Green transportation hierarchy

“The green transportation hierarchy is the basic concept behind transportation reform groups all over the world, including Transportation Alternatives. The hierarchy puts city-friendly cyclists and pedestrians first. It rewards their low cost, space efficiency, and zero environmental impact. Trucks are not last because they perform vital commercial functions in cities. An important part of the green transportation hierarchy is that trucks get priority over personal automobiles for scarce curbside parking.”

--From the Spring, 2001 newsletter of Transportation Alternatives, NYC’s advocacy group for cycling, walking and environmentally sensible transportation.

Urban transportation policies that put walking, bicycling and public transit above cars can result in:

• Cleaner air—300,000 children and 700,000 adults in New York City have asthma.
• Better and stronger communities—Studies show the less traffic on your street, the more friends you have.
• Less time spent commuting—Congestion slows average NYC traffic speeds to just 8 miles per hour in rush hour.
• A more robust local economy—In NYC, for example, congestion costs an annual $13 billion in lost jobs, productivity losses, travel costs and wasted fuel.