Life in the Slow Lane: NYC Considers Lowering Speed Limits Citywide

As New York's City Council considers lowering the speed limit in the city's residential neighborhoods to 20 miles per hour, advocates can look to the Claremont neighborhood in the South Bronx where such a move has been well received.

1 minute read

November 5, 2013, 7:00 AM PST

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


Chris Bragg ventures to the "quiet streets" of Claremont to check up on "the pilot location for the city's new Neighborhood Slow Zone program, which promised to reduce speeding—the greatest contributing factor to traffic fatalities citywide—and in the process protect children and the elderly."

"In kicking off the program two years ago, city Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan noted, 'To some people, this neighborhood is nothing more than a shortcut,' and vowed to put an end to that."

"By most accounts," notes Bragg, "she has succeeded spectacularly."

In fact, the program has become so successful that the city's Department of Transportation has had to stop taking applications for entry into the program in order to focus on implementing 15 new zones announced in October. 

A bill that came before the City Council's transportation committee last week would reduce speed limits to 20 mph in residential areas across New York.

Sunday, November 3, 2013 in Crain's New York Business

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight