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
JFB- agree with you and Gem on the infrastructure. (OMG- I think I just agreed with benson too!) 🙂
Posted by: bxgrl at December 2, 2009 1:02 PM
Politics makes strange bedfellows and nude bicycling makes stranger bedfellows. = )
F the Hasidim. Total Pigs. Cult. And the worst drivers in the city with their stupid beat up minivans. Weirdos. WEIRDOS. WEIRDY BEARDY WEIRDOS.
JFB- agree with you and Gem on the infrastructure. (OMG- I think I just agreed with benson too!) 🙂
I agree with wasder- I’m also of the tribe. I think the Hasidim, like any other fundamentalist group should not be kowtowed to. I’m staying out of the bike lane fight but will say I hope thousands of naked bike riders zip through the neighborhood because this is a free country and no one has the right to tell you you cannot go into “their” neighborhood. When they pay for the streets, the sewers, the lights, and everything else, they can tell me its private property. Until then, they can stuff it. And don’t get me started on Christian or Muslim fundamentalists either.
DH – I know! – I must sound like a complete loon.
It just gets me all nuts! – hahahaha!
Joe From Brooklyn:
100% agreed, we have major infrastructure problems staring us all in our faces that need fixing and would put people to work fixing it and improve the way our city functions
QUOTE: “Pussy!! ;)”
I had the same thought, but in fairness I’ve been an urban bicyclist for decades now without benefit of bike lanes, so I really don’t see the purpose, other than as an anti-car political statement. Maybe it’s similar to a lifelong swimmer not understanding how someone could be terrified of the water.
My wife accuses me of wanting bicycling to be challenging and somewhat adventurous, and maybe she’s right.
stone I mean (damn).
Maybe there should also be a special pedestrian tax to offset the cost of painting crosswalk stripes.
Yeah, some bikers are doooshes. But so are YOU, car drivers and pedestrians.
Posted by: MAT at December 2, 2009 12:44 PM
Let he who is w/out lurking cast the first sin…