Upper Green Side

Positive Momentum for East Side Livable Streets

Riding the wave of positive momentum from recent Community Board resolutions concerning bicycles, Upper Green Side joined together yesterday with Transportation Alternatives to deliver over 1,000 handwritten letters in support of protected bike lanes on First and Second Avenue to Councilman Dan Garodnick’s office.

UES residents write letters at the 82nd St Greenmarket

As the City and MTA begin discussing the redesign of 1st and 2nd Avenues to include Select Bus Service (an innovative idea in its own right!), Upper Green Side wants to ensure that protected bike lanes have a spot at the design table. Protected bike lanes on 1st and 2nd would finally give residents of Manhattan’s East Side a safe place to bike, as well as channel current bicycle traffic into a more predictable and visible location, making the street safer for motorists and pedestrians alike. With a safe place for cyclists to travel, these new street amenities would encourage more people to hop off the crowded 4,5,6 trains and take the more scenic route to work, a friend’s house, or just out to run some errands.

Members of Councilman Garodnick’s staff echoed their concern that the opportunity to transform these important corridors into more complete, safe, and livable streets for all users should not go to waste. Upper Green Side looks forward to working together with Councilman Garodnick’s office and Transportation Alternatives on this very important and current issue!

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