NYC DOT Announces Extensive Bike Programming, Outreach Across NYC In Anticipation Of Summer Cycling, To Teach Bicycle Safety, Importance Of Helmets, E-Bike Info

NYC DOT ANNOUNCES EXTENSIVE BIKE PROGRAMMING AND OUTREACH ACROSS THE FIVE BOROUGHS AHEAD OF SUMMER OF CYCLING

NYC DOT to undertake bike-related outreach and giveaways throughout the spring and summer, including distribution of updated Vision Zero branded helmet

New York — New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today announced the agency’s Safety Education and Bicycling teams will spread out across the five boroughs through the rest of the spring and summer conducting bike outreach focusing on safety and education, and including giveaways. Events include NYC DOT’s helmet fitting program in conjunction with elected officials, cyclist education with Bike New York, outreach to commercial delivery cyclists, and e-bike outreach. Events will be held across the five boroughs and incorporated into soon-to-be announced Summer Streets 2023 programming.

“With cycling numbers in New York City at an all-time high and plans to add more protected bike lane miles in 2023 than ever before, we are launching a great series of events and programming to further grow this trend,” said New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “Events are in a diverse array of communities across the five boroughs as we make equity a key component in expanding cycling.”

Bike Bonanzas/Learn to Rides/Bike the Block:

• June 17th – Hunts Point Fish Parade, Bronx
  • DOT tabling to collect feedback for Harlem River Greenway Planning Process
  • DOT providing public information on upcoming Street Improvement Project bringing a protected bike lane and truck safety improvement in Hunts Point
• June 18th – Self-Guided Ride, Downtown Brooklyn
  • WE Bike + NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project Guided Ride
• July 29th – Bike the Block, Jennings Street, Bronx
  • In partnership with Caldwell Enrichment Program Inc
  • Learn to Ride with Bike NY, Bike Safety Checks with Get Women Cycling, Free Bike Rentals with Unlimited Biking, Music & Entertainment
  • DOT tabling to collect feedback for Harlem River Greenway Planning Process

Delivery Cyclist Outreach:

• June 20th – Brooklyn – CM Shahana Hanif, CM Crystal Hudson, CM Lincoln Restler
• June 21st – Manhattan, Platt and William Street
• July 12th – Queens, Queens Plaza North and 27th Street
• July 19th – Brooklyn, Fulton Avenue and Ralph Avenue
• July 26th – Bronx, Fordham Road and Webster Avenue
• Several August events are in the planning stages

Helmet Fittings (Sponsored and promoted by individual Council Members):

• June 24th- Bronx – CM Rafael Salamanca, Bill Rainey Park, 810 Dawson Street
• July 7th – Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala, Thomas Jefferson Park Basketball Courts, Pleasant Avenue and E 114th Street
• July 8th- Manhattan – CM Carlina Rivera, Augustus St. Gaudens Playground: 328 2nd Avenue
• July 15th- Manhattan – CM Julie Menin, John Jay Park, E. 77th Street and FDR/Cherokee Place
• July 22nd – Staten Island – DOT Day, Front Street between Prospect and Water Street

Beginning June 24th, NYC DOT will begin distributing its new Vision Zero-branded helmet featuring a green and black design and the new Vision Zero Building a Safer City logo. This updated logo exemplifies the Adams administration’s commitment to expanding the reach of this lifesaving initiative.

E-bike Outreach:

• July 17th- Brooklyn, Fulton Avenue and Nostrand Avenue
• July 24th- Bronx, Fordham Road and Jerome Avenue

Previous fittings earlier in the month were held with the support of Council Members Diana Ayala, Crystal Hudson, Linda Lee, and Kalman Yeger, and CM Menin hosted delivery cyclist outreach on June 13th.

“We’re working hard to make our streets safer for cyclists, delivery workers, and pedestrians,” said Council Member Lincoln Restler. “I’m grateful to the Department of Transportation for helping keep New Yorkers safe through their educational outreach on cyclist safety.”

“Our office is excited to work with DOT on bike safety education and to host a helmet fitting and giveaway on July 8! I am an avid biker and strong proponent for making our sidewalks and streets safer for bikers, pedestrians, and everyone who needs to get around,” said Council Member Carlina Rivera. “Working collaboratively with City agencies and community members, we can improve sustainability and quality of life.”

“Bike helmets are an essential element of the bike riding experience, serving as the first line of defense and protection from accidents or falls,” said Council Member Rafael Salamanca. “However, to ensure full protection, helmets must be properly fitted – an assurance that not everybody has access to. I am very thankful to the New York City Department of Transportation for organizing, and expanding, their Bicycling Safety and Education programs, to the benefit of all City residents, and am excited to be able to allocate discretionary funding to partner with them to host a Helmet Fitting event in my own District, so that South Bronxites of all ages can safely enjoy their bike rides.

“WE Bike NYC is grateful for the opportunity to partner with NYC DOT and NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project for this important group bike ride,” said Becky Hahn, Director of Operations, WE Bike NYC. “Our mission includes making biking more accessible to historically marginalized groups and communities and we are thrilled to participate in this tour to raise awareness about LGBT historic sites.”

“We’re always excited to find new ways to connect people to the vibrant and vast LGBTQ history all around us, and this partnership with DOT and WeBike is a perfect example,” said Amanda Davis, NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project. “Having cycled around NYC myself taking photos of LGBTQ historic places for our website, I’m thrilled that New Yorkers and visitors alike will have the opportunity to hop on their bikes and explore the city through the lens of the LGBTQ community.”

“We applaud the NYC Department of Transportation for its wide array of programming that will empower New Yorkers in all five boroughs to lead healthier and more productive lives through cycling,” said Ken Podziba, President and CEO of Bike New York. “Providing New Yorkers with bike education and safety skills will help create better bicyclists and safer streets. And it’s great to see the continuation of DOT’s popular free helmet giveaway/fitting program that protects lives and safeguards journeys.”

Banner Image: CitiBikes in NYC. Image Credit – Daniel Adams

NYC DOT

The New York City Department of Transportation’s (NYC DOT) mission is to provide for the safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible movement of people and goods in the City of New York and to maintain and enhance the transportation infrastructure crucial to the economic vitality and quality of life of our primary customers, City residents.

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