Revenge of the Bedford Bike Lane Activists
Angered over the city’s backroom deal with Hasidic community leaders to remove a 14-block stretch of bicycle lane on Bedford Avenue in South Williamsburg, a group of bike lane proponents took matters into their own hands early Monday morning. Interestingly, a post on StreetsBlog claims that the renegade painters included some members of the Hasidic…
Angered over the city’s backroom deal with Hasidic community leaders to remove a 14-block stretch of bicycle lane on Bedford Avenue in South Williamsburg, a group of bike lane proponents took matters into their own hands early Monday morning. Interestingly, a post on StreetsBlog claims that the renegade painters included some members of the Hasidic community. “Scores of people in the Hasidic community are actually pissed about this bike lane being eradicated at the behest of traditionalists,” said Baruch Herzfeld, a local bike-shop operator and cycling advocate with ties to both the Jewish and secular groups in the area. “These members of the community may not want to ‘come out’ as bike warriors just yet, but they’re promising continuous action until the bike lane returns.”
Hipsters Caught Repainting Bedford Bike Lane [NY Post]
Video: Repainting the Bedford Avenue Bike Lane [NY Daily News]
Guerrilla Stripers Paint Back Bedford Bike Lane [StreetsBlog]
Men Arrested Trying To Repaint Bedford Bike Lane [Gothamist]
“The fact is that thousands of people biked in NYC prior to the first bike lane. The entitlement that the lanes represent is really the issue.”
Yes, and thousands of people worked in factories before there were labor safety laws; and thousands of people traveled on roads before they were paved; and millions of people traveled on highways before there were seat belt laws; and millions of babies were born before the surgeon general said smoking during pregnancy was a bad idea.
It’s amazing how the future is often safer than the past.
Just saw the news piece on this on NBC at 11 PM, as dirty hipster references.
Last time I checked, it was legal to move to whatever neighborhood you so choose and also legal to ride bicycles in PUBLIC CITY STREETS. “Hipster Vigilantes” – keep on riding your bikes, sans lanes or not. It isn’t against the law.
YOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
They just covered this on Channel 4 news at 11
Several quotes from hasidic women saying they don’t like the bike lanes because the people are dressed offensively riding through their neighborhood.
“hipster vigilantes” (as they were called on tv) – if you’re reading this, keep fightin the good fight man!!
If they can’t resolve real estate issues in the Middle East, it’s not surprising that they can’t live in peace with the surrounding communities who need to pass through an important thoroughfare that cuts through their isolationist neighborhood.
Again, these hypocrites idle their private, exhaust-spewing, fuel inefficient school buses, SUV’s and mini vans on oil they buy from the Arabs they despise.
This community, like fanatic Muslims and Christians are part of the problem and is why the world is in the terrible state it’s in.
I say, protest. Make a point of riding that stretch of Bedford real,real slow. It’s perfectly legal for a bicyclist to take up a full lane of traffic. Do it till they beg for the orderly bike lanes to be repainted pretty quick.
as far as backroom deals go, removing 14 blocks of bike lanes is pretty minor.
” I don’t think that bikers in the lanes yield to pedestrians.”
I think the Hassidim jaywalk and block the bike lane
“I do think they run red lights”
I think I go through red lights to get away from the minivan driving erratically, who almost hit me 5 times in the span of the block and will undoubtedly double park in the bike lane 3 blocks up.
“ride without helmets”
I think there’s no rule stating a person on a bicycle must wear a helmet
“generally flout the law when it suits their purposes”
“The fact is that thousands of people biked in NYC prior to the first bike lane. The entitlement that the lanes represent is really the issue.”
I think the entitlement is on the other end. it’s startling how entitled drivers sound when they tout the fact they ‘pay taxes’ and all this other bullshit and shouldn’t have to share the road with people on bikes – when they are essentially pissing and moaning about some PAINT on the street – that is intended to REMIND them not to run people over.
I think that the Hassidim are partially correct. I don’t think that bikers in the lanes yield to pedestrians. I do think they run red lights, ride without helmets, and generally flout the law when it suits their purposes. The outcry has focused on the religous objection to women riding unclothed, but there are some legitimate concerns that the bikers seem to want to pooh-pooh away.
The fact is that thousands of people biked in NYC prior to the first bike lane. The entitlement that the lanes represent is really the issue.
Orthodox Jews and traffic laws are a total oxymoron. I’ve lived in Borough Park and can attest to that.
havelc- I agree on that as well. In fact if there is a naked bike ride I will be applauding it and passing out bottle of water 🙂