Editorial
Op-ed
Safe pedaling for all
New Yorkers are riding bicycles at a
high rate, according to the Department
of Transportation. Cycling
surged during the pandemic, and as the
city reopens, the trend doesn’t seem to be
slowing down.
The expansion of Citi Bikes across the
City has made cycling a much more attractive
option for residents. The City needs to
implement more protected bike lanes in an
effort to protect cyclists. Often, there are
streets where cyclists are forced to ride in
the midst of traffi c, which puts them at risk
of getting hurt.
There’s a contingent of drivers who
blame the bicyclists themselves for breaking
the law on the road. We get the frustration,
but at the same time, not all drivers
are angels on the roads themselves — and
getting hit by a driver operating a speeding,
2,000-pound vehicle is far more serious
than getting struck by a 200-pound person
pedaling a bicycle that weighs 40 pounds
or less.
Bicyclists, therefore, need more areas to
safely pedal, and the City plans to add 30
miles of protected bike lanes by the end of
the year. The increase in cycling has, however,
led to more accidents, as there just
aren’t enough protected lanes in place yet.
E-bikes have been an issue in particular.
Citi Bike has increased its fl eet of e-bikes
and so have deaths in the City involving
e-bikes. In 2019, there were only 6 deaths
involving e-bikes. That number jumped to
20 in 2020.
On the fl ip side, bicyclists, e-bikes and
e-scooters need to be better regulated so
that users of these modes of transportation
understand that they also need to follow the
rules of the road.
Brooklyn State Senator Simcha Felder
proposes a new state law that would
mandate that riders of bicycles, e-scooters
or e-bikes wear helmets. It also creates a
system where bicyclists are required to get
licenses to operate a bicycle, register their
devices and purchase liability insurance.
These are good ideas, but the state must
be made careful not to add fi nancial burdens
for bicyclists — a number of whom are
low-wage delivery workers, or otherwise
cannot afford the expenses of car ownership
or even a monthly MetroCard.
A lot has been done over the past several
years to make the City more bike-friendly,
but there is still plenty more to do to make
it safe for everyone.
Publisher of The Villager, Villager Express, Chelsea Now,
Downtown Express and Manhattan Express
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What Summer
Rising is doing
for my kids and I
BY DILORMA C. LEWIS
Last April, when my two youngest
children—Benjamin, 6, and Isabella,
9—returned to in-person learning at
P.S. 183 in Manhattan, they actually cried
tears of joy. They were so excited to be
back with their friends and teachers, and
they knew they would learn more in school
than they could remotely on their devices
at home.
So when I began to hear about the
City’s plans to create an all-day, universal
summer program called “Summer
Rising” beginning in July, I learned all I
could about it, and then signed them up. It
made so much sense because my kids were
just getting into the groove of being back
in school, and now they would have the
chance to keep that momentum going in
ways that would be fun, safe, and academically
supportive.
When they fi rst arrive, the kids a nutritious
breakfast that they devour. Then
there are specifi c exercises that focus on
subjects like language skills or writing.
Around 9:00, they will have a group lesson
in music, movement, or art, followed
by some combination of math, literacy, and
science.
In the afternoons, the program is turned
over to the community-based-organization
Child Study Center, which oversees outdoor
sports like volleyball, basketball,
and Hula Hoop contests, as well as other
activities like a carnival and visits to the ice
cream truck. And I know Summer Rising
PHOTO VIA GETTY IMAGES
programs have made great use of the city’s
museums, parks and other resources for
amazing fi eld trips.
I know that many families are understandably
concerned about health and
safety both this summer and in the fall.
All I can say is that at our children’s Summer
Rising program, everyone is extremely
vigilant about following protocols like
masking and distancing.
At the end of the long day, both Benjamin
and Isabella come home with smiles
on their faces and lots to say, although
Benjamin usually has a snack and then
falls asleep not long after he gets home.
There’s no question that Summer Rising
is doing so much to help them hit the
ground running in the fall. By keeping our
kids with their peers and teachers afterachoppy
remote learning experiencelast
year, they won’t be starting from scratch
in September,as they otherwise might have
been.
One other thing that I love about Summer
Rising is the fact that it’s universal:
every student in New York City school
scan attend regardless of income level,
grades,or anything else. That in and of
itself builds community.
So I really think we should build on that
inclusive aspect and keep Summer Rising
around permanently, so that all childrenin
the future can experience what my kids
have this summer.
Dillonna C.Lewis is a public school parent
and co-executive director of the Welfare
Rights Initiative at Hunter College
88 July 29, 2021 SScchhnneeppss MMeeddiiaa
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