City Has Spent Over $140K Defending PPW Bike Lane
The Brooklyn Paper has obtained documents that show that the city has spend over $140,000 on legal fees defending the bike path from opponents.
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On the heels of an appeal by two community groups who say the Prospect Park West bike lane is a danger to seniors of pedestrians, the Brooklyn Paper reports that the city has already spent more than $140,000 on legal fees to defend the bike path.
“It’s an outrage,” cycling advocate and lawyer Mitch Sonies told the Paper, adding that he believes that the appeal won’t change the ruling, and is just a ploy to make some noise.
The two groups, Neighbors for Better Bike Lanes and Seniors for Safety, are appealing an August ruling that said the bike lanes would be there to stay. NBBL and SFS claim that a possible error in the date that the path was deemed a permanent street fixture is enough to leverage their appeal.
NBBL and SFS’s lawyer, Jim Walden, told the Paper that his clients are within their right to appeal the ruling.
paula
1:35 pm on Monday, February 20, 2012
Yep, it's America. And everyone is entitled to sue to the extent the law allows.
But, really...shame on these people. Shame on Iris Weinshall and Chuck Schumer for wasting every taxpayer's hard-earned money to remove a bike lane that is overwhelmingly popular and that's used every day. (I bet these people are really hating this warm winter!!!)
Shame on Louise Hainline, Lois Carswell, and Norman Steisel.
Chicken Underwear
7:03 am on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
"Shame on Louise Hainline, Lois Carswell, and Norman Steisel."
Yea, Shame on them for creating this unwarranted lawsuit opposing something that is safer.
Rick Oshea
10:42 am on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Shame on who? Bikers not only demand their bike lane but they demand that no one protest but rather silently acquiesce. How arrogant. I'm guessing you folks are just not happy about that annoying part of the Constitution about the redress of grievances.
Chicken Underwear
10:50 am on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Shame on the formally powerful who made the city spend all this money
and people who walk were also demanding a safer way to cross the street.
It is even safer for drivers.
Judge and Jury
10:56 am on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
What grievances? It would be one thing if they had a case. Then they'd be entitled to sue to their hearts' content. That's the law and they're allowed to use it like any other American, rich or poor.
But even NBBL knew their case lacked merit. They knew that they were time-limited out of suing. But they did it anyway.
http://www.streetsblog.org/2011/10/04/the-nbbl-files-bike-lane-opponents-knew-their-lawsuit-lacked-merit/
Rick, no one thinks there's never a case where someone who's against a street design shouldn't or couldn't sue. That's the American way. But your straw man argument is baseless.
In this case, the plaintiffs have no basis for their lawsuit and have known that for quite some time.
And it's not just "bikers" who want this. Over 80% of the neighborhood has responded in survey after survey that they want it, too.
Don't let your reflexive hatred of cyclists cloud your logic.
Parksloper
10:55 am on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Right, quote from a Pro Bike Lane website. I've lived in this neighborhood for years, right near the bike lane, and have never been surveyed nor have my friends and neighbors. 80% of how many people?
Michelle
10:34 am on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Bike lanes are essential. Needs to be a different solution. And the amount of money is indeed an "outrage"