A Walk This Weekend to Demand Safety Measures Along 21st Street

This Saturday, the Transportation Alternatives Queens Activist Committee will lead a walk up 21st Street to rally support for implementing traffic calming and pedestrian safety measures along the corridor. Local pols, pedestrians, Community Board 1 and City Council candidates for District 22 are all invited to attend the walk, which will highlight the dangerous intersections and conditions that threaten the safety of street users. Recently, the Queens Activist Committee proposed safety improvements and bicycle space along 21st Street to CB1 members, who were supportive of the proposal. Despite the community push, there still hasn’t been a comprehensive city effort to address the problems.

“21st Street continues to be one of the most dangerous streets in New York. It is obvious that we need better safety mechanisms to protect the lives and property of pedestrians. I look forward to working with Transportation Alternatives and other community leaders to raise awareness of this important safety issue,” Democratic Nominee for City Council Costa Constantinides said in a press release. Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer also weighed in: “21st Street is one of Western Queens’ most heavily utilized corridors. We are walking this road to highlight the dangerous situations that thousands of pedestrians, motorists and cyclists face every single day. No New Yorker should fear being injured or killed while on our streets. The residents of Astoria, Ravenswood, Queensbridge and Long Island City cannot wait until it is too late. The Department of Transportation has the responsibility to make our streets safer. We are urging them to conduct a study and help produce results that will protect lives.”

The walk begins at 2pm this Saturday, November 2nd at the Queensbridge Park Entrance, Vernon Boulevard and 41st Avenue.

Community Board One Gets Behind Street Improvements for 21st Street [Q’Stoner]
Headway on Several Streetscape Proposals for Long Island City and Astoria [Q’Stoner]