"What Will It Take to Deliver Livable Streets to More of NYC's Neighborhoods?"
A Center for an Urban Future Policy Symposium

Replay of event
Event materials

Speakers included:

• Commissioner Mike Flynn, NYC Department of Transportation
• Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers
• Ben Furnas, Executive Director, Transportation Alternatives
• Oma Holloway, Interim CEO, New Era Revitalization Inc.
• Sara Lind, Co-Executive Director, Open Plans
• Courtney Williams, Chief Strategist, The Brown Bike Girl

In recent years, New York City has made real progress in creating safer and more livable streets—from expanding Open Streets, outdoor dining, and bike infrastructure to new and upgraded bus lanes and street redesigns. But while some of these improvements have reached every corner of the city, other livable streets initiatives have yet to take hold in many neighborhoods. Bike infrastructure is still most comprehensive in Manhattan and along the Brooklyn and Queens waterfront. At the same time, several communities of color have among the highest per-capita serious car crash rates and have lagged behind in street safety investments.

This forum explored what further steps are needed to extend the full benefits of livable streets to more communities throughout the five boroughs. This solutions-focused event discussed a range of ideas for what City Hall, DOT, local elected officials, and community leaders should do to advance livable streets in more of the city's neighborhoods and how to build political and grassroots support for livable streets across the city. It also featured a fireside chat with DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn to delve into some highly promising steps that the Mamdani administration is already taking. 

This event is part of the Project for Livable Streets, a joint research initiative of the Center for an Urban Future and Tech:NYC, with support from the London Plane Foundation, Gotham Gives, and Jared Weinstein. We are also grateful for general support from The Clark Foundation, Robin Hood, and the Altman Foundation, and ongoing support from a number of other philanthropic funders.