By AMBER ALEXANDER
New York City officials announced on Thursday that free bikes would be provided to New Yorkers on Earth Day on Friday, as they urged residents of the five boroughs to go car free in order to reduce pollution caused by automobiles.
The initiative, called Car Free NYC aims to decrease the city’s carbon footprint by encouraging New Yorkers to use alternative modes of transportation for one day out the year.
“We will be providing free bikes on Earth Day so this is big,” said Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez at a Duffy Square news conference. There will also be deals for riders who plan to take the subway, bus and ferry.
Many locations around the city will be closed to vehicular traffic for the day, including Broadway, from Union Square to 23rd street, and some areas around NYU and Washington Heights.
“Give a break to mother earth,” said Rodriguez, chairman of the Transportation Committee. “All the scientists are saying that 50 years from now, we can be three feet under water. We can prevent it.”
Public Advocate, Letitia James, also mentioned the importance of making changes such as, “taking public transportation, riding bikes walking, taking the ferry or taking the water taxi” to reduce emissions, which can negatively affect children.
By July, there will be a report of Car Free NYC’s impact on the city said Rodriguez.
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