Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against the PPW Bike Lane
The battle over the Prospect Park West bike lane may finally be over, as a judge dismissed the legal challenge against the lane yesterday. Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Burt Bunyan said the plaintiffs filed their claim too late based on when the city installed the lane. The lane’s supporters did a victory lap in response…
The battle over the Prospect Park West bike lane may finally be over, as a judge dismissed the legal challenge against the lane yesterday. Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Burt Bunyan said the plaintiffs filed their claim too late based on when the city installed the lane. The lane’s supporters did a victory lap in response to the news. Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan had this to say about the decision: “The plaintiffs have been dead wrong in their unsupported claims about the bike path and DOT’s practices…Merely not liking a change is no basis for a frivolous lawsuit to reverse it.” Meanwhile, Councilman Brad Lander said this in a statement: “I am proud of the community-driven process, through which neighborhood residents requested the bike path, suggested modifications, and approved the modified design this spring. Ever since the bike path was first proposed four years ago by Park Slope’s representatives on Community Board 6, this has been an inclusive, transparent, and community-driven process. While I respect those who do not like the bike lane, this is the way our government is supposed to work.” As the Times notes, the judge didn’t address claims that the DOT had presented misleading statistics to the public about the lane. So is this really the last we’ve heard from the project’s opponents? Not necessarily, according to the Observer: Jim Walden, the attorney for the groups suing the city, said in a statement that his clients will review the judge’s analysis and consider an appeal.
City Prevails in Prospect Park West Bike Lane Challenge [Observer]
City Wins Prospect Park West Bike Lane Suit [BK Paper]
Judge Rejects Groups’ Effort to Remove Bike Lane [NY Times]
Something tells me the City was totally remiss in following the correct steps to get this done. The Bloomberg way is just to do it and if the little people protest, let them take us to court. Unfortunately the little people of Park Slope missed a deadline. I’m sure this will go further on appeal. Supreme court is, oddly, the lowest court in the state.
Something tells me the City was totally remiss in following the correct steps to get this done. The Bloomberg way is just to do it and if the little people protest, let them take us to court. Unfortunately the little people of Park Slope missed a deadline. I’m sure this will go further on appeal. Supreme court is, oddly, the lowest court in the state.
The bike lane has been a great addition, I use it all the time.
-as long as you’re happy, it all seems worth it.
fsrq, don’t be so snide, there is nothing embarrassing about it. Bicycle lanes are a hot topic to a lot of people both pro and con. This administration’s practices have sorely lacked transparency. The Mayor and his people attempt to evade public review whenever they think they can get away with it. It’s more than just bike paths or the overninght “de-accessing” of parkland such as the Tobacco Warehouse, it is about citizens fighting back against a tone-deaf and quasi-totalitarian City Hall. I don’t care about the bike paths one way or another. If the locals really hate it, I’m sure the next administration will find a way to do away with them. If not, they will remain.
fsrq, don’t be so snide, there is nothing embarrassing about it. Bicycle lanes are a hot topic to a lot of people both pro and con. This administration’s practices have sorely lacked transparency. The Mayor and his people attempt to evade public review whenever they think they can get away with it. It’s more than just bike paths or the overninght “de-accessing” of parkland such as the Tobacco Warehouse, it is about citizens fighting back against a tone-deaf and quasi-totalitarian City Hall. I don’t care about the bike paths one way or another. If the locals really hate it, I’m sure the next administration will find a way to do away with them. If not, they will remain.
God in an earlier life Jim Walden was a great lawyer and I really looked up to him, I cant believe he is now arguing over the statue of limitations on bike lane cases. Embarrassing