A new study finds that where you live in New York City still helps determine how safe you are on the streets. The research points to a gap between neighborhoods that has persisted even as the city has worked to bring down traffic deaths and injuries.
For years, the city has pushed to make its streets safer through its Vision Zero plan. In many ways, that effort has been working. But the new report finds that the progress has not reached every neighborhood equally.
The study comes from the Center for an Urban Future. It concludes that the gains in street safety across the city have been uneven, with some communities left behind.
According to the report, lower income communities of color such as East Flatbush, East New York and Canarsie are experiencing high rates of traffic violence. Those neighborhoods carry a heavier share of the crashes and the harm that comes with them.
The report also found those same communities are less likely to have safety features in place, such as street redesigns, bike lanes, daylighting and slow zones. Advocates note that when the city does this kind of work, there is a noticeable difference, and they want that support broadened to more neighborhoods.
In response, the Department of Transportation said it will review the study. The agency added that it looks forward to developing a new city streets plan with a continued focus on the areas suffering the greatest harms.