Monday, October 21, 2013

TOO MUCH DANGER, TOO MANY ACCIDENTS--WHAT WILL PROTECT US?

More and more people are publicly voicing their concern about road safety in Kensington and Windsor Terrace. Ngozi Agbim died under the wheels of a truck in June as she walked across Ocean Parkway at Church Avenue. That horror heightened our collective awareness about public safety and the long, tall, local and long-distance trucks that are a constant presence in this residential area.

People are also speaking up because of Troy Martin's son being struck by the driver of an electric bike in June. (Riding electric bikes in New York City is illegal.) He and his dad were walking across Caton at McDonald, maneuvering their way around 18-wheel trucks that blocked the crosswalk as they were walking to P.S. 230 for the start of the school day.

Additional people have mobilized to plead the case of Albemarle Road as a safety hazard after an ambulette with a patient inside was struck on Albemarle Road in May--by a driver who ran a stop sign at E. 4th. The car knocked the ambulette on its side, trapping the patient inside. Nearby residents have been reporting problems--especially speeding--for years, including a collision that involved seven vehicles.

A number of other, lower-profile incidents have gotten little publicity, but people have learned about them from their neighbors, either face-to-face or via social media.

If you're one of the people noticing the deterioration of safety in the street, on the sidewalk, in the subway, on the bus, or near cars and trucks, you belong at tonight's Transportation Assembly. The assembly is part of City Council District 39's participatory budgeting program. Everyone in the district is invited to attend. Your suggestions for projects that will be beneficial to any part of the district are welcome.

Transportation Assembly
street, sidewalk, subway, bus, car, and truck safety issues 
Monday, October 21st, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 
Park Slope Library
431 6th Avenue at 9th Street 
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Two other assemblies are scheduled for this week: the Bangla Assembly and the Spanish Assembly. 


Bangla Assembly 
Wednesday, October 23rd, 7:00 p.m. 
Chittagong Association of North America, 545 McDonald Avenue, between Church Avenue and Avenue C 

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Spanish Assembly 
Saturday, October 26th, 3:00 p.m. 
Fifth Avenue Committee, 621 Degraw Street, at 4th Avenue