We need dozen’s more like her along with large scale engagement of the public.

Where communications is civilization’s nervous system and seems to be rapidly reinventing itself to meet the demand, transportation is its circulatory system and failing miserably.

We need the electronics engineering-equivalent forward thinking scientists, mechanical, and civil engineers to create suitable transportation that will serve the 8 to 10 billion people predicted to populate this planet by mid-century. Current proposals are not even close.

Additionally CB2 passed a resolution, proposed by member Al Volpe, to oppose the popular Skillman bike lanes, once again AFTER they had been installed. This came about by sneaking the resolution into a meeting after the public portion had passed and without placing the resolution onto the agenda. I know it wasn’t on the agenda b/c I personally called CB2′s office that day to ask if they would be discussing the bike lanes and 3 members of the Queens Committee attended to speak anyways. They brought me a copy of the agenda, and no anti-bike resolution there either. All of this is perfectly legit in the murky world of community boards.

At least in my neck of the woods, the CBs don’t reach out to elements of the community they aren’t familiar with. They don’t take the time to educate themselves on new policies or strategies in the city (whether or not they support them) and in many cases don’t even pay attention at their own meetings. CB2 doesn’t even have a Transportation Committee but Gershon wants to give them more power over transportation issues. How is that responsible?

I am all in favor of an expanded bike path network, but I understand why some people are upset with the agency right now. I re-read the Wiley Norvell statement above and note that “SOME of the more contested lanes that had been put in had all passed through the Community Board process with overwhelming approval.” (Emphasis added.)