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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Bill Cryer on Intro 1138 for Street Safety
4:38:12
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92 sec
Bill Cryer, a resident of Inwood and father of two young children, testifies in support of Intro 1138, which proposes universal daylighting in New York City. He emphasizes the safety challenges faced by pedestrians, especially families with young children, when crossing streets with limited visibility due to parked cars near crosswalks.
- Cryer highlights the difficulty in seeing oncoming traffic and being seen by drivers when cars are parked close to crosswalks.
- He expresses concern about the increasing size and danger of modern vehicles, making visibility even more crucial for pedestrian safety.
- Cryer advocates for hardened daylighting and other street safety improvements, as well as a rational parking policy that considers the value of public street space.
Bill Cryer
4:38:12
Hi.
4:38:12
My name is Bill Cryer.
4:38:14
I live in Inwood with my wife and two young children, ages one and five.
4:38:17
I support Intro eleven thirty eight, and I would like to thank my council member, Carmen de la Rosa, for sponsoring this bill.
4:38:24
As a parent, I cross the street many times a day with my young children, often with a stroller.
4:38:29
When cars are parked next to the crosswalk, it's difficult to see oncoming traffic, and it's difficult for drivers to see us.
4:38:36
I have to do all kinds of awkward maneuvers to see around parked cars while keeping my five year old and my stroller out of harm's way.
4:38:42
Red lights and stop signs are no guarantee of safety as cars often roll into the crosswalk or disregard stops entirely.
4:38:49
In fact, without daylighting, drivers often have to drive onto the crosswalk just to see cross traffic.
4:38:55
As my children grow older, I hope I can give them more independence.
4:38:58
My daughter looks up to the middle school kids who go to school all on their own, but the thought of either of my kids being hit by a car terrifies me.
4:39:05
As cars have become larger, faster, and heavier, they've become harder to see around and more likely to kill when they hit a pedestrian.
4:39:13
We need to make sure all pedestrians can see and be seen when they're crossing the street.
4:39:17
Of course, hardened daylighting is more effective, so I hope DOT can implement that and many other street safety improvements quickly and efficiently so my children and all New York City residents can benefit.
4:39:28
I also hope the city can implement a rational parking policy that accounts for the scarcity and value of public street space.
4:39:34
I've seen parking use as a reason to oppose everything from street safety to housing to waste containerization.
4:39:40
In
Eric Beaton
4:39:41
conclusion,
Bill Cryer
4:39:41
please vote in favor of this bill.
4:39:43
Thank you.