FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Yorkers Want Traffic Relief! 125 Groups Encourage Mayor to Take 5 Steps:

1. Give bus riders, walkers and bicyclists more street space and priority
2. Traffic-calm streets to curb speeding and reckless driving
3. Reduce the impacts of truck traffic
4. Do serious feasibility and cost/benefit study of road pricing
5. Improve parking policies to reduce illegal parking and curbside saturation

NEW YORK, NY (November 13th, 2006):  On Tuesday morning November 14 at 10:30am, 125 diverse groups from all over New York City will stand at City Hall to ask Mayor Bloomberg  to reduce traffic volumes and improve alternatives to driving.  They are motivated by the increasingly dire health, economic and quality of life consequences of unchecked traffic.

Neighborhood activists in the coalition cite a recent study that shows people who live on high traffic streets spend less time walking, shopping and playing with their children.

Transportation and environmental advocates note that better transit service and safer bike and pedestrian infrastructure would ease congestion, open up street space and contribute to improved air quality.

Health professionals understand that the built environment and progressive transportation policies can improve safety, increase physical activity, and mitigate chronic diseases like asthma and diabetes.

"New York City’s out-of-control traffic can be managed and reduced to benefit all New Yorkers”, says Paul Steely White. "We are in full support of steps that Mayor Bloomberg takes to reduce traffic and improve transit, bicycling and walking."

"Tame traffic and you attack the core of urban pollution—air quality, noise, and quality of life," said Gene Russianoff, Staff Attorney, NYPIRG Straphangers Campaign

Citywide Coalition for Traffic Relief Steering Committee Members

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www.straphangers.org | www.nypirg.org