Tonight: Share Your Thoughts on Safer Streets at Gerson “Town Hall”

gerson_1.jpgAlan Gerson.

Itching to tell DOT what you think of recent changes to Lower Manhattan streets? You can tonight at 6:30, when the second installment in Alan Gerson’s "Traffic Town Hall" series gets underway at Old St. Pat’s Gym (near 275 Mulberry Street).

Fellow Council Member John Liu, running for citywide office in the crowded comptroller race, is also scheduled to put in an appearance, and Manhattan DOT Commissioner Margaret Forgione will be on hand to soak it all up.

Publicity materials for the event frame it as a chance to "present your views and ideas" to DOT. At the first Gerson town hall, this translated into griping about pedestrian refuges, bike lanes, and other safety measures. Tonight’s agenda invites more of the same: The critical issue of "traffic islands" gets top billing on the docket.

Sidewalks where children’s lives are at risk from reckless drivers, even when parents and teachers are right there next to them? That seems not to have made the cut.

ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

Safer Streets Under Fire at Gerson “Town Hall”

By Ben Fried |
It’s safer to cross Grand Street. The arrogance! Lower Manhattan City Council rep Alan Gerson held a "transportation town hall" Monday night, following up on his pledge last year to closely monitor creeping safety enhancements to New York streets. Fellow City Council member John Liu, a candidate for comptroller, also made an appearance at the […]

Gerson Bill Mandating Review of Transpo Projects Is Now Law

By Noah Kazis |
In one of his final acts as a City Council member, Alan Gerson won passage for a bill that may slow down major street projects. New York City’s 2009 legislative session didn’t end without a parting gift from outgoing Lower Manhattan rep Alan Gerson. A new law that passed City Council unanimously before the end […]

Gerson Looks to Rein In Runaway Safety Improvements

By Brad Aaron |
Not long ago, Alan Gerson spoke in favor of giving pedestrians more space at Petrosino Square. Alan Gerson’s office has more on what we suspected was a bill intended to give the Lower Manhattan City Council member and his colleagues more power over DOT implementation of new bike infrastructure. Judging by this comment from Gerson […]

Gerson on Grand Street Safety: Never Mind the Facts

By Ben Fried |
City Council member Alan Gerson didn’t have much new to say at his sidewalk protest of the Grand Street bike lane. But a handful of reporters and a few cyclists pressed him to defend the idea that projects designed to improve street safety should be subject to greater City Council review. Gerson’s assertion of "dangerous […]

Monday: Support Safer Chinatown Streets

By Ben Fried |
Since 1997, three pedestrians have been killed and dozens injured in collisions near Chatham Square, according to CrashStat. In November 2006, Manhattan Community Board 3 voiced support for "a comprehensive, community-inclusive initiative to study, identify and build consensus around strategies to improve the safety and connectivity of walking, bicycling and public transportation." Now there’s a […]