MTA releases preliminary plan for a shared use path on the VNB

vnb03

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) recently released a preliminary report on its Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge Master Plan — including conceptual views of possible shared-use paths on the bridge.

The current proposals are much more ambitious than previous bridge path designs, and the costs reflect that – estimated to be between $300 and $400 million. The encouraging part is that the MTA has seemingly put real effort and resources into finally building a walking and bicycling connection between Staten Island and Brooklyn.

You can view the entire MTA presentation HERE.

Great turnout for the Harbor Ring Rally in Bay Ridge!

Rabi.Abonour_Verrazano.Rally.20151010_18

Over 200 supporters joined us in Bay Ridge to show support for a pedestrian and bicycle path on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge! Much thanks to Senator Marty Golden, Councilman Vincent Gentile, the Bay Ridge Merchants of Third Avenue, the Staten Island Athletic Club, the Staten Island Bicycle Association, and the Five Boro Bicycle Club for lending their voices to the cause!

Join the Rally for a Pedestrian & Bicycle Path on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge on Saturday, Oct. 10th!

VNB Rally_FB

 

Since the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge was built over 50 years ago, elected officials and community leaders from both Brooklyn and Staten Island have called for a connecting path for people on foot and on bike. Now, thanks to a current construction project, New York has the chance to make this long-awaited path a reality!

Join Transportation Alternatives, the Harbor Ring Committee, elected officials, and community leaders as we rally in support of building a pedestrian and bicycling path on OUR Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge!


What:

Rally for a Pedestrian & Bicycle Path on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge

When:

Saturday, October 10th at noon

Where:

Shore Parkway (the the end of 4th Avenue)

Bay Ridge, Brooklyn

Google Map location

 

RSVP Here!

MTA New York City Transit Introduces Bicycle Racks To Buses

bike_racks

Starting on Sunday, September 6, MTA New York City Transit will add bicycle racks on two Staten Island bus routes, the first time that such equipment has been made available for public use on NYC Transit.

The yearlong Bike & Ride pilot will roll out on the S53 and S93 routes, which run between Staten Island and the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn over the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. The two lines were chosen for their safe access to current and planned bicycle paths, ridership and routes, which serve a major college campus where bicycling is a popular commuting option.

“Bringing the Bike & Ride program to the S53 and S93 will increase the mobility of students who are traveling between home and campus. Before this program, our customers had no direct way to travel with their bicycles on public transportation between Brooklyn and Staten Island. Now customers can take advantage of the city’s bike lanes and greenways without worrying about how to transport their bicycles,” said Darryl C. Irick, President of MTA Bus and Senior Vice President, NYC Transit Department of Buses. “A future expansion will depend on results of this pilot and will most likely focus on routes that cross bridges.”

Full MTA press release is HERE.

The Harbor Ring applauds the MTA’s efforts to introduce bicycle racks on the S53 & s93 bus routes. It is a welcome addition to the city’s growing infrastructure for both current and future cyclists. We are certain Bike & Ride will be a success, just as similar programs have been in cities all over the country that have long had bike racks as standard equipment across their vehicular fleets. However, one bus carrying two bicycles is by no means a solution for our city’s overwhelming transportation deficiencies. We continue our campaign urging the MTA to create separated bicycle and pedestrian pathways across the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge that would offer toll free connectivity between Brooklyn and Staten Island.

MTA New York City Transit Introduces Bicycle Racks To Buses

bike_racks

Starting on Sunday, September 6, MTA New York City Transit will add bicycle racks on two Staten Island bus routes, the first time that such equipment has been made available for public use on NYC Transit.

The yearlong Bike & Ride pilot will roll out on the S53 and S93 routes, which run between Staten Island and the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn over the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. The two lines were chosen for their safe access to current and planned bicycle paths, ridership and routes, which serve a major college campus where bicycling is a popular commuting option.

“Bringing the Bike & Ride program to the S53 and S93 will increase the mobility of students who are traveling between home and campus. Before this program, our customers had no direct way to travel with their bicycles on public transportation between Brooklyn and Staten Island. Now customers can take advantage of the city’s bike lanes and greenways without worrying about how to transport their bicycles,” said Darryl C. Irick, President of MTA Bus and Senior Vice President, NYC Transit Department of Buses. “A future expansion will depend on results of this pilot and will most likely focus on routes that cross bridges.”

Full press release is HERE.

The Harbor Ring applauds the MTA’s efforts to introduce bicycle racks on the S53 & s93 bus routes. It is a welcome addition to the city’s growing infrastructure for both current and future cyclists. We are certain Bike & Ride will be a success, just as similar programs have been in cities all over the country that have long had bike racks as standard equipment across their vehicular fleets. However, one bus carrying two bicycles is by no means a solution for our city’s overwhelming transportation deficiencies. We continue our campaign urging the MTA to create separated bicycle and pedestrian pathways across the Verrazzano Bridge that would offer toll free connectivity between Brooklyn and Staten Island.

You’re invited to the Verrazzano Bridge’s 50th Birthday Bash!

Harbor Ring Logo_Horizontal6093rd ave merchants

Join the Harbor Ring and the Merchants of Third Avenue on Thurs, Nov 20th, 7:30 PM-9:30 PM at Bay Ridge’s Yellow Hook Grille as we celebrate the Verrazzano Bridge’s 50th birthday!

Raise a glass to the history of the campaign for a Verrazzano Bridge bicycle/pedestrian path and get excited about the Harbor Ring’s new efforts to make it a reality.  A $25 ticket gets you unlimited beer, wine, soda, and hors d’oeuvres.

BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY!  We can’t wait to see you there!
_43A6984

 

Great day for a Harbor Ring rally!

IMG_6165A big thank you to all who attended Saturday’s rally for a Verrazzano Bridge pathway!  The Harbor Ring welcomed almost 150 advocates to the Alice Austen House on that beautiful October morning.  We created quite a buzz the week prior, with press from the New York Times, CBS, and NBC, and grew to over 3,600 signatures on our petition.  Check out more at harborring.org/presscoverage!

The Harbor Ring was honored to see the overwhelming support from the community, as well as from city and state leadership.  We heard from:

Senator Marty Golden

Allen Cappelli, MTA Board

Laura Barlament, Transportation Alternatives SI Activist Committee Chair

Janice Monger, Executive Director of the Alice Austen House

Douglas Adams, COO of Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance

Councilmember Vincent Gentile 

Mike Shane, SI artist and photographerGoldenCappelli

Mark Vogt, President of SI Athletic Club

Valene Hathaway, NY Wheel Associate

Assemblymember Michael Cusick

Senator Golden of Bay Ridge gave strong words of support, acknowledging a Verrazzano–Narrows Bridge bike/ped path “is long overdue.”  MTA Board Member Allen Cappelli echoed the sentiment, declaring, “I believe it is the right thing to do.”  Even Assemblymembers Nicole Malliotakis and Joseph Borelli, and Brooklyn Brorough President Eric Adams, who were not able to attend, passed along their words of support for a Verrazzano path. 

Advocates jumped at the chance to show their support:

_43A6984

And we couldn’t have done it without our awesome volunteers: Linda, John and Roy from the SI Bicycling Association, and John from the T.A. SI Activist Committee!

More amazing photos of the day can be found at http://bit.ly/HarborRingRallyPics, and on Twitter under #WalkBikeVerrazzano.  Video clips are also on our Facebook page.  Stay tuned for more ways you can take action and get involved in the Harbor Ring!

Thanks again to our awesome advocates, our excellent elected officials and community leaders, and our super supporters for making the Harbor Ring’s rally for a Verrazzano Bridge path a success!  With your help, we will build this path once and for all!

aah logo

The Alice Austen House

rubenstein

king of the mountain

King of the Mountain Events

MyParkingSign Logo

MyParkingSign.com

NYCRUNS Logo

NYCRuns.com

SIAC Logo

Staten Island Athletic Club

Harbor Ring Rally for Verrazzano Path TOMORROW!

DSCF4757

The Harbor Ring’s rally is ON for tomorrow, Oct 18!  Bring your spirit, your camera, your friends, and make some noise for a bicycle/pedestrian pathway over the Verrazzano Bridge!  Get there bright and early to pick up an official Harbor Ring map and a limited-edition “Walk Bike Verrazzano” button.  Share thoughts and photos of the day with #WalkBikeVerrazzano and @theHarborRing.  Enjoy our amazing lineup of speakers and advocates:  

Paul Gertner, Harbor Ring
Douglas Adams, COO, Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance
Laura Barlament, T.A. SI Activist Committee Chair
Councilmember Vincent Gentile, 43rd District in Brooklyn
Mark Vogt, President, SI Athletic Club
Valene Hathaway, Associate, NY Wheel
Eric Adams, Brooklyn Borough President
Assemblymember Michael Cusick, 63rd Assembly District in SI

And above all else, get ready to have a great time!

Two weeks left until the Harbor Ring rally!

We’re excited!  Only two weeks to go until the Harbor Ring’s Oct 18th rally for a bicycle/pedestrian pathway on the Verrazzano Bridge, and we’ve already seen a HUGE outpouring of support.  Almost 100 people have RSVP‘d, and we’re nearing 3,500 signatures on our petition.  Thanks to all who have supported us and the issue–we couldn’t do it without you!

A very special thanks as well to:

aah logo

The Alice Austen House

 

king of the mountain

King of the Mountain Events

 

MyParkingSign Logo

MyParkingSign.com

 

NYCRUNS Logo

NYCRuns.com

 

SIAC Logo

Staten Island Athletic Club