Res 0854-2015

By Council Members Rodriguez, Cabrera, Chin, Eugene, Gentile, Lander, Mendez, Rose, Menchaca and Lancman Whereas, According to data compiled by Transportation Alternatives, Metropolitan Transportation Authority buses have been involved in at least twenty-two fatal crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists since 2012 as well as six crashes resulting in serious injury to pedestrians and cyclists in 2015; and Whereas, MTA bus drivers have raised concerns over blind spots, and have said that these blind spots occasionally prevent them from seeing pedestrians, cyclists or obstacles in their path, with these blind spots presenting particular danger when making turns; and Whereas, There are existing design measures that mitigate blind spots on large vehicles, such as crossover mirrors or bus designs that limit the size of the A-frame that creates the blind spot; and Whereas, Many new car models are equipped with technology that alerts a driver when another vehicle enters their blind spot; and Whereas, Installing this technology on MTA buses, capable of identifying pedestrians, cyclists or obstacles would alert bus drivers to stop before a collision occurs; and Whereas, This technology has the potential to prevent the unintended loss of life by making drivers fully aware of when they are in danger of colliding with a pedestrian or cyclist; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to study ways to eliminate blind spots on all MTA buses and to equip all of these buses with sensor technology to alert drivers, pedestrians and cyclists when a pedestrian or cyclist is in the bus' blind spot. RM LS 4455, 5095/5098 June 18, 2015