FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 4, 2009

CONTACT:
Rachaele Raynoff / Jennifer Torres (City Planning) (212) 720-3471

STATEMENT BY CITY PLANNING COMMISSION CHAIR AMANDA M. BURDEN AT THE COMMISSION VOTE ON THE CITY’S ZONING FOR BIKE PARKING INITIATIVE REQUIRING NEW BUILDINGS TO PROVIDE SECURE BIKE PARKING
Bike Parking in the Home and Workplace Will Increase Convenience for Cyclers and Help Achieve Mayor Bloomberg’s Sustainability Goals for a Cleaner, Healthier City

“Today as we vote on City Planning’s zoning for Bike Parking initiative, we take an important step toward Mayor Bloomberg’s goal of making New York the greenest city in the nation.  This text amendment will require enclosed and secure bicycle parking for new multi-family residential, community facility, and commercial buildings. It will provide bike parking in the home and workplace, thereby increasing the transportation options available to New Yorkers, helping people to bike to work, to do errands and to keep fit. It will also help alleviate traffic congestion and pollution, and yield long term health benefits for New Yorkers.

“The public review process has indeed helped us make this proposal a better one, yet it remains the most comprehensive bike parking zoning requirement of any dense U.S. city. And as we heard during public testimony, bike parking is an essential element in making bicycling a viable transportation option, and adds value both for tenants and for owners.

Biking is cheap, fast, fun and good for you.  I am proud to vote yes.”

Department of City Planning
The Department of City Planning is responsible for the City's physical and socioeconomic planning, including land use and environmental review; preparation of plans and policies; and provision of technical assistance and planning information to government agencies, public officials, and community boards.

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