NYC is in the process of a dramatic transformation of its streets to promote alternative modes of transportation to the automobile – walking, biking and mass transit. To the outside observer, this might seem like a natural evolution of streetscapes or merely based on the personal viewpoints of a few influential people. But in reality, this transformation, still in its infancy, is the result of a long and dedicated advocacy campaign by groups like Transportation Alternatives, Time's Up and the dedicated bloggers and vloggers on Streetsblog and Streetfilms that is finally seeing its advocacy work pay-off. Big time.

It has long been the dream of alternative transportation advocates to not only increase the number of on-street bike lanes for cyclists, but to make them safe enough for anyone to use them – children, elderly or just a casual commuting cyclist. Basically to make them safe and comforting to anyone that doesn’t want to deal with automobiles buzzing them. The ideal to many cycling advocates is the separated bike lane because it not only provides a safer ride, but also prevents automobiles from blocking them by double parking in them.

And New York is getting its first taste of on-street separated bike lanes on a small stretch of a Ninth Avenue leading into midtown.

Here is the GreeNYC top ten list to become more environmentally friendly.

1. Switch to ENERGY STAR® qualified Compact Fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).

2. Buy ENERGY STAR® appliances.

3. Don’t air condition an empty room.

4. Unplug chargers and appliances when not in use.

5. Switch to a green energy provider.

6. Walk or take public transportation.

7. Recycle your glass, metal, paper and plastic.

8. Bring your own cloth bag to the grocery store.

9. Use green cleaning products.

10.Switch to paperless bank statements and online bill paying.

Upper Green Side

Upper Green Side has grown over the past year and a half from a handful of local activists that I rallied together to start a few local food greenmarkets in the heart of the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Along the way, I learned quite a bit about how to become a neighborhood activist, work together with the local community board and build relationships with elected officials.

Now I'm proud to announce that less than a year and a half since founding a Upper Green Side, we are now an official 501c3 non-profit organization and can receive tax-deductible donations.

Upper Green Side is a non-profit organization that promotes awareness and action on local environmental issues in the Upper East & Upper West Sides of Manhattan involving sustainable food, clean transportation, energy efficiency, and waste reduction. We are building a healthy community and environment for our own well-being and generations to come.

This is a very exciting time for us as we will be planning our activities and securing different funding sources, but we plan that the bulk of our funds will come from private individuals at first.

While we don't have an easy online donation mechanism set-up yet, we are taking personal checks now at our PO BOX. Please send what can to us at:

Support TOD: Neighborhood, Become a founding contributor to Upper Green Side! We send receipts!!

Update 6/22: It's official, no congestion pricing agreement was reached before the end of the Spring legislative session and none of the state legislation needed to enable & fund much of Bloomberg's sustainability plan was enacted because of disagreements between Albany's power brokers.

Update 6/21: I'm getting numerous reports in the local news that Congestion Pricing is alive for today pending a compromise bill being debated today.

It seems for now that Congestion Pricing is dead (for now) in the NY State Assembly despite the support of: Mayor Bloomberg, Governor Spitzer, NY State Senate Leader Joseph Bruno, NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Comptroller Bill Thompson

Major NYC Newspapers:
NY Times, NY Daily News, NY Post, Newsday, Staten Island Advance

And many community organizations, civic associations, business groups and environmental organizations

Sustainability and transportation advocates are now gearing up for a long hot Summer here in NYC to push for congestion pricing. Sheldon Silver will have to be dragged back for a special session. Line up the School buses, we're going to Albany in late July.