It has been a good week

It all started on Wednesday. In the afternoon my physical therapist gave me the green light to walk up the steps to get in the front door of my apartment house. It's a 95-year-old building and there are three oddly shaped stepsto get in the front door. There's also no rail. I haven't done it yet, but knowing I can is a good feeling.  In therapy I also was given the tools so I can do more upper body work in the gym near my house,

Then while checking my email before the accessorized showed up I got a phone call from a reporter asking my opinion on the mayor's statement that he will stop rush-hour traffic in Prospect and Central Parks. Back in March I started this petition because I was sick of cars zooming by as I tried to get into the park.  Here's a link to the whole story. Yeah, a reporter called me to ask me my opinion on breaking news. The next morning the mayor held a press conference in Prospect Park. It was announced that the PM rush-hour would no longer go through Prospect Park and the a.m. rush-hour would continue because almost 3 times as many cars use it in the morning and that that many cars would cause havoc along the streets outside of Prospect Park. They shut down the rush-hour traffic in most of Central Park. But they left it in the busiest part, I'm a little worried because the southern end of the park has the most traffic but it also has the narrowest roads and the horse-drawn carriages. I've seen cars pass the horses in the bicycle lane. It's still a disaster waiting to happen. But I have hope that the east side of Prospect Park and the southern end of Central Park will be rid of rush-hour traffic after the traffic scientists fix the streets a little better on the outside of the parks.

When the ack stress oh ride came it was apparent that the driver couldn't position the bus in a place so that he could operate the lift. Too many cars were left in the driveway of my rehab hospital. I was able to look at the big picture and see that he could pull out once his passengers got in. So I handed the driver my walker and said fuck it I'm going up the stairs. And I did.

Wednesday evening was the third race in a summer series that I have organized. Five or seven years ago we were happy if 30 to 50 people showed up. I kind of took over and got the race up to 300 people on a regular basis. Last summer I was flat on my back for all the races and my friends took over and did a great job. This year I took kind of a behind the scenes role in managing the races because I can never commit to being there and that I don't do too good in the rain. Wednesday night I zoomed down there in my new electric chair and help direct traffic. Another fuck it moment at the award ceremony. I just got about a my wheelchair and posed in the picture.

To the right is a cool animation of how I direct traffic at a race.

Below is a picture of a guy wants to stand up with his friends.

And thanks to Larry for both of those pictures

Then Thursday came. I had no idea my crazy petition was gonna change anything. But I did have some fantasy that if the roads were ever closed to rush-hour traffic that I would stand next to The Mayor when he made the announcement.. That did not happen.(See the bottom of this blog post for the complete New York City statement). But it really makes sense that the mayor didn't give me credit because the city can not officially say that policy is influenced by one not who launches a change.org petition..

But my neighbors knew what I did. Thursday evening I went out to meet my friends with Achilles Brooklyn. On the way there strangers congratulated me and thanked me. I know what I did, and the people who know what I did know what I did. And I also think the people at transportation alternatives know what I did. But after Thursday's press conference they published this summary of what they did. I guess some people there have a job to do and if I do it for them they might not get paid.

Whatever, so Thursday evening I got to meet my friends at jackrabbit sports. You can't tell from the photo below that without telling anyone I just climbed a flight of stairs and sat in a chair. Yeah, that was my third fuck it moment of the week.

When I set up there I remember saying that I was living on the edge. Getting up was easy but I have no idea how to get down the stairs. Fuck it I got down.

Then we got to Prospect Park and I just surprised
everyone by joining the circle.

Below is one of my favorite pictures of the week. I don't just love it for the obvious reason I like that Larry took it. He just shows up at all kinds of running events and takes 1 billion pictures and then gives them out for free. If you ask him nicely take a picture of whatever you want. I don't think he knows how much I appreciated as I used to take my own pictures but I can't right now.

Thanks Anne

Then Saturday came. My running club has a picnic/relays race the end of every June. It's just a lot of fun, Teams of three are picked at random and we do a short loop in Prospect Park. Then we stand around and eat potluck food and apple juice out of red plastic cups. At this event, in 2000 some of my friends chipped in and gave me a double running stroller when my kids were just a month old. In 2001, I adjusted the randomness and all three people on my relay team were Rings. I pushed my kids for the whole race. My kids run it with me a few times. On the date of last year's race on not even sure what hospital I was in. I just remember staring at some ceiling knowing where I'd rather be.

Yeah, in the past 13 months I missed a lot of the races that I've always made a point to run. I don't want to be pushed and I don't want to complete of race in a golf cart either. But for a long time now I've been thinking about this race.It is the shortest distance that ever done, about a mile and three quarters. It took me 20 minutes longer to complete one loop than the slowest team took to complete three of them. But that's only good. That meant everybody was waiting for me at the finish line. I also inspired six people to chaperone me who couldn't think they can walk almost 2 miles.

thanks Tifenn

Mayor de Blasio Announces Major Sections of Central Park and Prospect Park Will Become Permanently Car-Free, Dedicated Solely to Recreation

June 18, 2015

Video available at: http://youtu.be/9khUC2NfHTA

Changes will make two of NYC’s crown jewel parks safer and healthier, enhance public space and encourage New Yorkers to get active

Central Park Drives north of 72nd Street will be permanently car-free starting June 29

Prospect Park West Drive will be permanently car-free starting July 6

BROOKLYN, NY—Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced permanent improvements to Central Park and Prospect Park that will make the majority of each park car-free, with park drives dedicated solely to recreation for the first time in more than a century. The changes will restore major sections of two of the city’s crown jewel parks to their original vision as recreational paths, making the parks healthier, safer and more accessible to millions of New Yorkers.

Central Park's entire loop drive above 72nd Street will be permanently car-free. Prospect Park's West Drive between Grand Army Plaza and Park Circle, previously open to motor vehicle traffic for two hours during weekday afternoons, will likewise be permanently reserved solely for recreation. With these changes, more of each park will be car-free than at any time since the first automobiles were introduced to them at the turn of the 20th century. Combined, more than 45 million people visit Central Park and Prospect Park each year.

“Prospect Park has always been my family’s backyard. That’s a sentiment New Yorkers in every borough feel about their parks. Making the loop drives in Central and Prospect Parks permanently car-free for the first time in more than a century will make these great spaces safer, healthier and more accessible to the millions who flock to them,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

The Department of Transportation conducted extensive traffic analyses of both parks’ loop drives and surrounding streets prior to undertaking these improvements. Neither change is projected to impact travel times or congestion in nearby neighborhoods. In Central Park, this change is consistent with the seasonal car-free summer hours of the past two years, which have proven to have had no adverse impacts.

The four Central Park Transverse roads will remain open to motor vehicle traffic. Emergency and parks maintenance vehicles will continue to have access to the loop drives as necessary. To further improve mobility in Manhattan communities adjacent to Central Park, the DOT will extend the Fifth Avenue bus lane north to 110th Street from 7-11 a.m. on weekdays. Fifth Avenue is one of the heaviest travelled bus routes in the City, with over 74,000 local and express bus riders each day.

“This is great news for the millions of people who come to walk, bike, and enjoy Central Park and Prospect Park every year,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. “Thanks to Mayor de Blasio's leadership, this expansion of car-free parks will create a greener, safer and more serene experience for all.”

“Prospect Park and Central Park are known throughout the world as classic urban parks that have evolved to serve 21st century cities,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP. "Thanks to Mayor de Blasio, these great parks are now on the verge of the next stage of their evolution: a cars-free vision that will improve air quality, safety, and the park-going experience.”

“Central Park Conservancy has supported a car free park for many years and we think this is a fantastic step forward," said Doug Blonsky, President and CEO of Central Park Conservancy. “Fewer cars in Central Park will not only make it  safer for recreational use, it will also make it more of a natural retreat from hectic the pace of city life which was the original intent of its creators Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux.  They would be very happy today as are all of us at Central Park Conservancy.”

“The Prospect Park Alliance supports the Mayor’s decision to reduce vehicular traffic in Prospect Park,” said Sue Donoghue, Prospect Park Administrator and President of the Prospect Park Alliance. “The Alliance works closely with the community, our agency partners and stakeholders to balance the needs of the diverse users of the Park Drive, and is consistently working to promote a safe environment for the cyclists, runners, walkers and other Park visitors who depend on the Park Drive for recreation and outdoor enjoyment.”

"For over 100 years, Central and Prospect Parks have provided refuge for New Yorkers seeking escape from the hustle and bustle of America's largest city," said NYC Comptroller Scott M. Stringer, "The Mayor's decision to close portions of the parks to traffic year-round will not only improve the serenity of the parks, but will also reduce the risk of injuries in line with the City's Vision Zero goals. I applaud him for taking decisive action to protect the parks' 40 million annual visitors and congratulate the advocates who have fought for decades to see their vision of car-free parks realized."

"The closure of West Drive to car traffic is a tribute to the residents and advocates who worked tirelessly to highlight the challenges to street safety in and around Prospect Park. We are one step closer to ensuring that parks are for people, and we can be assured that step will be taken across a car-free street. I look forward to riding my bike down West Drive with other Brooklynites enjoying the beauty and tranquility of Prospect Park," said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.

“Closing the Central Park loop to cars would make a huge difference in helping New Yorkers enjoy the greatest public park in the world, while having a minimal impact on traffic,” said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. “Freeing these large parks from the intrusion of traffic is the right move for the parks themselves and the New Yorkers who visit them, which is why I’ve been working toward this goal for years.”

"Central Park is a beautiful, serene, and cultural oasis in the middle of the greatest, and busiest, city in the world. People from all over, including myself, enjoy the jogging, picnicking and recreational opportunities this historic park provides. Today's announcement that our beloved park is moving one step closer to being completely car-free will provide for a much safer, quieter and healthier environment for all to enjoy. I applaud Mayor Bill de Blasio's commitment to a greener and healthier New York City,” said State Senator José M. Serrano.

"As a resident of Brooklyn, I had the opportunity to watch Prospect Park enhance in safety, cleanliness and health, allowing a more friendly family and children environment," said Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte. "I commend Mayor de Blasio for implementing safety measures in our neighborhood parks that will strengthen an environmental and recreational atmosphere that the people in my District and across the City of New York can enjoy,"

“Public parks are for people and other living things, not automobiles, traffic, and car exhaust.  I applaud the move by Mayor de Blasio and the New York City Department of Transportation to limit cars permanently and year-round from Central Park and Prospect Park.  In a dense urban environment like New York City, our communities need and deserve car-free parks,” said Assembly Member Richard N. Gottfried.

“Protecting pedestrians in our parks is an essential piece of Vision Zero. Making two of our biggest parks nearly entirely car-free is in keeping with the original vision for our parks as an escape from the city landscape. I’m happy that Mayor de Blasio has committed to this change, prioritizing pedestrian safety in our parks,” said Assembly Member Dan Quart.

“Closing the Central Park Drive at 72nd Street is in keeping with Vision Zero and will make the park safer for pedestrians and cyclists alike,” said Assembly Member Linda B. Rosenthal. “I applaud this decisive step and look forward to continuing to work together toward making our City streets and parks safe for all users.”

“I commend the administration’s commitment to Vision Zero in Central Park, closing the loop north of 72nd Street to vehicles and, last year, lowering its speed limit to 20mph and adding barricades to separate pedestrians from cyclists. In 2014 two pedestrians lost their lives while crossing the Central Park Loop, and removing vehicles from the northern part of the loop will give pedestrians and cyclists room to coexist safely on the path. I look forward to working with the administration to extend this policy to the southern part of the loop in the near future,” said Council Member Helen Rosenthal.

“Our city’s precious green spaces should be a refuge. New Yorkers shouldn’t have to worry about looking over their shoulder for on-coming traffic if they are out for a run, or a stroll, or a bike ride in the park. For decades, park and open space advocates have called for both Central and Prospect Parks to be car-free. Today, I’m proud to stand with them, Mayor de Blasio and New Yorkers across the five boroughs as we make that dream a reality,” said Council Member Mark Levine, Chair of the Committee on Parks. 

“Our parks belong to our children. By closing the loop we are making sure that the children of our city are protected from traffic. Congratulations to my colleagues, Council Members Rosenthal and Levine, as well as Mayor de Blasio, who have worked so hard to achieve today's victory,” said Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, Chair of the Committee on Transportation.

“In light of both the strong and growing support from my constituents and the long-term success of the Prospect Park Drive reconfiguration in 2011 that significantly reduced traffic in the park, as well as the City's continued work together toward Vision Zero, I agree: the time has come to reduce rush-hour traffic in Prospect Park,” said Council Member Brad Lander. “I am glad to support Mayor de Blasio’s decision today, and thank him for his leadership making our city’s parks a safer place for New Yorkers to enjoy.”

“Avoiding cars in certain sections of Prospect Park was as exhausting as the cars’ emissions. Making our parks car-free is going to make our air cleaner and safer for New Yorkers,” said Council Member Mathieu Eugene. “I commend Mayor Bill de Blasio for taking the wheel on this important issue.”