Locals Reiterate Support for Prospect Park West Bike Lane

Councilmember Brad Lander and other neighborhood leaders gathered today at the foot of City Hall in order to reaffirm support of the Prospect Park West bike lane in the face of an emboldened opposition.

Yesterday, Neighbors for Better Bike Lanes and Seniors for Safety, two groups of residents opposing the two-way, parking-protected bike lane, in Brooklyn Supreme Court to have the bike lanes removed.

Lander called the suit “baseless,” arguing that there has been no unfair or arbitrary action on part of the government, as the suit claims.

“The grounds for this lawsuit, as far as I can tell, is that these people don’t like the bike lanes,” said Lander. “I don’t think that’s grounds for a lawsuit.”

The lawsuit claims not only that the bike lanes are unsafe, but that the Department of Transportation manipulated bike lane data and conspired with bike lane supporters against the opposition.

But today bike lane supporters dismissed any notion of manipulated data and reiterated the argument that the lanes have been nothing but a success in terms of improving safety on the once speedy thoroughfare.

“The fact is that this is a plan implemented to improve street safety,” said Gary Reilly, Chair of the Environmental Protection Committee of Community Board 6. “It has been an unmitigated success.”

Supporters restated the results of data from not only a that proved the lanes improved street safety by reducing speeding and accidents, among other things, but an conducted by Lander in which Park Slope residents approved of the bike lane by a three-to-one margin.

“My family and I support the bike lane because we definitely think its decreased speeding and increased safety,” said Bridget Monahan, 41, a Prospect Park West resident. “People should know that not everyone on Prospect Park West is against it.”

Other speakers, who included Park Slope Civic Council President Michael Cairl and Park Slope Neighbors Co-Founder Eric McClure emphasized that the bike lane was in fact requested by the community and is supported by many civic organizations.

One speaker noted that he enjoys the bike lane because it is a safer place for cycling than the street. A senior, Gene Aronowitz cycles frequently from his home in Sunset Park to Park Slope shops.

“When I hear the expression, ‘Seniors for Safety,’ I think that pretty much describes me,” he said.