Politics Trump Sanity in Bedford Bike Lane Battle
If you’re looking for a sign of the Hasidic community’s political clout in this town, look no further than the removal of 14 blocks of bike lanes on Bedford Avenue in South Williamsburg yesterday. As reported on both Gothamist and StreetsBlog, DOT was out sandblasting off the white lines that used to protect bikers on…
If you’re looking for a sign of the Hasidic community’s political clout in this town, look no further than the removal of 14 blocks of bike lanes on Bedford Avenue in South Williamsburg yesterday. As reported on both Gothamist and StreetsBlog, DOT was out sandblasting off the white lines that used to protect bikers on this central thoroughfare through North Brooklyn. As you may recall, the matter first reared its head last summer when some members of the local Hasidic community protested the bike lane on the grounds that some of the bicyclists who frequented it were too scantily clad; another argument floated against the bike lane had to do with “the large number of schools, stores and religious institutions.” StreetsBlog notes that the Mayor reportedly cut several deals with the leaders of the Hasidic community to gain their support. Circumstantially it looks like this was one of them.
City To Remove 14 Blocks Of Bike Lanes On Bedford Ave. [Gothamist]
DOT Sandblasts 14 Blocks of Bike Lane [StreetsBlog]
Photo by Elizabeth Press
fsrg- as a bike lane issue, you’re right. As a cultural issue or a means of trying to keep other people out of a neighborhood they perceive as owning, I take exception.
Hunh… I missed the part where a) the bike lane caused bad behaviour, and b) where removing the bike lane saved the city money.
Anyhow. Carry on. I’m sure somebody will explain it.
“Please tell me how Hasidics getting rid of a bike lane in a neighborhood where they make up a huge majority is ANY different from advocating that the residents of Boreum Hill should have more of a say over the BHOD then other citizens, or that Brooklyn Heights Residents should have a voice in the development of the waterfront park, or that the residents in Sunset Park/Greenwood, should have more of a say on the view from the cemetery, etc, etc, etc, etc.
”
Answer: they don’t enlist the “support” of Hollywood celebs.
This is hardly suprising – the Hasidic community was behind making Kent Ave. one-way to preserve their parking after the bike lanes were put in there. A thousand or so people signed petitions to keep Kent Ave as a two way thoroughfare, as the way its been for decades, thus keeping traffic off more residential streets. The city made it one-way. Block voting is powerful.
Now where is the delete button for the billiboomer rant?
>> Weirdos. WEIRDOS. WEIRDY BEARDY WEIRDOS.
Wait, was that in reference to the hassidim or the hipsters?
Please tell me how Hasidics getting rid of a bike lane in a neighborhood where they make up a huge majority is ANY different from advocating that the residents of Boreum Hill should have more of a say over the BHOD then other citizens, or that Brooklyn Heights Residents should have a voice in the development of the waterfront park, or that the residents in Sunset Park/Greenwood, should have more of a say on the view from the cemetery, etc, etc, etc, etc.
billyboomer- Hasidim are not a cult. They are religious fundamentalists. Nor are they “total Pigs”. While I do not like their politics and think their version of my religion is excessive (as I am sure many Christians and Muslims can say about their own), your comment is truly Antisemitic. And ignorant.
Bxgrl – and then I agree with you as well that the city allowed a particular ethnic group to win in the war against hipsters biking through their nabes….
what’s next?!?!
Posted by: gemini10 at December 2, 2009 1:21 PM
Peyos on dogs?
Bxgrl – and then I agree with you as well that the city allowed a particular ethnic group to win in the war against hipsters biking through their nabes….
what’s next?!?!