The group advocates revival of a "walking culture." In addition to its suggestion for MP's, the group's working paper recommends appointment of full-time pedestrian planners and promoters by local governments, re-timing traffic signals to reduce waiting times for walkers and the designation of walking as the priority mode of transport in at least one area of each town.

Leading by example is an important component of efforts to win public support for new transportation priorities and habits. Why should people adopt means of travel the culture perceives as second-rate? Unfortunately, instances of such leadership are few and far between in our region. In 1991, the Straphangers Campaign and Transportation Alternatives asked NYC agency heads and politicians to pledge to use transit and reduce agency car fleets, in view of the fact that most of their constituents confront the daily challenge of the transit system. A surprising number of City Council members (about half) checked "yes," and minority leader Fred Cerullo even gave up his City car. Today, though, cars in the City Hall parking lot overflow onto the sidewalks. Many others reacted defensively, some explaining in detail why buses and subways were inconvenient for their daily routines. More recently, NYC Transportation Commissioner Christopher Lynn has been observed by major media at least twice in recent months exhorting community audiences to abandon cars and use "our great subway system," only to leave the meeting in a chauffered limousine.

Windshield perspective is rife among policy makers. Do most NYC politicians even acknowledge that most city dwellers get around by subway and bus, not in cars? A State Assemblywoman responded to a Dinkins Administration East River bridge toll trial balloon by saying there should always be a "free" way to get between the boroughs and Manhattan. In 1995, a populist City Council member, in whose district about 30% of households have cars, secured 5,000 new parking spaces in the city by having old fire hydrants removed, and called it a "victory for all New Yorkers." On the other hand, a politician who actually gets on the train (or bus, or his or her feet) may have an epiphany. Senator Al D'Amato traveled from midtown Manhattan to a Yankee playoff game last fall, and the next week told the NY construction industry there was no need to move Yankee Stadium: "This nonsense about you have to have a car to get there [Yankee Stadium] is ridiculous...Let's put the money into mass transportation. You will bring millions of people into the city."