While the assault on the Federal budget persists in Washington, with transportation funds set aside for left-propelled two-wheelers in jeopardy, there have been other political setbacks to take note of. (Oops, a preposition ending a sentence. Forgive us, oh Skrunk & White.)
New York City has made a big push, under Mayor Bloomberg, to advance bike and pedestrian facilities. They’ve produced over 250 miles of bike lanes, made parts of Broadway in Manhattan a pedestrian mall, and eliminate hundreds of parking spaces for cars. Bike usage has doubled, traffic accidents have decreased, and special buses have exclusive lanes protected by camera enforcement.
Recently, however, there has been a decided backlash. The transportation commissioner, Janette Sadik-Khan, who is generally credited with the advancement of facilities for bikes and pedestrians has come under considerable fire, both for her policies and what some perceive as an imperious attitude.
One of the biggest flaps has involved the creation of a bicycle-only lane in tony Park Slope in Brooklyn. The lane took away a lane for traffic and immediately engendered a lot of community opposition. Among other things, residents on Prospect Place said the loss of the lane increased congestion and was unsafe for pedestrians crossing the street with the bike lanes.
And now they’ve sued the city. Their suit claims that data used to justify the suit was flawed, and that the city officials were too cozy with bicycling advocates. Among other things. One of the leading plaintiffs is the wife of the state’s senior Senator, Charles Schumer, one of several influential and well-connected residents along the street opposed to the bike lane.
Of course it isn’t at all clear how successful the suit might be, but it is certainly putting the city on the defensive on a front that it was making nothing but fairly spectacular progress.
