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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Lewis from Bed Stuy on Intro 1138
5:14:01
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109 sec
Lewis, a resident of Bed Stuy, testifies in strong support of Intro 1138, which would require universal daylighting in New York City. He emphasizes the safety benefits of daylighting for pedestrians and cyclists, and argues against the current practice of allowing parking at intersections.
- Lewis shares personal experiences of near-collisions due to obstructed views at intersections
- He presents a thought experiment, asking listeners to imagine removing existing sidewalk extensions for just one more parking spot per block
- Lewis cites traffic fatality statistics, noting that 77 out of 88 pedestrian deaths in the first nine months of 2024 occurred at intersections without daylighting
Lewis
5:14:01
My name is Lewis, and I live in Bed Stuy.
5:14:03
I am testifying in full support of Intro one one three eight.
5:14:07
I walk and bike around my neighborhood daily.
5:14:09
I have experienced near collisions at intersections too many times to count simply because a parked vehicle has obstructed my view of oncoming traffic.
5:14:17
I strongly support this bill for countless reasons, prioritizing accessibility, allocating street space fairly and proportionately, and encouraging sustainable modes of transportation, to name a few.
5:14:28
But there is no greater example of nonsensical street space allocation than a parked car at an intersection obstructing views of oncoming traffic, forcing everyone to leave their safety to fate.
5:14:39
To illustrate how nonsensical it is that we allow parking at intersections, I would like you to picture the situation in reverse.
5:14:46
Imagine if every intersection in New York City was currently daylit with a sidewalk extension, allowing pedestrians to to safely stand partway into the street with a clear view of oncoming traffic and then cross with confidence.
5:14:58
Some of these sidewalk extensions might even be equipped with seating, bike racks, or tree pits that provide vital stormwater absorption in neighborhoods prone to flooding.
5:15:07
Now imagine that we're at a council hearing to remove all of these sidewalk extensions along with all of their benefits, only to add one more parking spot per block to the city's stock of on street parking spots, which already equals about 1.5 times the total number of cars registered in the city.
5:15:23
In the first nine months of 2024, almost two hundred New Yorkers were killed by traffic violence.
5:15:28
Eighty eight of these were pedestrians, seventy seven of whom were killed at intersections without daylighting.
5:15:34
If you are considering not supporting this bill, I would like you to imagine all of these victims and their families in front of you when you announce to your constituents that you oppose these lifesaving streetscape improvements in favor of publicly funded private storage for just one car per city block.
5:15:49
Thank you.