By Carla Zanoni
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
UPPER MANHATTAN — Candidates vying for the Upper West Side State Senate seat showed strong support for making the city more bicycle-friendly at a transportation debate Tuesday, according to StreetsBlog.
Transportation Alternatives and WE ACT for Environmental Justice sponsored the debate at the 168th Street Armory, where Democrat hopefuls Miosotis Muñoz, Mark Levine, Anna Lewis and Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat were joined by Green Party hopeful Ann Roos.
The majority of the candidates were in favor of additional protected bike lanes, stiffer penalties against unsafe drivers and stronger traffic law enforcement, the website reported.
"Enforcement of the current laws is unacceptably weak. I don't think that motor vehicles should have a monopoly on our streets," Levine said, according to the blog.
Also of concern was the bicycle/pedestrian pathway on the Henry Hudson Bridge, which currently mandates cyclists dismount in order to cross, despite an $8.8 million renovation that was supposed to make the bridge bike accessible.
In addition to bike-related issues, Democrats showed support for revisiting congestion pricing and a commuter tax and initiating a residential parking permit program, according to StreetsBlog.
Espaillat, who enjoys the most name recognition as an Assemblyman in Upper Manhattan, is believed to be the frontrunner for the 31st District State Senate seat, which represents Inwood, Washington Heights, the Upper West Side, West Harlem and Riverdale.
Levine is widely believed to be a close second in the race, which has its primary Sept. 14.
