Burg Bikers Protest But Keep it Modest
On Saturday night a group of bicyclists planned a topless ride to protest the DOT’s removal of the Bedford Avenue bike lane but, faced with the frigid elements, they ended up keeping their shirts on. As shown in the Daily News’ video above, some of the riders wore plastic breasts outside their jackets; riding topless…
On Saturday night a group of bicyclists planned a topless ride to protest the DOT’s removal of the Bedford Avenue bike lane but, faced with the frigid elements, they ended up keeping their shirts on. As shown in the Daily News’ video above, some of the riders wore plastic breasts outside their jackets; riding topless was supposed to protest the Orthodox community’s objections to the former lane’s scantily clad riders. The quote of the day, though, came from a cop who told Gothamist, “I want to see some boobs!” The Daily News estimates that around 15 people took part in the ride, while the AP called it “dozens.” Before the event occurred, Transportation Alternatives issued a statement denouncing it: “A bike lane on Bedford Avenue is about transportation and road safety. Rhetoric or acts that pit neighbors against one another are not just irrelevant to this discussion, they are flat-out offensive.”
Topless Bike Protest Called Off [NY Daily News]
“Topless” Bedford Bike Lane Protest Draws Clothed Cyclists [Gothamist]
Bike Lane Protest Rides On [AP via NY Post]
TA Denounces Naked Bike Ride [Voice]
zinka,except for the Flushing connection, which is still under construction, the overall Kent Ave bike lane is one of the safest in the area. Instead of complaining about the Bedford Ave bike lane removal lets campain to speed up the flushing connection.
it is arguable if Bike lanes in general increase safety, even after the bike lane installment a jewsih child was hit and killed by a car. The community really had legitimate concerns.
abak, there is NO connection from Bedford Ave farther south to Kent Ave, except riding on Flushing Ave which is incredibly dangerous. You are wishing death and dismemberment on bicyclists when you tell them to detour to Kent Ave. How can you live with that on your conscience?
Bike lanes DO NOT compromise safety. They INCREASE it. Removing bike lanes on the grounds of safety is like dieting by eating more ice cream.
It isn’t a “pot shot” at the Hasids, bxgrl, to have a problem with their illegal political influence in this matter. It was wrong for the city to cave to them, period. You are having to use all kinds of other issues and distractions to defend them so clearly there’s nothing to defend.
If these 15 bikers really cared about safety, there is a much safer and quieter bike lane just two blocks away on Kent Ave. It is an elaborate one, separated from car traffic, and is much more pleasant to ride. Besides that, according to nycbikelanemaps.com, the Bedford Ave. bike lane detoured onto Division Ave and Berry St before the Williamsburg Br., so it’s not that of a big deal to make a detour a few blocks earlier. If they never noticed it until now, then apparently they are not concerned about safety at all.
One thing is evident, the selfish altitude of these bikers! (they’re not cyclists-i am one- they are defaming the name!) They agree that we have to live in this city mutually. It is a fact that this is a heavily populated area, and this stretch in particular is surrounded by numerous school buildings, why then do they think the locals safety should be compromised to accommodate the bikers? Can’t the bikers be a little more considerable for a mutually safe city?
Boobs in a Hassid hood?
Might as well ride in East NY with chicken and watermelon around their necks.
Hipster racism!
Noki- as bkite pointed out, only one person, a woman, said that and as others noted, other bike lanes do exist in the area. Wouldn’t you think they would have gotten all the bike lanes taken out if it were really just the scantily clad women? I’m sure the Hasidic community doesn’t appreciate them- For them it’s religious, so the fake boobs were simply a slap in the face. My thing about the protest is that it was set for a Saturday, knowing it is the holiest day of the week, and it was over the top. Even the TA agrees with that.
Noki- I do believe that bike lanes provide a measure of safety- but I don’t think they’re placement has been well thought out. My point was really more that while it was easy for them to take pot shots at the Hasids, I’ve been nearly hit several times by cyclists who didn’t obey the traffic laws (including one who plunged onto the sidewalk to avoid having to stop at a red light). If they’re so intent on safety, I think they need to address some of their own issues as well.
And seriously, Bxgrl? You don’t believe that bike lanes do anything to provide increased safety to cyclists? I know of many riders who disagree strongly with you, but I’d have to do some research to back that up.
Huh, Bxgrl? I was referencing the community’s opposition to the supposedly ‘scantily clad’ bikers who would cross through their community in the bike lanes. I’m pretty sure that is what the fake boobs were poking fun at, not any safety issue.
Transportation Alternatives is right on. I do think action is needed though: all a bike lane does is make it more SAFE for bicyclists. Imagine if they had stoplights removed because some under-dressed motorists were stopped at the lights, baring too much? Ludicrous, and so is removing the lane. The DOT’s priority should always be increased safety, not politics. The first person who gets hit on Bedford in that area should sue both the DOT and the community board for millions.