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]
Nokilissa- safety is ridiculous reasoning? Bike lanes do not necessarily protect cyclist from their own mistakes.
Obviously, wine lover you are neither Jewish, nor knowledgeable about Judaism. They are indeed a variation of ultra-orthodox. And just so you know- having an ultra-orthodox accountant does not qualify you as an expert.
As someone with a family member who has been struck not once but TWICE by a car (once ending up in the hospital with serious injuries and a broken leg), riding through Brooklyn on his way to the bridge, I am absolutely on the side of the protesters here. And I think the fake boobs were a funny and sarcastic way of drawing attention to the Hasidic community’s ridiculous reasoning.
bxgrl – no, hasidics are not just ultra orthodox – ultra orthodox jews live in all sorts of neighborhoods and buildings and work in different kinds of businesses with people who aren’t jewish necessarily. our bookkeeper is ultra orthodox for instance, but there’s no way a hasidic person would work with a bunch of non-jews or non-religious jews.
this group lives in an area where they take over basically all of the housing and think that they are totally separate from the city or america even. they want to make their own laws. the removal of the bike lane is flat out ridiculous. anyone who doesn’t understand this is really missing some part of the story. they used influence to remove a good thing that many people used who consider themselves citizens of this city and country FIRST not second to their personal needs (in this case, following their religion). i am affected by this as my family does bike and the lanes are safer which matters to me as a parent.
considering the massive amounts of press that 15 bikers or whatever got for their actions think that it was an amazingly successful protest.
with that said, rob’s post is hilarious.
“not letting your mouth write checks your ass cant cash.”
So you’re deep, cool. :sarcasm:
Bunch of dorks. Not having a bike lane doesn’t mean you can’t bike down the street.
Is it wrong that I find those plastic boobs hot?
Hey, in a democracy, political clout is the key to getting things done. Ask the teachers’ union, or the Association for Retired People, or the bicyclists themselves who have a lot of clout, just not as much evidently as the orthodox communitity.
Hasidic are ultra orthodox. All the protestors did was get bad feedback, even from TA. Hardly shining a light.