The Upper West Side Streets Renaissance, a group which supports transportation alternatives in the Upper West Side, is advocating a plan to lower the speed limit throughout the entire neighborhood.
Lisa Sladkus, a community organizer leading the Upper West Side Streets Renaissance, told the Columbia Spectator that the group will ask Community Board 7 to vote in March on a resolution endorsing a roughly 20-mph speed limit.
Before bringing the resolution to CB&, the Upper West Side Streets Renaissance is asking for support from other local activists, including schools, parent teacher associations, and senior centers. The group also says that the leading cause of death for New Yorkers under 14 years old is collisions with automobiles.
Sladkus argues that lower speed limits are great for young kids and the elderly, as well as cyclists and skateboarders.
The group’s idea to lower the speed limit stems from the presentation by Mark Gorton entitled, “Rethinking the Automobile." Gorton founded New York City Streets Renaissance and has been involved in other city transportation organizations.
The Upper West Side Streets Renaissance has held numerous presentations and organized the protection of the Columbus Avenue bike lanes, which were completed in September 2010. If the bill passes, Sladkus said she will begin work on a new network of bike lanes on the Upper West Side.
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