In case you think you’re off the hook because you don’t ride, consider this: every 6 minutes, a pedestrian is struck by a car in New York. In the event of a fatality, it’s a misdemeanor for the motorist (if it ever gets to court), and TWU Local 100 - the NYC Bus Drivers Union - is trying to overturn even this.
Enough is enough.
We gather at The Plaza.
The ride takes off to a stereo chorus of tinkling bells.
We sail through midtown, our members acting as volunteer traffic directors to protect us.
But large numbers of my fellow riders come from the other 4 boroughs – boroughs where long-identified “dangerous streets” are still the only riding alternative. Until all of us are safe, none of us can be safe. In the meantime, we ride together.*
*Hours after the Vision Zero ride
http://gothamist.com/2016/09/16/brooklyn_cyclist_in_critical_condit.php
For more coverage of We Ride Together:
- http://www.villagevoice.com/news/a-thousand-cyclists-protest-nycs-sluggish-response-to-traffic-fatalities-9117346
- http://pix11.com/2016/09/16/hundreds-of-cyclists-ride-down-fifth-avenue-to-protest-city-response-to-crashes/
- http://www.amny.com/transit/bike-advocates-call-for-more-funding-to-mayor-bill-de-blasio-s-vision-zero-initiative-1.12324920