Bike Access Bill Clears Transportation Committee

Flickr via Ed Yourdon

It's official. The long-coming bike access bill, which at one point last month sparked some infighting between city councilmen and comptroller candidates David Yassky (the bill's author) and John Liu (who was criticized for stalling the legislation), has cleared the Council's transportation committee and is headed for a vote by the full City Council tomorrow, July 29.

We've been following the bill, which is designed to encourage bike commuting by requiring commercial building owners to provide bicycle access and storage, for the past few months, and you can find our full coverage here.

In anticipation of the bill's passing in committee, Mr. Yassky, Mr. Liu, D.O.T. Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, Transportation Alternatives' Paul Steely White and various other officials and bike/sustainability/public health advocates gathered on the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge this morning to celebrate.

Read the release Mr. Yassky's office sent out after the jump:

YASSKY, SADIK-KHAN, LiMANDRI, GOODMAN, COUNCIL MEMBERS, TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC HEALTH ADVOCATES CELEBRATE PASSAGE OF BIKE ACCESS BILL

Council Member David Yassky, New York City Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri, Acting Deputy Health Commissioner Andy Goodman, Council Members Gale Brewer and John Liu, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives Paul Steely White, and dozens of transportation and public health advocates today gathered on the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge to celebrate the expected passage of the Bicycle Access Bill at Wednesday’s Stated Meeting of the City Council. Yassky’s Bicycle Access Bill, introduced in 2006, requires commercial building owners and managers to allow for employees of building tenants to enter with their bicycles.

“In a city in which one in eight kids has asthma, this bill is a long overdue step towards reducing carbon emissions, improving public health, and building a sustainable transportation infrastructure,” said Council Member Yassky. “I look forward to the Council passing this bill tomorrow so that we can begin the implementation of this important piece of progressive legislation.”

"Every day, biking becomes a more established part of our transportation network and this legislation literally opens the door to making cycling an even more attractive and serious transportation option," said Commissioner Sadik-Khan. "Improved access is also a tremendous boon for businesses who want to encourage cycling among their employees, and it's a catalyst for engineering a greener, greater New York City.”

“Nearly 70% of New York City adults don’t get enough physical activity,” said Andy Goodman, Deputy Commissioner for the Health Department. “The best way to increase physical activity is to incorporate it into routine activities.  By making it easier to bike to and store your bike at work, we can help every New Yorker live a healthier life.”

“More people will use their bicycles to go to and from work and to shop if they can safely store it,” said Council Member Gale A. Brewer. “This legislation is a very exciting step towards ‘greening’ our City in a sustainable way. Congratulations to Council Member Yassky.”

"Bike access to buildings has been years in the making," says Paul Steely White, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives. "There are few actions that will give as big a boost to bike commuting as opening the doors of workplaces to cyclists. We congratulate all the members of City Council and the Administration who have made this possible."

Supporters of the bill include: Transportation Alternatives, The American Heart Association, The American Cancer Society, American Institute of Architects, New York Chapter, Tri-State Transportation Campaign, Straphangers Campaign, Environmental Defense Fund, New York League of Conservation Voters, Local Development Corporation of the West Bronx, New York Public Interest Research Group, Jonathan Rose Companies, LLC, Two Trees Management Company.

The bill will not require building owners or managers to create bicycle storage; employees will keep their bicycles in their office upon approval by their respective employers. The legislation will dramatically improve public health, reduce carbon emissions, lead to a more sustainable transportation infrastructure, and provide substantial economic benefits for people who would now be able to get to work for free.