Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Ryan Kreisman, Central Brooklyn resident and street safety volunteer
5:39:16
·
125 sec
Ryan Kreisman, a Central Brooklyn resident and street safety volunteer, testifies in support of daylighting intersections to improve visibility and safety for pedestrians, especially children. He argues that the prevalence of larger vehicles like SUVs has made it difficult for even adults to see over parked cars, increasing the risk of accidents.
- Kreisman shares personal experiences and observations about the importance of daylighting for street safety.
- He addresses counterarguments about the necessity of cars in New York, citing changes such as ride-hailing apps, improved public transit, and increased delivery services.
- The testimony emphasizes the benefits of daylighting for vulnerable road users, including delivery workers on two wheels.
Ryan Kreisman
5:39:16
Mhmm.
5:39:17
First, I'd like to thank the council for having this hearing.
5:39:20
I'm a Central Brooklyn resident, community board attendee, youth program, and street safety volunteer, and I work for the city in affordable housing.
5:39:26
However, the view he the views I express here are my own.
5:39:30
One of my earliest memories involved traversing a street as a child, eye level with car doors.
5:39:35
Growing up in a place with daylighting, the ends of the blocks were always the safest place to cross as everyone could see each other.
5:39:42
Cars generally were a lot shorter, and I quickly grew to the point where I could see over them.
5:39:47
But in an age where SUVs have become the standard, it's no longer the case.
5:39:51
Even fully grown adults can see over the line of parked cars on each and every block.
5:39:57
Common fear for people driving is to not see a child attempting to cross the road, darting out from behind parked cars without sufficient time to react before tragedy occurs that changes the lives of the child, the parents, the family, the driver, everyone involved.
5:40:11
Why would we not make a very small change to our streets to ensure that we could all have more advanced warning?
5:40:17
I hear people argue that everyone else can have this can have this in our state except for us because in New York, human life is below state subsidized private vehicle storage.
5:40:29
When asked why, they tend to cite that a lot of people have to have cars.
5:40:34
However, some of these people, when I follow-up with them, have not noticed a few changes over the past years or decades.
5:40:42
Primary being ride hailing apps, which completely have revolutionized experiences with people getting around.
5:40:48
Subways are much safer and cleaner than decades ago when some of these folks that I've talked to kind of abandoned the idea of using them.
5:40:56
And micro mobility has revolutionized getting around for people that can use it.
5:41:02
Finally, everyone is getting things delivered from milk and eggs to soap and chicken wings.
5:41:07
These deliveries are often happening by people on two wheels piloted by someone vulnerable to a larger car who would benefit from daylighting.
5:41:15
This is why I support intro November to make you
UNKNOWN
5:41:18
Your time has expired.
Ryan Kreisman
5:41:19
Thank you.