over the next few months, I will be conducting a survey of traffic violations in our neighborhood. A team of neighbors and community members equally concerned with traffic safety will complete a scientifically-significant sampling study of select dangerous intersections in our community and record the level of traffic law compliance there. When our study produces results, I will be in touch to share our findings. Just as obesity and diabetes plague our neighborhood, dangerous drivers on our streets make them inhospitable, discouraging physical activity and lowering everyone s quality of life. We want our streets to be safe for children to play and calm enough to encourage a healthy, active community, and I am sure you share this goal. Through our upcoming work cataloging dangerous driving in our neighborhood and your support of safer streets, we have the potential to change the way drivers behave on our streets. I hope you will join us in leading our community towards safer streets, through increased traffic law compliance in our neighborhood. I will be in touch to arrange a meeting to discuss the different ways you can improve the safety of our streets, for the health, safety and well-being of all members of our community. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to sharing the results of our work in the future. Sincerely Yours, cc: Community Council President cc: Executive Officer cc: Community Board Chair NYPD Precinct Community Council District Community Board

31 INSERT NAME, Dear Community Council President I am a resident of your Community Council district, and I need your help because I am concerned with the safety of traffic in our neighborhood. Like the vast majority of New Yorkers, many of our community members do not travel by car; they walk, they ride bicycles and they rely on public transportation to get around. Thus in our neighborhood, the safety of our streets is a high priority to both our mobility, quality of life and our personal safety. I believe the problem of traffic chaos in our neighborhood is defined clearly, every day on our streets. We need better enforcement to deter this life threatening behavior. I am collaborating with Transportation Alternatives to provide quantitative data to demonstrate the problem of street safety in our neighborhood. Over the next few months, I will be conducting a survey of traffic violations in our neighborhood. A team of neighbors and community members equally concerned with traffic safety will complete a scientifically-significant sampling study of select dangerous intersections in our community and record the level of traffic law compliance there. As our study produces results, I request the opportunity to present our findings at a Community Council meeting. Just as graffiti on our streets or turnstile jumping in our subways encourages greater crime our neighborhood, dangerous drivers on our streets discourage physical activity and create a feeling of chaos and fear. We want our streets to be safe for children to play and calm enough to encourage a healthy, active community, and I m sure you share those goals. Through our upcoming work cataloging dangerous driving in our neighborhood, and by beginning a conversation at the Community Council about supporting safer streets, we have the potential to change the way drivers in our community. I hope you will join us in leading our community towards safer streets. I will be in touch to arrange a meeting to discuss the different ways you can improve the safety of our streets, for the health, safety and well-being of all members of our community. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to sharing the results of our work in the future. Sincerely Yours, INSERT YOUR NAME HERE cc: City Council Member City Council District # INSERT NAME, cc: Executive Officer NYPD Precinct # INSERT NAME, cc: Community Board Chair Community Board # INSERT NAME,

32 It s not just this neighborhood. It s not Critical Mass. It s a citywide trend. Cycling is on the rise, and the cyclists need our protection. Seen more bicycles on your Tour? Over the past three years, the DOT has installed 200 miles of new bicycle lanes. Between 2007 and 2009, the number of cyclists commuting to work rose 66%. There is a new class of traveler on our streets; cycling is growing rapidly and we need you to respond to the change. Here are some things you should know about bicyclists and cycling, and some ways you can help protect this new group from the dangers of the roads. What you need to know about cycling in NYC: Not all groups of 3 or more cyclists riding together are Critical Mass. It is more likely that these cyclists have joined together for a safe, law-abiding group ride, or happened upon each other by chance. In case of a crash, cyclists are 6.5 times more likely to die than someone protected inside a motor vehicle. 1 Thousands of cyclists are injured in crashes every year. Both bicycle lanes and discouraging reckless driving keep cyclists safe and encourage calmer, less hazardous roads for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. How you can protect cyclists: It is illegal to stop, stand or park in a bicycle lane. When a vehicle is obstructing a bicycle lane, the cyclist must merge into much faster moving traffic. This hazard can be prevented by issuing summons for parking in a bicycle lane.»» RCnY 4-08 (e)(9) - It is against the law to park, stand or stop within or otherwise obstruct bike lanes.»» RCnY 4-12(p) - Other vehicles shall not drive on or across bike lanes. It s scary out there for a cyclist. Cars blow by at terrifying speeds. Drivers not used to sharing the road pass at too close distances. Certain violations of traffic law are more dangerous than others. According to the DMV, the following violations are most likely to cause crashes and fatalities. These violations should be most strictly and aggressively enforced when trying to protect cyclists.»» Unsafe Speed (speeding is the number one killer on NYC roads)»» Cell Phone Use (distracted driving causes more crashes than any other offense in NYC)»» Failure to Yield the Right Of Way»» Disregard of Traffic Control Devices (such as road markings, traffic signals, and traffic signs)»» Alcohol Involvement»» Turning Improperly (turn signals are required 100 feet prior to a turn, and warn cyclists what a vehicle is about to do)»» Passing or Lane Usage Improper (turn signals are required 100 feet prior to a lane change,

33 PEDESTRIAN INTERCEPT SURVEY Are you a resident of this neighborhood? YES NO What is your age? Check your primary mode of transportation when traveling to: WORK/SCHOOL WALK BIKE SUBWAY/BUS TAXI CAR SOCIAL/VISITS SHOPPING RECREATION Check how safe this area is for: PEDESTRIANS VERY SAFE SAFE AVERAGE UNSAFE EXTREMELY UNSAFE CYCLISTS DRIVERS Have you ever observed drivers breaking the law in this area? YES NO If yes, check how often you have seen illegal driver behavior: VERY OFTEN OFTEN REGULARLY INFREQUENTLY VERY INFREQUENTLY Have you ever felt endangered by traffic while walking in this area? YES NO If yes, check how often you have felt this way: VERY OFTEN OFTEN REGULARLY INFREQUENTLY VERY INFREQUENTLY Do you avoid areas of your neighborhood because you feel endangered by lawless driving? YES NO 33