Vision Zero: Change I Can Believe In

The deBlasio administration isn't wasting any time getting started on street safety policy - a good thing since it is literally a matter of life and death.

Mayor de Blasio and Police Commissioner Bill Bratton emphasized that
additional and more rigorous enforcement against dangerous
violations—like speeding and failure to yield to pedestrians—would be
central to their efforts—representing a significant new undertaking
for the NYPD.

“Our job is to save lives. We will be just as aggressive in preventing
a deadly crash on our streets as we are in preventing a deadly
shooting. Our police are going to enforce the laws on our streets
consistently and effectively. This is going to be central to our workto keep New Yorkers safe. We will put the personnel and resources in
place to protect New Yorkers,” said Police Commissioner Bill Bratton.

“This is our top priority. It is our job to get ahead of this epidemic
on our streets. We know what the tools are, and we are going to
immediately set to work on the concrete plans to put them into action.
We are going to build on what’s working, fix what’s broken, and make
sure that nothing is held back as we make our streets safer,” said
Under Secretary for Policy at the US Department of Transportation and
incoming NYC DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg.

Last year when I was trying to whip some votes at CB6 for the 4th Avenue safety improvements, one of my fellow Board members asked why it was so personal for me.  And the fact is, a good friend of mine was doored and nearly killed by a car.  My wife's cousin was doored and almost killed since.  A few years ago the sister of one of my friends was killed while crossing the street.  But none of those anecdotes are the reason.  Safer streets improve the quality of life for everybody.  That we can accept the carnage on our streets week in and week out is not just baffling but maddening to me.  It doesn't have to be this way, and it's in our power to change it.  So let's get to work.