Sara Lind
@saraklind.bsky.social
Co-Executive Director @openplans.org | Transportation, Housing, Walkable Cities.
This was essentially the first PSA messaging I did for @openplans.org waaaay back in 2005! It came with a package of other PSAs we put on kiosks to watch at a number of high profile events with fellow partners @transalt.org @ppsplacemaking.bsky.social @misernyc.bsky.social @saraklind.bsky.social
94% of curbside dining setups are located in Manhattan and Brooklyn. “ The option to have curbside dining year-round, we believe, is going to really unleash the potential, and we're going to see it in a lot of neighborhoods again.” said @saraklind.bsky.social
Gothamist@gothamist.com · 2mo agoCity Council looks to revive New York City outdoor dining gothamist.com/news/city-co...
“Outdoor dining is about more than restaurant policy. It’s about what we want our streets to be used for: giving people more places to sit, eat, gather, and spend time in their neighborhoods—not simply storing private cars.” - @saraklind.bsky.social our Co-Executive Director
Streetsblog NYC@nyc.streetsblog.org · 2mo ago"This is about making it easier for small businesses to thrive while creating more vibrant neighborhoods for New Yorkers and visitors alike,” said Council Speaker and former restaurant owner Julie Menin. buff.ly/n0iIRUQ
A new report examines the potential impact of robotaxis on NYC's transportation network. There is a lot to worry about, including thicker congestion due to deadheading: "Waymo vehicles drive empty 41.6% of the time as compared to 33% for [NYC's] human for-hire fleet."
How Would For-Hire Autonomous Vehicles Impact NYC? — Open Plans
openplans.org
In NYC, robotaxis wouldn't replace average drivers—they'd replace professional drivers (yellow cabs, Uber, Lyft). So we compared Waymo driving in California to professional for-hire drivers in NYC on vehicle miles traveled (VMT), parking, & safety. gothamist.com/news/are-way...
Are Waymo robotaxis actually safer than NYC Uber and taxi drivers?
A new analysis concludes Waymos were involved in more serious crashes per mile than the city’s for-hire fleet.
gothamist.com
NYC should seriously consider Low Emissions Zones. The state approved congestion pricing, and now needs to go further to improve air quality citywide and not just in the CBD. Low Emissions Zones target high emissions vehicles, and incentivize less driving and quicker adoption of electric vehicles.
The War on Cars@thewaroncars.bsky.social · 3mo ago"The research also found that the US has more new pediatric asthma cases attributable to vehicle pollution annually than any other country. In 2024, US children accounted for one in 10 new pediatric asthma cases attributable to vehicle pollution globally."
“The reopening of the Carroll Street Bridge marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Gowanus, creating a natural centerpiece for a low-traffic neighborhood... We urge DOT to seize this opportunity and launch a low-traffic neighborhood pilot in Gowanus.” - @saraklind.bsky.social
Streetsblog NYC@nyc.streetsblog.org · 4mo ago“Leaving [the Carroll Street Bridge] offline to cars, except for emergency vehicles, is just one step forward in the longer process of rethinking traffic in the neighborhood on a larger scale.”
PREMIERE REMINDER: Pls tune in tmw, Fri, May 29th, at 2 pm EST for a chat w/ @saraklind.bsky.social with @openplans.org, the NYC-based advocacy organization promoting streets for people, school streets, intersection daylighting, curb and public space management, and so much more youtu.be/b8AllRZUylY
Sara Opens Up About Open Plans
YouTube video by Active Towns
youtu.be
Staten Island traffic cameras have caught a white RAM 1500 pickup truck blasting through school zones or running red lights more than 547 times since 2022. The truck belongs to James Giovansanti, who lives and works there as an NYPD officer. nyc.streetsblog.org/2026/04/23/t...
To Protect And Swerve: NYPD Cop Has 547 Speeding Tickets Yet Remains On The Force - Streetsblog New York City
One of the city’s most-dangerous drivers is an officer with the NYPD, which does nothing to stop his reign of terror on Staten Island.
nyc.streetsblog.org
Somehow Charlottesville is ahead of NYC in considering this key procurement change. NYC arguably would benefit far more than smaller, lower density cities in terms of emergency response and less constraint on people-oriented street designs @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social
Steven L. Johnson@stevenljohnson.org · 6mo agoA small, but important, win here in Cville — the fire department is moving towards smaller fire trucks. Small fire trucks opens up more possibilities for allocating the right of way in a more balanced approach that supports safety for all users: cyclists, pedestrians, scooters, and cars
“We just got congestion pricing going. We are moving in the direction of fewer cars on our streets... Robotaxis, for all the fancy technology, are just cars.” - @saraklind.bsky.social
Annie McDonough@anniemcdonough.bsky.social · 6mo agoDriverless cars may not be coming to New York this year, but Waymo’s brief false start has opened an existential debate that labor and their allies aren’t going to give up easily. Wrote about the (possible) future for this week’s cover. www.cityandstateny.com/policy/2026/...
"Nearly 75% of the cars traveling on the Upper West Side are 'cut-through traffic,' meaning the car’s journey begins and ends outside the neighborhood..."
Should Car Traffic Cutting Through the Upper West Side Be Reduced? A CB7 Committee Thinks So
Techniques that could be used to create a Low Traffic Neighborhood in an area of the Upper West Side. Image
westsiderag.com
According to census data (pm 2.5), this area suffers some of the worst air quality in the whole city, which affects residents, visitors, and employers. Pedestrianization and low emissions zones are long overdue. Businesses should want to solve this problem too, instead of obstructing.
Streetsblog NYC@nyc.streetsblog.org · 6mo agoIn the small 30-block-zone that makes up the Theater District, there were 486 reported crashes last year. It should be a no-brainer to ban private motor vehicles there, given that it has the best public transit access of any similarly-sized area in the entire US.
We're so excited to see outdoor dining structures starting to go up!! Too bad they'll have to be taken down in a few months if @council.nyc.gov doesn't act fast enough…
The benefits promised by autonomous vehicles won't happen if the city doesn't put the proper regulations in place first. @saraklind.bsky.social at the The Road to Driverless Cars organized by New York Law School
Join @saraklind.bsky.social at The Road to Driverless Cars organized by New York Law School! A discussion on driverless cars & their policy, legal, and social implications for NYC’s streetscape, economy, labor force, & public safety. 📆 March 25 | 8:30 AM RSVP: nyls.wufoo.com/forms/the-ro...
“We’re glad the World Cup was an impetus to act quickly, but the benefits will be felt by New Yorkers for decades to come.” - @saraklind.bsky.social www.amny.com/news/ninth-a...
NYC will add more pedestrian and bike space, extend bus lane on Ninth Avenue ahead of World Cup | amNewYork
A 16-block stretch of Manhattan's Ninth Avenue will be getting a facelift ahead of this summer's FIFA World Cup, to accommodate large crowds expected to flood
amny.com
Join @saraklind.bsky.social at ✨The Road to Driverless Cars✨ organized by New York Law School! A discussion on driverless cars & their policy, legal, and social implications for NYC’s streetscape, economy, labor force, & public safety. 📆 March 25 | 8:30 AM RSVP: nyls.wufoo.com/forms/the-ro...
most media is framing this as a revenue/budget thing. mistake! metered/paid parking makes parking and driving better for drivers. you could set the money on fire and there would still benefits. focus on that. being able to invest it elsewhere is a bonus.
Streetsblog NYC@nyc.streetsblog.org · 7mo agoNEW: Mamdani's City Hall is discussing charging fees for currently free on-street parking — a policy change that would not only create a new revenue stream but also seize a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve the streetscape. buff.ly/9C0Iq34
Yes, NYC should charge more for currently metered spaces and increase the amount of metered spaces while also thinking twice about charging for parking overall. As @saraklind.bsky.social notes, It could lock in using curbside space for car storage and create even more driver entitlement.
Streetsblog NYC@nyc.streetsblog.org · 7mo agoNEW: Mamdani's City Hall is discussing charging fees for currently free on-street parking — a policy change that would not only create a new revenue stream but also seize a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve the streetscape. buff.ly/9C0Iq34
🚨 Sending out a call for help. Do you like outdoor dining? Want it year-round? There's still time to testify in support at today's City Council hearing. The anti-outdoor dining cranks are out in full force. Sign up here and pick the 10am on Transportation & Infrastructure council.nyc.gov/testify/
Hearing Testimony Registration
Together, we make the laws governing New York City
council.nyc.gov
Five ✨Low Traffic Neighborhoods✨ in each borough by 2023 would limit cars using local streets as shortcuts, and help reach several key goals in the Streets Plan: safer, more accessible streets for pedestrians and cyclists. 🚶🏻♂️🚴🏾♀️
We’re thrilled to hear Commissioner Mike Flynn confirm that @nyc-dot.bsky.social supports Int 655 to make outdoor dining year-round! @cmrestler.bsky.social @speakermenin.bsky.social let’s get this passed asap before the new season begins
📢 We urge our leaders to make the right decision and bring back year-round outdoor dining once and for all. 👉🏼 Show your support for year-round outdoor dining by sending a letter: action.openplans.org/support-year...
Support Year Round Outdoor Dining - Open Plans
The Open Restaurants program revealed a simple truth during the COVID pandemic: our curb lane is a valuable, dynamic public space that can support local businesses and create opportunities for New Yor...
action.openplans.org
School streets need to be a major initiative in the @mayor.nyc.gov Mamdani Administration. @nyc-dot.bsky.social So my latest blog post has for the very 1st time EVERY Streetfilm on school streets embedded in one place! PLUS: bonus photos. It's a great resource. www.streetfilms.org/featured/sch...
A Bonanza of School Streets Resources for you to use! — Streetfilms
As you know we are big on wanting school streets in every city, all over the world. We have also done the most ambitious documenting with many popular films that are used worldwide to advocate for the...
streetfilms.org
Our @saraklind.bsky.social joined the Max Politics podcast to talk about how @mayor.nyc.gov can create a more livable city, starting with School Streets! 🎧 Listen now: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5UUN7RaA3DTJW5Ru9h4G6H
How Mayor Mamdani Can Create a More Livable City, with Ben Furnas & Sara Lind
open.spotify.com
Ben Max, who refuses to post on BlueSky where his audience is but stays on X where he gets no engagement, has a new podcast out with @bfurnas.bsky.social and @saraklind.bsky.social. Well worth a listen. Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/gotham-gazet... Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m...
Have you checked out The Car-Free Carolers rendition of "Zohran, Zohran, Zohran"? (To the tune "Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel") @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social @nyc.streetsblog.org @openplans.org 🎵🎶🎵🎼 But can he make it happen He cannot fail us now 🎵 We need so many busways He better make us proud 🎶
We are delighted that our co-executive director @saraklind.bsky.social has been named to the transportation committee of @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social's transition team!!
