Seyi Osiyemi 🚍🚊🚃🚎🚲🛴’s Post

The recent law introduced by Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, a Brooklyn Democrat, significantly changes pedestrian regulations in the city. Under this new legislation, pedestrians can now cross a roadway at any point, even outside designated crosswalks. Additionally, crossing against traffic signals no longer violates the city's administrative code. This law aims to address racial disparities in enforcement, as highlighted by Narcisse. Shockingly, over 90% of jaywalking tickets issued last year were targeted at Black and Latino individuals. The new regulation acknowledges that jaywalking is common among New Yorkers, with individuals simply trying to reach their destinations. Narcisse stresses that penalizing everyday behaviors like jaywalking, significantly when it disproportionately affects communities of color, is inherently unjust. The legislation underscores the importance of eliminating laws unfairly impacting specific groups based on everyday actions such as jaywalking. By recognizing and rectifying these disparities, the city creates a more equitable and just environment for all its residents.

New York City has legalized jaywalking... As I head to NYC this week, got caught up on a major shift in urban policy. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁: This shift highlights the move from punitive measures to redesigning streets for safety, aligning with Vision Zero goals. It challenges old, car-centric planning and could influence other cities to rethink similar laws. Success hinges on public awareness, careful walking, and investment in infrastructure. Here's what you need to know and my take on the regulation change: 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 - 1. 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Pedestrians can now cross streets outside crosswalks, yielding to vehicles. Eliminates fines up to $250. 2. 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘆: Tackles racial disparity; 90% of past tickets targeted Black and Latino individuals. Aims to reduce unnecessary police stops. 3. 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀: Emphasizes better street design over penalties. Follows similar laws in California and Denver. 4. 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀: Allows police to prioritize serious safety issues. 5. 𝗟𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗜𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲𝘀: Pedestrians still liable for accidents while jaywalking. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘀: Promotes social justice and efficient policing. Empowers pedestrians in urban areas. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀: Potential for increased pedestrian injuries. Possible rise in civil liability cases. Concerns over pedestrian safety perception. Like any regulation, this has two sides and different risks emerge with the implementation. Interested in your thoughts and if anyone has seen the impact of this change in their respective community? #UseCrosswalks #KeepPedestriansSafe

In a significant move for street safety, Governor Kathy Hochul signed Sammy's Law, allowing New York City to establish its own speed limits, potentially below the state minimum of 25 mph. Named after 12-year-old Sammy Cohen Eckstein, who tragically lost his life in a traffic accident, the law marks a victory for advocates who have long campaigned for safer streets. Implementation begins this summer, with the Department of Transportation empowered to adjust speed limits based on crash data and other metrics, albeit with logistical challenges such as sign manufacturing and signal recalibration. This legislation represents a shift towards prioritizing pedestrian safety, supported by research indicating lower speeds reduce the severity of injuries. However, there are exceptions, notably for roads with three or more lanes outside Manhattan. While some, like Mayor Eric Adams, express caution about a blanket reduction in speed limits, advocates emphasize the communal responsibility for safer streets. Sammy's Law aligns with other initiatives like congestion pricing, with proponents arguing that lower speeds complement efforts to reduce traffic congestion. The law's impact on driving behavior won't be immediate, with changes likely to unfold gradually over the coming months. Nonetheless, it emphasizes a concerted effort to make city streets safer and more accessible for all. #StreetSafety #SammysLaw #TrafficSafety #PedestrianSafety #CongestionPricing #UrbanMobility #CommunityAdvocacy #PublicPolicy #Governance https://lnkd.in/gdjUrFRZ

New Speed Limits for Safer Streets in NYC! "Sammy's Law" went into effect, reducing speed limits to 20 mph citywide. This initiative, including 'regional slow zones,' prioritizes community safety over speed, creating a better environment for all. Named after Sammy Cohen, tragically killed by a speeding driver in 2013, this legislation serves as a painful reminder of the importance of prioritizing community safety over speed, ensuring a better and safer environment for everyone. #TrafficSafety #SammysLaw #NYCDOT #RoadSafety #CommunityFirst #SlowZones #UrbanPlanning

It's a shame that it takes a lawsuit to get the city to do the right thing. But that is what it took to get the city to take building pedestrian curb ramps seriously. That is what it took to get the MTA to take elevator construction to another level. Is this what will take to get the NYPD off of sidewalks? What will it take for NYC to make #carfreecities a reality? What will it take to tear down the highways and build transit lines? What will it take bring light rail back to Brooklyn? https://lnkd.in/eX6Urj6k

Streets are something most people navigate every day. But there is more to do; particularly, for our dogs. Streets should be safe and useful for everyone. The complete streets movement has made great strides to protect non-vehicular uses such as bicycling, running, and walking. This has had some co-benefits, including slowing vehicular traffic. But can it be a "complete" street without walkable softscapes for our dogs, particularly in dense, urban areas? Precisely how all of these non-vehicular uses are allocated will continue to be a source of debate. From early morning routines to evening walks, more real green and permeable surfaces (not artificial turf) and less gray back of curb might do wonders for complete streets ... and the people and pups they should serve. #completestreets #cre #urbanplanning

"even above-average policies are often too vague and underfunded to significantly change the status quo." The funding problems are the outcome of a failure to change the culture. Get the culture right, and the market will follow. Get the market to demand it, and the land use will change. Get the land use and network changed and the funding priorities will shift. We are in step 1b. Time to take step 1a seriously.

In this piece, Shelterforce Editor-in-Chief Miriam Axel-Lute reveals a troubling trend in housing policy. While tenant protections like rent control and eviction protection are gaining ground, they're simultaneously being weakened through exemptions and loopholes. Key insights: - Developers and landlords are shifting tactics from outright opposition to strategic compromise - Exemptions often exclude those who need protection most - Complexity in laws makes enforcement challenging Could there be a strategic move to end tenant protections? Explore the full article here: https://bit.ly/4da3VDp #TenantProtections #HousingPolicy

Big News for NYC Drivers and Pedestrians! New York City is making strides towards safer streets with a newly passed bill that could lower speed limits to 20 mph in certain areas. This change aims to reduce traffic fatalities and create a safer environment for everyone on the road. Key Points: 1. Safety First: Lowering speed limits can significantly decrease the likelihood of accidents and the severity of injuries. 2. Community Impact: This initiative reflects NYC's commitment to protecting its residents, including pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists. 3. Implementation: The new speed limits will be enforced in high-risk zones, where slower speeds can make the biggest difference. As a community, it's crucial that we stay informed and support measures that enhance our collective well-being. Read more about this important development on our latest blog post. #TrafficTicketAttorney #NYC #CommunityFirst #NYCTrafficTicketLawyer

What happened in St. Paul should serve as a cautionary tale to advocates everywhere. The most critical weaknesses in rent control and other tenant protections come from loopholes and exemptions. In California, policies at the state level like the Ellis Act and Costa Hawkins mean that even the strongest local protections leave renters vulnerable. We can enable local jurisdictions to make laws that best support their communities' needs by ending these harmful policies that came from real estate industry lobbying in response to tenant organizing.