Familes Show Support for the PPW Bike Lane

The Prospect Park West bike lane debate is now a family affair – or at least it will be Sunday, when kids and parents head out en masse to ride the controversial bike lane in a show of support.

The family bike ride, “,” is the brainchild of Mitch Sonies, a Sloper who lives just off Prospect Park West and is somewhat new to the bike lane debate.

“I just thought it would be a fun thing,” said Sonies. “The thing that got me focused on the lanes in the first place is that it would be so hard to get around with my daughter without it. I think that the way this lane is configured now is essential for kids.”

His 6-year-old daughter was one of the adorable little ones who spoke in favor of the two-way, parking-protected bike lane at the Community Board 6 hearings . Sonies said that she’s “terrified” of riding in the Slope’s other unprotected bike lanes, and urged that the neighborhood needs even more lanes that kids can ride their bikes in.

For the event, kids, parents and anybody else who supports the lane will meet up at Grand Army Plaza at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, where organizers will hand out some nifty commemorative T-shirts. The group will then ride (and walk) to the end of the lane at Bartel Prichard Square, where free hot dogs from Bark and cupcakes from Blue Sky Bakery will await the lane lovers.

Already 124 have pledged to attend the event via Facebook.

“We were just thrilled when the city put bike lane in,” said Sonies, citing that the park-side boulevard was difficult to cross before the lane. “I couldn’t believe that anybody would be opposed to it. I really don’t quite understand it.”