TESTIMONY
Elizabeth Adams, Interim Co-Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives, on Prioritizing Pedestrian Safety and Supporting Pedestrian-Friendly Legislation
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131 sec
Elizabeth Adams testified on the need for New York City to make urgent investments in pedestrian infrastructure to become the most walkable city in the world.
- She advocated for safety measures like daylighting intersections, raised crosswalks, bollards, and expanded sidewalk space for pedestrians.
- Adams voiced strong support for Intro 346 to decriminalize jaywalking, criticizing NYPD enforcement that disproportionately targets Black and Brown New Yorkers.
- She endorsed several other bills aimed at improving pedestrian safety, while opposing legislation that would create bureaucratic barriers to critical infrastructure.
- Adams underscored the importance of prioritizing the safety and wellbeing of pedestrians with different mobility needs across all ages.
Elizabeth Adams
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Hi.
1:59:36
Good afternoon.
1:59:37
Thank you, Chair, and to the committee for today's hearing.
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I'm Elizabeth Adams, an Interim Co Executive Director at Transportation Alternatives.
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Almost every New Yorker is a pedestrian, and everyone deserves safe, sustainable, and healthy streets.
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Investing in pedestrian safe makes our streetscape a safer and more pleasant place to spend time for all.
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Whether someone is commuting to work, walking to their doctor's appointment or spending time with family and loved ones in a pedestrian plaza.
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As we enter the 10th year of vision 0, it is time for the city to make serious, urgent investments in pedestrian infrastructure and make New York the most walkable city in the world.
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Safe infrastructure means daylighting every intersection.
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Hardin infrastructure measures talked about today like race crosswalks and ballards, and dedicating more sidewalk and streetscape space overall for pedestrians to move around safely.
2:00:33
People with various mobility needs and across ages deserve a streetscape that prioritizes their needs and their well-being.
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We support the following pieces of legislation that improve pedestrian safe fully laid out in our written testimony submitted.
2:00:47
But first, I wanna specifically call out the importance of council member, Niousis' bill, intro 346, And I have to say I'm extremely disappointed to hear the DOT put blame on pedestrians in this matter.
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Jaywalking has no business being criminalized in New York City in 20 24.
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Most every New Yorker j walks regularly, certainly more than 450 or that the some men's notes cited.
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But enforcement disproportionately overwhelmingly and unfairly targets black and brown New Yorkers.
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Over 90%.
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TA wholeheartedly supports this bill, which would decriminalize Jaywalking, and it is time to take this outdated policy off the books.
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In addition, we support intro 144, intro 7301, 504, 745, 746, and really appreciate the discussion being held here today.
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And then lastly, we oppose 103104, which would add bureaucratic barriers to critical safety infrastructure.
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Thank you so much.