Transportation Alternatives Memorializes Cyclist and Pedestrian Fatalities

On January 4, Transportation Alternatives (TA) held its fourth annual Memorial Ride and Walk for Cyclists and Pedestrians killed in traffic in 2008. Organized by the Street Memorial Project, the event included bike rides across four boroughs to white-painted "Ghost Bikes" installed at the scenes of bicyclist fatalities, and a Memorial Walk in honor of pedestrians killed.

In 2008, there were 14 known bicycle fatalities and more than 100 pedestrian fatalities. Out of the 14 cyclist deaths, five were Brooklynites, said Wiley Norvell, TA spokesman.

Two rides went through Brooklyn, explained Norvell. One began in Sunset Park and went over the Manhattan Bridge, the other began in Queens and traveled through Bushwick and over the Williamsburg Bridge. These two rides, along with others that started in the Bronx and Queens, all converged in Manhattan.

These rides are intended to give a message. "We have to change the 'Wild West' atmosphere of our streets," Norvell told the Eagle. He added that there needs to be "more civility and respect" of street users.

The "Ghost Bikes," Norvell explained, are "personal memorials that call attention to the cost our streets inflict on us." Each one is personalized by families of cyclists who have been killed, and are a "perpetual reminder."

Over its past four years, the memorial ride and walk has grown, this being the biggest year, said Norvell. But the number of cyclist deaths has remained largely the same, he added. And even though the amount of pedestrian fatalities has steadily decreased over the past few years, it's not enough.

The goal is to bring the number of deaths down to zero, he said, explaining that right now, streets are designed for cars. "It would be different if safety were a priority."

For additional information, visit www.transalt.org.

Ghost bike photo courtesy of www.ghostbikes.org

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This Week's CB 6 Meeting Addresses Atlantic Basin

New Plan Includes Green Space for Future Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway

The city’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) is returning to Red Hook’s Atlantic Basin with a symbolic hat in hand, but also with a new development plan that is ready to be executed.

The new plan, called a “balanced strategy,” replaces an earlier plan that suggested more glitz and glamour, but drew few if any responses to request for proposals. That plan was tied in with a more dramatic plan for the piers north of the basin that proved completely impractical.

These false starts and abrupt stops related to a goal to put Brooklyn’s waterfront piers from Atlantic Avenue to the Atlantic Basin — Piers 7 to 12 — to new use. As part of this goal, some planners hoped to evict of the Red Hook containerport ... read more

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Another Tree Recycling Event

Bring your tree to Green-Wood Cemetery on January 10 to be turned into mulch. Master composters from the Brooklyn Compost Project will talk about the benefits of using mulch and other related topics. Hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, viist www.green-wood.com

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