Act now: improve bike access to George Washington Bridge. Port Authority taking comments

Port Authority taking comments on 10-yr Capital Plan

Our friend Neile Weissman has been working hard to ensure cyclists get improved access on the George Washington Bridge. This is important.

He writes us:

* * *

Fellow Cyclist,

Between now and February 15, the Port Authority is taking public comments on its 10-year Capital Plan.  Now is the chance to call on them to include wider paths on the George Washington Bridge.

Please take a few moments to email the PA and the Governor.  Even a one-sentence email will make a difference.

Thanks!

Neile Weissman
Complete George | Facebook | Twitter

——————————

Email!

The Port Authority

NY Governor Andrew Cuomo *important*

NJ Governor Chris Christie *important*

Sample Statement

“I call upon the the Port Authority to include the upgrade of George Washington Bridge paths to national standards in its 10 Year Capital Plan, both for the safety of all users, as well as to support the growth of bicycling across the region.”

Speak!

1/31 from 5-8PM at 4 World Trade Center (prep 1-2-3 minute versions of remarks)

2/7 from 5-8PM at 2 Montgomery Street, Jersey City

2/16 from 12-2PM at 4 World Trade Center

Call! 

Your NYC Councilmember to support Resolution 1072-2016

Find your local Councilmember

Follow Us!

Complete George on Facebook

Background

Starting in 2017 the Port Authority will undertake a $1.9 billion reconstruction and recabling of the George Washington Bridge.  This will include ripping out and replacing the 1931-era 7’ paths.

With weekend use averaging 3700 cyclists per day and growing at 10% per year, this should be the opportunity for the PA to widen the paths to national standards, instead they plan to restore them as “sidewalks."

More Info 

Complete the GWB

Image at top. Cyclists’ Proposal for the GWB: (2) 10′ paths for cyclists. (2) 7′ paths for peds-runners on the upper level. 9′ high anti-suicide barrier. Rendering by Joseph Lertola.

* * *

Have fun and stay healthy,
Robert
------------
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2017 Robert Matson

George Washington Bridge: efforts to widen and improve bike access

This came in from our friend and recumbent rider Neile Weissman.

* * *

Fellow Cyclists,

In an 11/17 presentation to PA, I applied the World Health Organization’s HEAT tools to quantify the health benefits resulting from current and expanded bike travel across GWB.

• Presuming 14,000 cyclists per weekend access the GWB, that level of physical activity would prevent 21 deaths per year worth $195 million.

• Widened paths could save more lives than anti-suicide barriers.

Public Health

HEAT has been employed to assess the cost-benefits of bike-walk infrastructure throughout Europe and in Boston the impact of public transit service cuts and fare increases. 

Respectfully,

Neile Weissman
Complete George | CG Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter

140 organizations, businesses and communities are now calling on the PA to widen the GWB paths, including Edgewater, Fort Lee, Englewood Cliffs and six community boards in Manhattan and the Bronx.

For a current overview of the advocacy to widen the GWB paths: Complete the GWB

* * *

Have fun and stay healthy,
Robert
------------
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2017 Robert Matson