FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM NOVEMBER 14, 2019 • THE QUEENS COURIER 3
NYC Parks breaks ground on World’s Fair Pavilion tower preservation
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Th ere was quite a buzz back in July
2015 when the International Union of
Painting and Allied Trades voluntarily
used apprentices to repaint the crown of
the New York State Pavilion in its original
Feds urge bike helmets for all, fl outing cycling safety advocates
BY VINCENT BARONE
Federal investigators are recommending
helmet requirements for all American
cyclists, fl outing advice and research from
city planners.
In light of rising cycling fatalities across
the country, the National Transportation
Review Board last week approved a package
of new recommendations, including
one for all states — and Puerto Rico —
to require cyclists to wear age-appropriate
helmets.
Th e concept has been strongly advised
against in New York City, where planners
have argued for years that cycling
becomes safer as more people ride bikes
— a concept popularized over years of
research across the world.
Th e NTSB, the independent agency
charged with investigating transportation
crashes, backed the concept under
the reasoning that head injuries are the
leading cause of cycling-related fatalities
across the country.
“Th e individual bicyclist can take steps
to avoid a crash by obeying traffi c rules
and controls, such as signals, and enhancing
conspicuity — for example, through
the use of bicycle lights,” said NTSB Chair
Robert Sumwalt. “In the event of a crash,
bicyclists are safer wearing a bicycle helmet
that meets federal bicycle helmet
standards.”
But planners, including city
Transportation Commissioner Polly
Trottenberg, have warned that helmet
requirements could suppress cycling —
making riding more dangerous. Th e “safety
in numbers” phenomenon, fi rst popularized
by researcher Peter Jacobsen, documents
that drivers are less likely to crash
into pedestrians or cyclists if there are
more people walking or riding.
“We’ve been saying this for decades,
with the exception of protected bike lanes,
the only thing that protects me as a cyclist
is other cyclists’ presence on the road
which sends that subliminal single to
drivers that we are there,” said traffi c
expert Charles Komanoff . “Safety in numbers
— it’s been qualifi ed it’s been fairly
well established.”
Th ere were 857 cycling deaths across
the country last year, marking a 6.3 percent
increase from 2017, according to
federal data. Mayor Bill de Blasio revived
a local debate around helmet requirements
in September, when he publicly
mulled it’s a “valid discussion” to require
helmets for Citi Bike usage in response
to the sharp uptick in city cycling deaths
in the city this year. though the quickly
faced backlash from the cycling community.
Roughly 85 million trips have been
completed on Citi Bike since its launch in
2013 and only two bike-share riders have
died aft er being struck by vehicles.
Trottenberg followed up at a City
Council hearing late last month that the
city supports helmet use, but wouldn’t
support making it mandatory for adults.
Cyclists under 14 years of age are currently
required to wear helmets under
state law.
“Th ere is a creative tension of, in cities
where … adults are required to
wear cycling helmets, cycling goes down
— particularly for things like Citi Bike,”
Trottenberg said.
Advocates said the focus needs to be
on encouraging cycling and building safe
infrastructure. Joe Cutrufo, a spokesman
for the advocacy group Transportation
Alternatives, said the recommendation
would potentially be most damaging in
other parts of the country without strong
cycling communities and advocacy.
“We could see electeds buying into this
rationale elsewhere in the country, but
here in New York our elected leaders
should know better,” he said.
Jon Orcutt, a spokesman for Bike NYC
and former policy director at DOT, said
the “federal government is completely
bankrupt on the issue of road safety” and
pointed to countries like the Netherlands
or Denmark, where cycling rates are high
and helmet use is nonexistent.
“What makes cycling safe — its safe
places to ride,” he said. “Th ey don’t have
helmet laws, they do have bike paths
everywhere. It’s not aviation science; it’s
easy.”
Of NTSB, Orcutt posited, “I would disregard
their recommendation and they
should stick to plane crashes.”
“American Cheese” yellow paint. Not
much has happened since at old World’s
Fair site in Flushing Meadows Corona
Park, but that is about to change.
Th e city’s Parks Department, Queens
Borough President Melinda Katz and
community leaders joined members of
the People for the Pavilion, Flushing
Meadows Corona Park Conservancy and
Alliance for Flushing Meadows Corona
Park to break ground on the reconstruction
of the New York Pavilion Observation
Towers Friday morning.
“Th e work we’re breaking ground on
today will go a long way towards restoring
the iconic New York State Pavilion to
its former glory,” Katz said.
Th e Pavilion was designed by architect
Philip Johnson ad is comprised of three
observation towers, the largest of which
is 226 feet, and the circular structure that
was known as the Tent of Tomorrow,
which has 16 100-foot pillars that at one
time supported a 50,000-square-foot roof.
“Th is work will enable future generations
to continue to enjoy the Pavilion’s
distinctive Space Age architecture and be
reminded about the important role the
1964-65 World’s Fair played in Queens
history,” Katz said. “It has been a privilege
to work with our partners in government
to preserve the Pavilion.”
Th e Parks Department released estimates
in 2014 that it would cost $14 million
to demolish the historic structure
which was in a state of disrepair. Katz
declared that it should not be demolished
and the $14 million would be better spent
as a base in the preservation initiative.
Th e $24 million project will preserve the
structure, reconstruct stairwells and add
architectural lighting. Work will include
waterproofi ng the tower bases, restore
suspension cables, and add electrical
upgrades. Th e renovation is funded by a
$24 million allocation, with $13.1 million
from Katz, $9 million from Mayor Bill de
Blasio and $1.9 million from Councilman
Francisco Moya.
“Th e New York State Pavilion is an iconic
symbol of the 1964 World’s Fair that
keeps us connected to our city’s rich history,”
NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J.
Silver said. “We are excited to restore this
historic structure for the enjoyment of
New Yorkers and visitors thanks to funding
from Borough President Katz, Mayor
de Blasio and Council member Moya,
this treasured landmark will continue to
serve as a symbol of Queens for generations
to come.”
Th e revitalization project will not give
visitors the ability to access the observation
towers. Th ere would need to be further
investment in the integrity of the
structure before it would be safe for public
access.
Th e project is expected to be completed
by March 2021.
Photo via Getty Images
Courtesy of Daniel Avila/NYC Parks
Restoration work will begin on the observation towers at the New York State Pavilion in Flushing
Meadows Corona Park.
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