As a legally blind Staten Islander who doesn’t drive, navigating our streets is not just inconvenient — it can be dangerous. Every intersection is a calculated risk, especially on the North Shore, where neighborhoods like St. George, Stapleton and Port Richmond are dense with traffic and activity.
That’s why the proposed Intro. 1138, the Universal Daylighting Bill, is a proven tactic of traffic science. Daylighting involves maximizing sightlines of intersections by clearing obstructions. Drivers can more easily see pedestrians stepping off the curb. Drivers can more easily see other vehicles entering the intersection. Pedestrians, elderly and parents pushing strollers can more easily see oncoming traffic. It is not just a traffic measure — it’s a matter of life and death.
The North Shore is home to approximately 200,000 residents, including about 6,000 households using strollers, around 20,700 people living with a disability, many of whom rely on walking, mobility devices, or Access – A – Ride. Yet, too often, parked cars block sightlines and force both drivers and pedestrians into dangerous situations, particularly at night…