Vote with Jessica

Daylighting reduces collisions at intersections by enforcing no parking near crosswalks. Intro 1138 would bring universal daylighting to New York City. It is co-sponsored by 25 council members.

New York State law already prohibits parking within twenty feet of a crosswalk at an intersection per Vehicle & Traffic (VAT) CHAPTER 71, TITLE 7, ARTICLE 32, SECTION 1202. However New York City has exempted itself from adhering to this law.

In Hoboken, daylighting intersections reduced pedestrian injuries by 30%, while in San Francisco, daylighting led to a 14% reduction in crashes. Twenty-one community boards across four of the five boroughs have already passed daylighting resolutions in their districts.

There is growing recognition that the removal of parking spaces immediately adjacent to a crosswalk is a common sense and effective way of reducing conflicts between different road users. Where obstructions have been removed, motorists are better able to see crossing pedestrians as well as other motorists. The benefits for pedestrians and bicyclists are equally noteworthy. The increased visibility helps them see oncoming traffic and makes for a much safer environment.

The space that is recovered around crosswalks can be repurposed for a number of public realm enhancements including amenities like planters, benches, bike racks, granite blocks and stormwater retention green infrastructure. Taken together, these initiatives help to beautify the neighborhood while managing flooding and physically blocking drivers from parking their cars dangerously close to crosswalks.

This November, New Yorkers will vote on a set of housing and land-use reforms proposed by the Charter Revision Commission. These include a fast-track process for 100% affordable housing, a new Expedited Land Use Review Procedure (ELURP) for modest housing and infrastructure projects, creation of an Affordable Housing Appeals Board to replace the mayor’s veto in certain cases, and the consolidation and digitization of the City Map to modernize planning and approvals.