NYPD 114 Precinct Cracking Down On Electric Motor Bicycle Food Deliveries To Roosevelt Island And Astoria - Pedal Assist Bikes OK But Not Motorized Only E Bikes

On October 19, 2017, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced:

... the New York City Police Department today announced that the City will take heightened enforcement action against electric bicycles, otherwise known as “e-bikes,” with a particular focus on the hazardous operation of e-bikes and businesses who use them or permit employees to ride them.

“E-bikes are illegal to operate in New York City and the NYPD is stepping up enforcement,” said Mayor de Blasio. “Those at the top of the food chain need to be held accountable. That’s why instead of merely targeting riders, we’re going after businesses that look the other way and leave their workers to shoulder the fine.”

“E-bikes are too often a danger on the City’s streets and sidewalks,” said NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill. “They’re illegal to operate here, but it seems like you can spot them everywhere – and that’s where our increased enforcement comes in. Officers are confiscating e-bikes from riders and issuing summonses that carry a stiff fine, and enforcement is up dramatically this year. Soon businesses will be held accountable too, because most e-bike riders are acting on their employer’s behalf. The NYPD is committed to keeping City streets safe for everyone and e-bike enforcement is an important part of the plan.”...

The issue of restaurants using motorized electric bicycles to make Roosevelt Island food deliveries

was discussed during the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) November 29 Public Safety Committee meeting with Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Department Chief Jack McManus. According to this excerpt from the PSC report:

... The enforcement of traffic regulations for motorized bike was addressed. The Chief is aware of the problem and will be initiating more enforcement of the laws, for deliveries that come onto the Island....

The NYPD 114 precinct, which patrols Roosevelt Island, tweets earlier this week:

E-Bike Initiative all week long in the confines of the 114 Precinct. If you use it, you will lose it! pic.twitter.com/4D4FZ8t0c1

— NYPD 114th Precinct (@NYPD114Pct) January 15, 2018

Yes it includes Roosevelt Island as well.

— NYPD 114th Precinct (@NYPD114Pct) January 15, 2018

PO Dubeau & PO Kotik confiscated these 2 E-bikes today off the streets of Astoria. They are illegal! #UseItAndLoseIt pic.twitter.com/WeYIxVYQYa

— NYPD 114th Precinct (@NYPD114Pct) January 16, 2018

But, there's another side to the story. According to Streetsblog:

... For a delivery worker, income is a function of how many deliveries you can make in a day, and delivery zones are expanding as apps like Seamless and GrubHub introduce new incentives for restaurants to cover more turf. Especially for older delivery workers, e-bikes are the only feasible conveyance for daily shifts that routinely clock in at 12 to 16 hours long. On top of it all, many immigrant workers are paying off tens of thousands of dollars in debt to the networks that smuggled them into the country.

“The city has never really talked with delivery workers about their own conditions, and how to design a system around delivery work — about streets, about the commercial cycling ordinances, about e-bike laws,” Lee said. “We’re totally ignoring the people who have the most intimate knowledge of city streets.”

The fine for operating an e-bike on city streets can be as high as $500. That, along with the seizure of property worth several hundred dollars, can upend the life of delivery workers getting by on tips and little else. Even the fines on businesses can trickle down to workers’ pocketbooks....

and:

... A non-punitive approach to the issue might involve encouraging the use of pedal-assist bikes for delivery work, which amplify human power but require the rider to expend some energy. De Blasio said older delivery workers should use those bikes, which are not banned under NYC law, unlike e-bikes that can be powered by just a motor. But instead of talking to delivery workers and trying to reach a solution that fits the demands of the job, the mayor and NYPD have jumped straight to penalizing them....

Here's an interesting video showing the differences between motorized electric bicycles using throttles, which are illegal, and pedal assisted electric bikes which are legal.



Roosevelt Island and Manhattan Upper East Side NYC Council Member Ben Kallos is hosting a forum about the bicycle delivery issue tomorrow.

Do you deliver? We're hosting a training tomorrow with @NYC_DOT for commercial cyclists.

With the training, you receive free bike lights!

RSVP: https://t.co/Yx7Iw6O7H7 pic.twitter.com/KjwctUOPTw

— Ben Kallos (@BenKallos) January 17, 2018

UPDATE 1/19 - Mayor de Blasio spoke about banning Electric Bicycles and food delivery safety during January 17 Town Hall with Roosevelt Island and Upper East Side NYC Council Member Ben Kallos.

Roosevelt Island Resident Yawa A Gem Of Bike New York - Here's Why

Bike New York profiles Roosevelt Island resident Yawa Kurkiewicz. According to Bike New York:

Yawa Kurkiewicz lives on Roosevelt Island, which she considers to be “a gem” of New York City. As a committed student, fierce National Bike Challenge competitor, and volunteer, we consider Yawa to be “a gem” of Bike New York. Yawa’s also an avid knitter, and, yes, she did knit that beautiful cowl she’s wearing in the video.

Meet Yawa as she describes learning to ride a bicycle and volunteering with Bike New York.



In 2014, reported on Yawa 

 Bike NY Learn To Ride Team Winner Yawa Image From Caitlin Goodspeed

learning to ride a bike and racking up the most miles in Bike NY's Learn To Ride Challenge.

Bike New York is hosting a Bicycling Basics class Tuesday February 16 at Roosevelt Island's Sportspark gym:

A 3-hour on-bike class for adults and mature teens who have recently learned how to ride a bike or who want to improve their core cycling skills. You’ll learn how to adjust your helmet for a safe, comfortable fit, choose an appropriately sized bike, adjust the seat, perform a simple mechanical inspection to ensure the bike is road-ready, start & stop with confidence, shift gears, scan & signal, and navigate around common road hazards.

Click here for more info on Bike NY free education classes.

Bicycle Rider Breaks Leg In Car Collision On Roosevelt Island Bridge Helix Ramp Monday Evening - RIRA Recommends Closing Helix Ramp To Bike Riders

A bicycle rider was injured in a collision with a car on the Motorgate Helix Ramp to the Roosevelt Island Bridge last Monday July 13.



A resident reported Monday:

I think someone got run over on the ramp to RI bridge.possibly a biker. I can just see lots of police/nyfd

A spokesperson for the NYPD 114 precinct said on Tuesday:

... in regards to the collision yesterday on Roosevelt Island. It occurred on Monday, July 13, 2015 around 6 PM ... According to the accident report, the vehicle was heading up the Roosevelt Island ramp in his lane and the bicyclist was heading down the ramp in the same lane as the automobile. The bicyclist was traveling in the wrong lane. They collided coming around the bend. The bicyclist did hurt what appears to be his leg from the collision and was removed to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

There are conflicting versions of the July 13 bike accident on the Roosevelt Island Bridge Motorgate Helix Ramp. Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Department (PSD) Chief Jack McManus told me that the Bike Rider and Car were going up the ramp in the same direction when the car hit the bike rider from behind resulting in the accident and a broken leg for the cyclist.

Asked to explain the discrepancy in accident reports, both NYPD and RIOC PSD said they were relaying the information told to them by the car driver and bike rider.

The issue of bicycle safety on the helix ramp was discussed during the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) July 14 Public Safety Committee (PSC) meeting.

Image Of Bike Rider Coming Down Helix Ramp Yesterday (not the injured rider)

The PSC unanimously voted to recommend closing the Motorgate Helix Ramp to bicycle riders. If the Motorgate Helix Ramp is closed to bicycle riders, they would have to take the Motorgate elevators or staircase instead to exit and enter Roosevelt Island.

The decision to close the ramp to bicyclists is up to RIOC.

Last October, a Roosevelt Island resident was killed riding her bike near the bottom of the Helix ramp in a collision with the Red Bus.

You're Invited To Bike New York Roosevelt Island Building x Building Info Initiative Tuesday And Wednesday This Week - Learn About Bike NY's Free Roosevelt Island Programs And Take Bicycle Transportation Survey

Bike New York's Roosevelt Island Community Outreach Manager Caitlin Goodspeed reports:

Image Of Bike NY Roosevelt Island Sportspark Class From Caitlin Goodspeed

We have two presentations happening this week that are open to the public

Join Bike New York for a short presentation about our FREE bicycle education classes, programs, and events on Roosevelt Island. You'll learn more about our organization, how you can get involved, and what you can look forward to this summer. We'll also share some important bike safety tips! We'll have light refreshments and free giveaways, too!

Roosevelt Island Senior Center (546 Main)
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
7:30pm

4 River Road Community Room
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
7:30pm

These presentations are part of the BuildingxBuilding Initiative, a Bike New York effort to get more Roosevelt Island residents involved with our free bicycle education classes and programming as participants, volunteers, and paid instructors.

Bike NY previously reported:

Here are our upcoming classes on Roosevelt Island:

Wednesday, March 25: Bike Commuting 101, 6:30pm - 8pm (Sportspark Lounge)
Tuesday, March 31: Learn to Ride - Adults, 10am-12pm, 1pm-3pm (Sportspark Gym)
Sunday, April 12: Learn to Ride - Kids, 1pm - 3pm (Sportspark Outside BB Court)
Wednesday, April 22: Street Skills Class, 6:30pm - 8pm (Sportspark Lounge)
Saturday, May 9: Street Skills Ride, 10am - 1pm (Meet at Sportspark)
Sunday, May 17: Kids' Bicycling Basics, 10am - 1pm (Capobianco Field)
Saturday, May 30: Learn to Ride - Kids, 11am - 1pm (Capobianco Field)
Sunday, June 14: Learn to Ride - Kids, 10am - 12pm (Sportspark Outside BB Court)
Sunday, June 21: Kids' Bicycling Basics, 10am - 1pm (Capobianco Field)

We want to hear from you about transportation on Roosevelt Island! What changes do you want to see? Do you feel comfortable riding a bicycle on the island? Where would you like to see more bike racks? Please let us know what you think by taking our survey. It will take no more than 10 minutes and we would really appreciate it. To access the survey, please click here.

More information available at the Bike NY Roosevelt Island Blog or contact Community Manager Caitlin Goodspeed.

Roosevelt Island Bike New York Commuting Class Wednesday March 25 - Also, Roosevelt Island Bike NY Spring Kickoff Party, Upcoming Classes & Transportation Survey

 Image From Bike NY

Bike New York's Roosevelt Island Community Outreach Manager Caitlin Goodspeed reports:

Learn how to commute via bike! Bike New York will host a Bike Commuting 101 class at Sportspark Lounge on Wednesday, March 25th from 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm.

In this 1.5-hour presentation & discussion, we’ll go over picking the right bike, what to wear so you don’t arrive at work a sweaty mess, what kind of gear you’ll need to haul a change of clothes or ride at night, how and where to lock your bike, and much more.

For more information and to register, please email our Community Outreach Manager, Caitlin Goodspeed, at cgoodspeed@bike.nyc or call 212-870-2075.

Also at the end of this month we are launching our BuildingxBuilding Initiative, a series of presentations designed to introduce people to Bike New York and all of the wonderful opportunities that we have here on the island. Attendees will also learn important bike safety tips. Light refreshments will be served and along with some fun prizes! Residents should look for flyers in their residence buildings for more information.

We're also in the midst of planning our 2nd Annual Spring Kickoff Party which will happen at the Capobianco basketball court on Saturday, May 30, 2015. The pop-up bike shop will be back for the event along with the bike decorating station, free bike raffle, Bike Guard program, and more!

In addition to our normal schedule of classes at Sportspark and Capobianco basketball court, we've got some new classes on the horizon for kids and families. These classes have been designed to meet the needs of the Roosevelt Island community, a place where growing families are planting their roots.

Learn how to ride a bike before summer arrives! We have FREE bicycle education classes at Sportspark and Capobianco Field throughout the year. From learning how to ride a bike to becoming a confident city cyclist, we offer classes for people of all ages and skill levels. Please visit our website to register for classes and get more information.

Here are our upcoming classes on Roosevelt Island:

Wednesday, March 25: Bike Commuting 101, 6:30pm - 8pm (Sportspark Lounge)
Tuesday, March 31: Learn to Ride - Adults, 10am-12pm, 1pm-3pm (Sportspark Gym)
Sunday, April 12: Learn to Ride - Kids, 1pm - 3pm (Sportspark Outside BB Court)
Wednesday, April 22: Street Skills Class, 6:30pm - 8pm (Sportspark Lounge)
Saturday, May 9: Street Skills Ride, 10am - 1pm (Meet at Sportspark)
Sunday, May 17: Kids' Bicycling Basics, 10am - 1pm (Capobianco Field)
Saturday, May 30: Learn to Ride - Kids, 11am - 1pm (Capobianco Field)
Sunday, June 14: Learn to Ride - Kids, 10am - 12pm (Sportspark Outside BB Court)
Sunday, June 21: Kids' Bicycling Basics, 10am - 1pm (Capobianco Field)

We want to hear from you about transportation on Roosevelt Island! What changes do you want to see? Do you feel comfortable riding a bicycle on the island? Where would you like to see more bike racks? Please let us know what you think by taking our survey. It will take no more than 10 minutes and we would really appreciate it. To access the survey, please click here.

More information available at the Bike NY Roosevelt Island Blog or contact Community Manager Caitlin Goodspeed.

Report From RIOC President Charlene Indelicato - Roosevelt Island Halloween Parade, Bicycle Education & Safety, Sportspark Classes & Advisories

 Image From RIOC

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Charlene Indelicato sends the following report to the community.

Halloween Parade Extravaganza

Roosevelt Island’s annual Halloween Parade Extravaganza will take place Saturday, October 25 on Main Street beginning at 12 p.m. at Blackwell Park (500 Main Street). This event is sponsored by Urban American, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation and the Roosevelt Island Youth Center with contributions from Island House, Westview, Rivercross, Cornell Tech, the Roosevelt Island Seniors Association, The Octagon, and the Roosevelt Island Explorers. The parade begins at Blackwell Park and travels down Main Street, culminating in a community celebration at Capobianco Field. In the event of inclement weather, the festivities will be moved to P.S./I.S. 217. Every year, hundreds of Roosevelt Island families come out to watch and take part in this island tradition, showcasing their creative costumes, playing games and enjoying the holiday in a safe and fun way. Come visit the RIOC & Public Safety tent for take-home art projects, a chance to win prizes, and for Halloween safety gear and tips! On behalf of everyone here at the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, I wish you a safe and happy Halloween.

Bicycling on Roosevelt Island

Last Tuesday, October 14th, members of RIOC’s staff conducted a walkthrough of the Island’s roadways with several representatives from Bike New York. In the near future, the cycling nonprofit will provide us with a list of suggestions for possible upgrades or changes to the Island’s streets. As we move forward, RIOC will continue to assess our current transportation infrastructure and will evaluate the need for specific changes to the Island’s striping, signage and roadways. Our number one priority is the safety of everyone on our streets, whether they be cyclists, pedestrians, or motorists.

Over the past year, Bike New York has been working with RIOC to run a specialized bike safety and education program specifically tailored to the needs of Roosevelt Island residents. This program, which focuses on providing free educational classes and amenities to cyclists in the community, is sponsored entirely by the Saks Kavanaugh Foundation. The Foundation founders, Betty Saks and Bart Kavanaugh, are New Yorkers and avid cyclists. Their Foundation's mission focuses on promoting health and wellness, with a special focus on "movement" and the important role it can play in the lives of children. RIOC has been working closely with Bike New York and the Saks Kavanaugh Foundation to bring bike education, bike safety and bike programs year round to Roosevelt Island.

As an expansion of their current educational efforts, Bike New York has been working with our Transportation department to develop specialized road safety classes, which will focus on sharing the road with motorists as well as basic safety practices. The classes will be provided for our bus drivers and other vehicle operators. In addition, Bike New York will be designing classes specifically for Roosevelt Island residents that address the unique transportation situations and conditions that may arise on our roads and promenades.

In addition to adding classes, Bike New York is expanding its ongoing awareness campaign to include further educational efforts. Look for Bike New York representatives in your building and door-drops of educational materials, along with increased outreach efforts in our local schools. As we move forward, we also plan to involve Cornell Tech in an effort to create a “master plan” for the implementation of bike paths on the Island. We will continue to work together with agencies such as Bike New York and Cornell Tech to make sure residents and members of our staff are educated about bike safety and to ensure the safety of our transportation network.

We encourage you to contact the Bike New York Community Outreach Director, Caitlin Goodspeed, at cgoodspeed@bikenewyork.org to learn more about classes and bike amenities offered by Bike New NY that are specifically geared to Roosevelt Island residents.

Sportspark Classes

If you’re looking for a cost-effective way to stay active, low-cost and free fitness classes are available at the Sportspark Pool and gymnasium (250 Main Street). Swim classes available at the pool include a popular “Mommy & Me” water safety class, which teaches children aged six months to three years old basic swimming skills and introduces them to moving around in the water. Twice-weekly “Master Swim” classes focus on more advanced swimming skills, including a variety of strokes and techniques. The pool is also open for “Open Swim” twice a day, seven days a week. Zumba and Yoga classes, as well as ping pong play, are available throughout the week in the gymnasium. For more information on these classes or to see a calendar or what Sportspark offers, visit our website at rioc.recdesk.com or email Eddie Perez, Sportspark Supervisor, at Eddie.Perez@rioc.ny.gov.

RIOC Advisories

Keeping all Island residents informed and prepared for the unexpected is a high priority for us at RIOC. In order to help keep the public up to date on events or situations that may impact daily life, we provide the RIOC Advisories service, a local community and emergency alert system. If you would like to receive these alerts, visit our website at rioc.ny.gov and subscribe today. Remember, if we can’t reach you, we can’t alert you.

In the upcoming weeks, RIOC will complete an upgrade of our advisory system, which will allow subscribers to select which categories of alerts they would like to receive. New options for contact methods, such as phone calls and text messages, will also be added. These improvements are scheduled to be implemented during the month of November, so keep an eye out for announcements and instructions once the new system goes live.

Upcoming Roosevelt Island Bike NY Classes And Events - Sunday Bike Maintenance 101 Class, November 6 Street Skills & November 16 Historic Ride

Image Of Bike NY's Roosevelt Island Saturday Tune Up Shop At Farmers Market

Bike New York's Roosevelt Island Community Outreach Manager Caitlin Goodspeed reports on upcoming bicycle classes and events:

We have a couple (free) classes coming up at Sportspark

The first class is for Roosevelt Island residents only. It's a Bike Maintenance 101 class designed to teach participants how to do basic tune-ups and repairs on their own bikes. It's happening this Sunday from 1pm - 3pm. Here is the registration link.

Image From Bike NY

The second class is happening November 6 at 6:30pm. It's a Street Skills class where we teach people what their rights and responsibilities are as a New York City cyclist. We want people to feel confident and comfortable on the city streets! You can click here to register for this class.

In Other News:

This Saturday will be the last day of the Bike New York Pop-Up Shop! We will be handing out free bike lights to anyone who stops by on their bike.

There will be a Roosevelt Island Historic Bike Ride on Sunday, November 16 at 1:30pm led by Janet Falk, island resident and member of the Roosevelt Island Historic Society. More details to come! If you are interested, please email me at cgoodspeed@bikenewyork.org.

Crazy Male Jogger Reportedly Assaulting Bike Riders On Roosevelt Island Bridge Walkway - Take A Bike Ride From Upper East Side To Roosevelt Island's Lighthouse Park And Upcoming Bike New York Roosevelt Island Events

Take a cool bicycle ride from the Upper East Side to Roosevelt Island via the FDR Promenade to the Queensboro Bridge, thru Long Island City, over the Roosevelt Island Bridge and then to Lighthouse Park.



But watch out for this.

According to a NYC District 5 See Click Fix report:

There's a crazy male jogger not staying on the right side, but purposely running on the left side of the RI Bridge (when ever he see's a biker), grabbing bikers and assaulting them if they don't stay off the walkway with their bikes. Whether their riding or walking with their bikes. This person looks (white, '5''10, 200 lbs.), and he does this around 8 or 9 in the morning. I have to get me a "gopro" camera to catch this person in action.

Image Of Roosevelt Island Pedestrian Walkway and Grated Bike Lane

This report is unconfirmed. The Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department is not aware of any such incidents.

Also, Bike New York's Roosevelt Island Community Outreach Manager Caitlin Goodspeed spoke during the October 1 Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Public Session about upcoming Bike NY Roosevelt Island events including:

... a ride to the beautiful Astoria Park this Saturday at 11:30am! We'll have a picnic in the park (dessert provided by Bike New York) before making the 2.3 mile ride back to Roosevelt Island. It's our last Saturday ride in the Summer Ride Series so you won't want to miss out! Email me at cgoodspeed@bikenewyork.org to register for this free ride...

and:

... We're still looking for volunteers to help us count commuters on Roosevelt Island this Monday (Oct. 6) from 6am - 10am! If you're free that morning and would like to help, please send me a message or email me asap at cgoodspeed@bikenewyork.org. All volunteers will receive a free t-shirt, breakfast, and a big hug!

Here's what Ms. Goodspeed said



during the October 1 RIRA Public Session.

You"re Invited To Roosevelt Island Bike NY Family Fun Spring Kickoff Party Saturday May 17 At Capobianco Field - Slow Bike Race, Learn To Ride, Bike Decorating, Bike Registration, Food & More

Bike New York invites all Roosevelt Islanders to a free family fun Spring Kickoff Party tomorrow at Capobianco Field. According to Bike New York:

This Saturday, May 17th, we’re throwing a party to celebrate the launch of our bike education season on Roosevelt Island! There’s be games, raffles, activities, food, classes, and all kinds of fun stuff for the whole family.

Image From Bike New York

Bike New York Roosevelt Island Community Outreach Manager Caitlin Goodspeed adds:

The schedule of events for tomorrow is as follows:

11:20 – Welcome

11: 45 – Slowest Bike Race

12:15 – Performance by the Roosevelt Island Youth Program Drum Corps

12:30 – Bike Decorating Contest

1:00 – Learn to Ride – Kids Class

3:15 – Tour de Roosevelt Island (a scenic 2.9 mile bike ride around RI)

There will also be tents set up around the basketball court with other activities such as a bike raffle, face painting, bike decorating, BikeGuard registration, pop-up bike repair shop, and a bicycle obstacle course - all of which are free! Everyone, bring your bikes.

Also, food from Fauzia's Heavenly Delights and ice cream from Main Street Sweets (MSS is giving part of their profit to Bike New York). Roosevelt Island Youth Program is going to bring their cotton candy and popcorn machine, too!

More on the Smart Sign free Bike Guard registration:

Getting excited for the @bikenewyork Spring Kickoff Party on Roosevelt Island this Saturday. We're registering residents' bikes for FREE!
— BikeGuard (@BikeGuard) May 15, 2014

and:

MyAssetTag.com will provide a free bicycle registration service for residents of Roosevelt Island. The BikeGuard registry system found success on college campuses, but this is the system's pilot run supplying tags for an entire urban community free of charge. Representatives from MyAssetTag.com will place a small QR sticker on residents’ bicycles. Residents enter bike return contact information privately into the highly secure system in case of bike theft or loss. When the island’s Public Safety Department finds a bicycle, a quick sticker scan can help reunite bike and owner with ease.

Bike New York's plans for Roosevelt Island as well as Smart Sign bike registration program were discussed during April 7 Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Operations Advisory Committee meeting. Here's what happened.

Part 1



Part 2



Happy Biking.

Report From RIOC President Charlene Indelicato - Roosevelt Island Fall For Arts, Blackwell Park Playground Grand Opening, Bike New York Workshops, Four Freedoms Park Closed For General Assembly Meeting, PSD Partners With RI Youth Program Soccer & More

Image From RIOC

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Charlene Indelicato sends the following report to the community.

School has started and Fall is moving forward at full tilt. Our Fall slate of activities is coming up quickly! Be sure to keep your eye on our website and Facebook page to keep as up-to-date as possible.

Fall for Arts

The date is set for our annual Fall for the Arts Festival. In partnership with Gallery RIVAA, RIOC will be hosting the Festival on October 5th at Southpoint Park and on the lawn south of Rivercross. There will be music, art, food and fun for all!

I understand that the painting of large outdoor murals is the Festival’s most loved tradition. I look forward to viewing them both in the Park and later at the Motorgate Gallery.

The theme for this year's event is "A Mystical Island." It is free to participate - paint and brushes are provided!

We invite you to submit a sketch of your design or any inquiries to Anna.Rankin@rioc.ny.gov along with a title and short description. The deadline for sketches is September 21, 2013.

UN General Assembly

The United Nations General Assembly will hold its 68th session from September 16 to October 5, 2013. Accordingly, there will be heightened security across the river on the East Side surrounding the UN Building and on the Island as well. Four Freedoms Park will be closed to the public for the duration of the General Assembly. Also, expect to see heightened security around transit stations during this time.

Bike New York Comes To Sportspark Roosevelt Island

Bike New York, the bicycle-focused not-for-profit organization highlighted in my last column, will hold pilots on September 22nd and 28th at the outdoor basketball court on the east side of Sportspark. Classes and workshops will be offered for kids and adults ranging from Bicycling Basics to Learn to Ride. The full Bike New York event calendar can be found at http://www.bikenewyork.org/learn/classes-workshops/overview/

Blackwell Park Tot Lot

We are happy to announce that the new tot lot located at Blackwell Park will open Thursday, September 19, 2013 with a ribbon cutting to take place at 3:30 pm. The tot lot will replace the current lot, which will be removed to begin the construction of Riverwalk Building 7 by Hudson/Related. This 200,000 square foot residential building, featuring 260 rental apartments, will take approximately 2 years to complete, according to the developer.

PSD Partners with the Roosevelt Island Youth Program

Last weekend marked the beginning of a new partnership between the Roosevelt Island Youth Program and RIOC PSD. This fall a PSD officer will serve as an assistant soccer coach with the Youth Program. I would like to thank all involved, especially Interim PSD Director McManus and Officer Martinez for all their help in organizing this event.

Motorgate Parking Structure Project Update

On September 19, work will begin in Section 4B North. The renovations have been moving steadily along throughout the garage and we would like to thank our residents and visitors for their cooperation as we modernize the facility. When the project moves to Section 4B North, new signage will be posted to help navigate the garage. The entire project is expected to be completed in Winter 2014.

New Advertising Policy

RIOC’s newly introduced policy for advertising and posting on the Tram, Red Bus, and Main Street Kiosks is available on our website at http://rioc.ny.gov/pdf/AdvertisingPolicy.pdf

Ms Indelicato gave the following report to the September 12 RIOC Board of Directors meeting thanking RIOC staff for their hard work preparing for the meeting. The thanks were echoed by RIOC Director David Kraut.



Mr. Kraut added that, with certain exceptions due to Hurricane Sandy, Roosevelt Island is in better shape now that at any time in his 35 years of living here.

Report From RIOC President Leslie Torres - Roosevelt Island FDR Hope Memorial Funding, DEP Water Tunnel Meeting, Main Street Construction, Motorgate LED Staircase Lighting, Hazardous Materials Investigation, Asian Long Haired Beetle Tree Investigation & More

FDR Hope Fundraiser from Michael Bergmann on Vimeo.

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Lesie Torres sends the following report to Roosevelt Island residents.

Greetings Roosevelt Islanders! I hope you are staying cool in the July heat and that all of the children in our community are having fun and staying safe as they enjoy their summer vacations.

Olympics Opening Ceremony Viewing

RIOC is pleased to announce that we are hosting a public viewing of the Summer Olympics opening ceremony on Friday, July 27 on an inflatable screen on the Riverwalk Commons lawn. We will start showing the pre-ceremony coverage at sunset – about 8:30 pm – with the ceremony beginning at 9:00 pm. You are welcome to bring blankets, lawn chairs and food. Enjoy!

Councilwoman Lappin Helps Roosevelt Island

Councilwoman Jessica Lappin came to Roosevelt Island on July 13 to announce that she has successfully secured over $4 million for Island projects and organizations in the new city budget passed by the New York City Council. The funding includes $2 million for the Roosevelt Island Library to move into a new space at 504 Main Street, $1.85 million for the completion of the FDR Four Freedoms Memorial, which is scheduled to open in October 2012, and $150,000 for the FDR Hope Memorial. We are grateful for all of Councilwoman Lappin’s work supporting Roosevelt Island.

Community Meeting about Water Tunnel

On Tuesday, August 7 from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm at the Manhattan Park Community Center, RIOC and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will host a community meeting about the work being done at the third water tunnel shaft site located to the south of the Octagon. DEP representatives will update the community about the project and its future. For more information, call 212-832-4540.

Main Street Reconstruction

We have begun Phase II of our Main Street Reconstruction Project. During Phase I, completed in 2009, we replaced Z-Bricks with asphalt pavement on the roadway from 40 River Road to the Fire House Station. Phase II will continue the same work from 40 River Road to the bottom of the Helix ramp. The asphalt surface is better at handling heavy vehicle traffic and the elements, and it won’t require the frequent and costly repairs involved in maintaining the Z-Bricks.

Motorgate Lighting

Work is also underway to procure and install new LED lighting fixtures on each floor and the stairwells at Motorgate, replacing the current incandescent fixtures. When the project is completed, the garage will be better illuminated, making it safer for users. The LED lights are also environmentally friendly and more cost efficient than the outdated incandescent lights.

West Road Closed Last Sunday

On July 22 a resident called 911 after discovering three dead squirrels in and around a tree near West Drive. FDNY sent a local fire truck, followed by responders from the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), as per standard City procedure. The agencies temporarily closed West Drive while they conducted tests for toxins. All tests came back negative. The responding city agencies, consequently, deemed the area safe and reopened the roadway.

Outdoor Movie Series Continues

The new date for RIOC’s free outdoor screening of Tangled, which was cancelled last week due to rain, is Sunday, July 29. The Summer Outdoor Movie Series continues as scheduled on August 4 with the Disney animated classic The Lion King. Each movie starts at 8:45 pm at Southpoint Park, but people are encouraged to arrive early for food, music and movie trivia.

Bicycle and Car Safety Day

RIOC’s Public Safety Department distributed 384 bicycle helmets to community members during our Annual Bicycle and Car Safety Day on July 19 at the Good Shepherd Plaza. Participants also learned safety tips for automobiles and car seats during the event, which was co-sponsored by PSD and Safe Kids NYC.

Tree Inspection

The United States Department of Agriculture and The Davey Tree Expert Company recently completed its inspection of trees on Roosevelt Island for the presence of Asian Longhorned Beetles, which can potentially infest various tree species we have here. The inspection was part of the overall eradication effort in New York City.

More information on FDR Hope Memorial is available here and previous post.

Scenes From Roosevelt Island Bicycle Safety Day - 360 Free Bike Helmets Distributed By Public Safety Dep't, Safe Kids NYC & DOT

RI Public Safety Director Guerra & Helmet Recipients At Bike Safety Day

Last Tuesday was Roosevelt Island Bicycle Safety Day. Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department Director Keith Guerra sends the following report and images:

On Tuesday, July 20th, the Public Safety Department Co-Sponsored its 2nd Annual Bicycle Helmet Day with SafeKids NYC. Volunteers from DOT assisted with the fitting and distribution of 360 Free Bike Helmets on a beautiful Summer day. PSD Officers were on hand to meet and greet the residents and provided refreshments to all the patient people who waited in line. Cheryl Johnson from DOT was quoted as saying, "This was the 1st time that we actually ran out of helmets." This event is such a hit with the Roosevelt Island Community that the Public Safety Department vows to have one every year. So please, wear your helmets while riding and encourage the kids to wear theirs as well.

Excellent program - please remember to Bike Safely.

Roosevelt Island Bicycle Safety Day Tuesday, July 20 - Free Bike Helmets Available

You Tube Video Of Bike Helmet Safety Tips

Received the following message from the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department:

On Tuesday July 20th from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department is Co-Sponsoring with SafeKids, NYC the Second Annual Bicycle Safety Day at the Good Shepherd Community Center. We will be giving out Bicycle Helmets to anyone wishing to receive one. If under the age of 18, they must be accompanied by a parent to receive a helmet. Last year 244 helmets were given out to the community.

Roosevelt Island Bicycle Safety Day on August 14 - Get A Free Helmet For Your Kid, It May Save A Life

Roosevelt Islandbikesafety - Upload a Document to Scribd

Read this document on Scribd: Roosevelt Islandbikesafety

Roosevelt Island Public Safety Director Keith Guerra sends the following message to all Roosevelt Island young people under the age of 18 and their parents:

In conjunction with Safe Kids NYC, FREE bicycle helmets
will be given out to the kids in the Roosevelt Island community on
August 14th from 3:00-6:00PM in the Good Shepherd Plaza. They will be given tips on bicycle safety and will even have the opportunity to have their bicycles etched and logged at PSD.

And provides some very good reasons for everyone to wear bike helmets regardless of age.

• You may think you're a pretty good biker, but crashes happen all the time to very good riders. In fact:
• Wearing a bike helmet is the single most important thing you can do to protect your brain - and your life - when you ride your bike.
• Children between ages 5 and 14 have the highest rate of injury of all bicycle riders.
• Each year, more than 500,000 children go to hospital emergency rooms or doctors' offices due to bicycle injuries.
• More than half of these collisions happen on neighborhood streets, sidewalks, or playgrounds.

Nationally, only about 15 percent of all kids wear bike helmets. In an AAA survey of school children, here's how often kids wore bike helmets:

Always or most of the time 43%
Occasionally 11%
Seldom or never 44%
No answer 2%

Here is the reason why wearing a bike helmet is so important.

The story of Daniel Kane who survived being hit by a car while riding his bike because he was wearing a helment and his mother's advice on how to prevent similar accidents.

You Tube Video from Safe Kids USA on Bike Helmet Safety