Politics & Government

Anti-Bike Lane Groups Demand DOT Remove PPW Bike Path

In a letter to the DOT, lawyer for two anti-bike lane groups demands that the bike lane be removed.

Thought the battle over the bike lane was over? Well, it may not be just yet.

On Friday, Jim Walden, who represents anti-bike lane groups Neighbors for a Better Bike Lane and Seniors for Safety, sent a letter to the Department of Transportation commissioner, Jenette Sadik-Kahn, that insisted the contentious lane be scrapped.

“My clients hereby demand that the New York City Department of Transportation remove the bike lane installed on Prospect Park West," Walden stated (Read the full letter in the attached PDF).

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Walden says the demand is based on the DOT's own post-installation analysis of the "experimental bike lane," released in January 2011. 

"Although DOT claimed the data show that the bikeway was a ‘resounding success,’ the data actually show that DOT has grossly exaggerated the purported reduction in speeding,” Walden wrote. 

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The demand letter came in response to Judge Bunyan’s Tuesday decision to  the case Seniors for Safety v. New York Department of Transportation. Some residents thought the dismissal marked the end of the debate over a mile-long stretch of green paint and that the bike lane would remain without any squabble. 

But for Walden, that is not the case.

“As you are aware, the Decision establishes that, as of this date, DOT never made a final agency decision whether ‘to remove the bikeway,’” Walden wrote. “Thus, on behalf of NBBL and SFS, I now request a response to this letter providing DOT’s final agency determination whether to remove the bikeway.” 

The response time given is no later than September 2, 2011.

On behalf of the DOT, Elizabeth Thomas, who is a media specialist from the New York City Law Department, wrote in an E-mail Friday night, confirmed that the letter was received. 

The letter outlines the two groups' complaints, which is that the DOT supposedly fudged numbers on their study in order to show that the bike lane has been successful at reducing the speed limit and has made Prospect Park West safer.

Walden claims the DOT did this by presenting a chart outlining the “average 3 years’ worth of data" for crashes and injuries before the bike lane.

But, he said that if you look at the numbers from a “year-over year basis” that  the data actually shows crashes and injuries decreased the years before the bike lane. Walden said that the bike lane has actually increased risks for cars, bikes and pedestrians.

After the dismissal on Tuesday, Marty Markwitz, who is opposed to the bike lane and has referred to it as , did not have a comment about the decision, the debate or what is to come. 

Bike lane advocates want to leave the harsh debate behind them and be friends with their neighbors.

“We encourage the individuals who filed this lawsuit to join with Park Slope Neighbors and the numerous other community organizations who are working to make Brooklyn's streets safer and more accessible to everyone," wrote Aaron Naparstek, a co-founder of Park Slope Neighbors.

And the enthusiasts want the anti-bike lane suits to take a rest. 

"Mr. Walden's clients can graciously accept Judge Bunyan's decision and move on," said Carey. "We look at the bike path as a place to come together, not a line of division in this great neighborhood."

But, according to Walden’s conclusion, an end is not in sight.

“Until this matter is fully resvolved, either through DOT’s agreement to remove the bikeway or a final court decision on the merits, DOT should refrain from taking any further action to modify the bikeway,” Walden wrote.


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