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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Dr. Patrick Schnell, Pediatrician, on Intro 1138 for Universal Daylighting
4:36:12
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104 sec
Dr. Patrick Schnell, a pediatrician and long-time NYC resident, testifies in strong support of Intro 1138 for universal daylighting at intersections. He argues that this measure is crucial for improving road safety, particularly for children and pedestrians, and criticizes the historical prioritization of driver convenience over safety.
- Schnell shares personal observations of crashes attributable to lack of daylighting from his daily bike rides in NYC.
- He emphasizes the proven effectiveness of hardened daylighting in reducing pedestrian injuries and fatalities.
- Schnell calls for the implementation of at least 1,000 hardened daylighted intersections in NYC annually, starting immediately.
Patrick Schnell
4:36:12
Good afternoon, and thank you for the opportunity to testify.
4:36:16
I'm testifying in favor of intro eleven thirty eight, and thank you very much to councilmember one for introducing this bill.
4:36:25
My name is Patrick Schnau.
4:36:26
I'm a pediatrician and have been living in New York City for over thirty years.
4:36:30
I ride my bike daily on the streets of New York City and have witnessed several crashes this year alone that I feel were at least partly attributable to the lack of daylighting.
4:36:39
Historically, decision makers have done very little for road safety with predictable results.
4:36:44
Apparently, we do not really care about New Yorkers and particularly children's lives and plays a higher value on the convenience of drivers.
4:36:52
As it is, drivers are already incredibly privileged because with their ever lodging vehicles, they are taking up vast amounts of space while creating noise pollution and harming us with toxic exhaust fumes.
4:37:02
Perhaps it is finally time to ensure that they stop slaughtering us and our children.
4:37:07
What is more important to us?
4:37:08
Additional parking spaces with only which only encourage car ownership and therefore worsen traffic, worsen air pollution, worsen noise pollution, and increase the risk of injury and death?
4:37:19
Or are we finally committing to protect New Yorkers and children from getting killed by implementing daylighting on every single intersection in New York City?
4:37:28
Hardened daylighting has been proven to reduce the frequency of injuries and fatalities for pedestrians.
4:37:34
If decision makers ignore these established facts and fail to take action, then these decision makers are complicit in the ongoing slaughter on our streets.
4:37:43
As a pediatrician, father, and New Yorker, I'm asking this council to pass Intro eleven thirty eight and DOT to implement at least 1,000 hardened daylighted intersections in New York City every year starting this year.
4:37:56
Thank you very much.