Good News: L Train Repairs Are Ahead of Schedule

But expect night-and-weekend shutdowns soon. [View this email in your browser]( De Blasio Mulls Mandatory Helmets for Citi Bike Riders Plus: People keep dropping their AirPods onto the subway tracks. The co-host of NPR's Car Talk thinks cars are ruining the planet and "the fabric of our lives." And...commuter fashion! By [James Ramsay](mailto:james@wnyc.org?subject=We%20the%20Commuters) Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office If you check out a Citi Bike, should you have to wear a helmet? "I mean, it just seems to me you drive down the street and people for whatever reason don’t always obey the bike lanes, don’t always obey lights or the right way of going down the streets, imperiling themselves," CBS 2's Marcia Kramer — who has [voiced her concerns]( about bikers before (they could be terrorists) — told Mayor Bill de Blasio during a press conference yesterday. "Given the fact there have been a lot of bicycle deaths," she said, maybe helmets should be required for anyone on a Citi Bike (New York State law requires cyclists under 14 to wear helmets). "I have thought about that," de Blasio replied. "And that’s something we are talking about inside the administration. There are different viewpoints on what would work and how much impact it would have. But I think it’s a real valid issue so it’s something we are studying right now." The different viewpoints: Some think more barriers to cycling are great, while some think New York City should be making itself more bike-friendly. And the mayor acknowledged the latter. "I'm someone who believes that more and more people riding bikes has been a good thing for the city, in terms of reducing the number of cars on the road [and] taking pressure off other forms of mass transit," the mayor said. "It's better for the environment, it's good for people's health, a lot of people want to do it." Will a lot of people want to do it if you require helmets for Citi Bike riders? No, says Citi Bike, which has seen only two fatalities (out of 85 million rides) since launching in 2013. "There is extensive evidence that what keeps cyclists safe are protected bike lanes, enforcement against dangerous driver behavior, and more people riding bikes — not mandatory helmet laws," a Citi Bike spokesperson said. Indeed, helmet laws have been cited as reasons that bike share programs tanked in Melbourne, Australia, and Seattle. Later in the press conference, another reporter asked if all cyclists should have to obtain licenses — an idea that the mayor also called "valid," even though enforcement of biking laws [has been shown]( to disproportionately hit immigrant and minority cyclists. "First and foremost it's about enforcement on the motor vehicles, where we have the central problem," the mayor said. "[But] we are gonna keep expanding enforcement on bicycles as well, because we have a lot of bike riders who have to remember they have to follow the rules." — [reporting by Christopher Robbins]( Programming Note: With the mayor and the governor both drawing attention to [the crisis of homelessness in the transit system]( We The Commuters is planning a deep look at the issue, from all angles. How do homeless New Yorkers stay safe? What's the psychological impact for commuters? Is homelessness actually causing train delays, [as Gov. Cuomo has said]( Personally, I've been talking to MTA station cleaners about their experiences with the people who temporarily live in their workplace. We also want to hear from you. What are your questions? Do you have personal experiences with homelessness or someone who was homeless that you want to share? Send tips, questions, stories, and images to wethecommuters@wnyc.org, or [on Twitter]( with the hashtag #WeTheCommuters. And be sure to attend [our event in the Greene Space]( on September 24th. We’d love to see you! These Are Definitely 17th Graders, But the Point Stands Jen Chung/Twitter Take off your backpacks. Thank you. Best of the Week From Gothamist and WNYC Trent Reeves/MTA Capital Construction The MTA says its L train tunnel rehabilitation project is progressing ahead of schedule. BUT, to forge ahead with station improvements like new escalators and elevators, the MTA will be [shutting down L train service on nights and weekends]( in the coming months. A driver who used his SUV to intentionally mow down a cyclist in Bushwick last weekend has been charged with murder. According to police, the driver saw the victim trying to break into his car, they got into an argument, and when the victim tried to flee on a bike, the driver [sped after him and ran him over](. Texting while walking isn't the scourge it's made out to be, according to a new report. Between 2014 and 2017, the city's Department of Transportation found just .2 percent of crash reports made [any mention of pedestrians using electronic devices](. If you drop your AirPods on the subway tracks, don't get them yourself. Ask a station employee, and they'll go [go get their 8-foot grabber tool]( to retrieve your headphones safely. What Else We're Reading A new lawsuit alleges that the MTA didn't aqequately support a pregnant bus operator. TWU Local 100, the driver's union, is accusing the MTA of violating state and city laws by not giving the driver safe work to do while pregnant, thereby forcing her to take several months off with no pay. ([AM New York]( Pedestrian deaths or severe injuries on Coney Island Avenue have increased in recent years, even though the DOT named the stretch a safety "priority corridor" in 2015. Despite several minor tweaks by the city, Coney Island Ave has continued to see an uptick in crashes. Streetsblog's Dave Colon boils it down: "Coney Island Avenue is designed for suburban lifestyles in the way it allots street space. In this sense, it’s more like Long Island’s Sunrise Highway than a roadway like Broadway in Manhattan." ([Streetsblog]( Ray Magliozzi, the co-host of Car Talk, says cars are destroying the planet and "ruining the fabric of our lives." Magliozzi, who hosted the NPR show for decades with his late brother Tom, gave a long interview about running a radio show, running an actual garage, why he drives a CR-V, and why he's not nostalgic for the era of gas-guzzling Impalas. ([Jalopnik]( Happy (Almost) New York Fashion Week! [bladin'] David Pickoff/AP Here's a photo of a guy rollerskating to work during the 1980s transit strike. And here's [a link to a photo]( of some stylish women walking to work in suits and Nikes during the same strike, from a new Bill Cunningham book that I don't have permission to copy from. Are you serious about combining style and functionality for your commute? In honor of fashion week (which officially starts tomorrow), post your commuter fit pics to Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #WeTheCommuters, and we may give you a shout-out in next week's newsletter. Weekend Service Changes: Night of September 6th – Early Morning on September 9th This is a partial list of major service disruptions scheduled for the weekend. For a complete list of the MTA's Weekender updates, [check here](. train service between Franklin Av and Flatbush Av in Brooklyn will be replaced by free shuttle buses. Manhattan-bound trains will skip Baychester Av, Gun Hill Rd, Pelham Pkwy and Morris Park in the Bronx. train service between Hunts Point Av, the Bronx and 125 St, Manhattan will be replaced by free shuttle buses. World Trade Center-bound trains will skip 65 St, Northern Blvd, 46 St, Steinway St and 36 St in Queens. Coney Island-bound trains will run via the line from Roosevelt Av, Queens to 5 Av/53 St, Manhattan. Saturday and Sunday, trains will run via the line in both directions between DeKalb Av, Brooklyn and Canal St, Manhattan, and will skip 65 St, Northern Blvd, 46 St, Steinway St and 36 St in Queens. All weekend, Manhattan-bound trains will skip 25 St, Prospect Av, 4 Av-9 St and Union St in Brooklyn. Saturday morning through Sunday evening, train service between Broadway Junction, Brooklyn and Jamaica Center, Queens will be replaced by trains and free shuttle buses. [Check here]( for complete details about the Long Island Rail Road. For NJ Transit, [check here]( for the latest service advisories. Upcoming Meetings and Events Tonight, September 5th Curbing Cars: A Transatlantic Dialogue on New Urban Mobility NYU Guarini Center On Environmental And Land Use Law NYU Law School, 40 Washington Square South — 6:00 p.m. [More info]( Sunday, September 8th Transportation Alternatives' 30th Anniversary New York City Century Family Bike Ride Central Park, Prospect Park — 6:00 a.m. [RSVP for details]( Monday, September 23rd Joint Metro-North & LIRR Committee Meeting — 8:30 a.m. NYC Transit / MTA Bus Committee Meeting — 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 25th MTA Board Meeting — 10:00 a.m. Registration for two-minute public speaking slots opens 15 minutes before the start time for official MTA committee meetings. To speak before an MTA board meeting, you must register 30 minutes early. All meetings are held in the MTA's Board Room at 2 Broadway, on the 20th Floor. James Ramsay's headphones are not falling off his head anytime soon, don't worry MTA. 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