The planet has experienced record-high temperatures already this summer, and we're certainly feeling the heat in New York City. Personal vehicles are a major cause of climate change; if we hope to address this crisis, we must pursue sweeping changes to the way we design for and encourage driving. Prioritizing safer streets and better mobility options will give New Yorkers in every neighborhood the ability to take public transit, walk, cycle, or scoot around the city instead of using a car. We must reallocate curb space for those mobility lanes, as well as for bioswales, trees, and other plantings that help treat storm water, prevent flooding, and decrease street temperatures by reducing paved spaces. Eliminating parking mandates will also reduce the number of new paved lots built, and cease decades of encouraging car ownership that warms our planet and pollutes the air. Open Streets help reimagine how our streets can look and feel when they don't center cars -- and clears the air of toxic emissions by closing the street to vehicles. Finally, all our public spaces must be developed and managed with care, centering people's joy, comfort and health. Streets and plazas reallocated from cars will need tree cover and plantings to cool the air and clean, green ways to get from one to the other.
When we transform the way people experience our streets, we don't just create more safety, joy, freedom, equity -- we also work toward climate change resilience and mitigation. That goal will become increasingly essential to continued livability in New York City. To achieve it, we'll need every local leader, advocate, and New Yorker to proactively work toward a better, healthier future. The time is now. |
