The PPW Bike-Lane Lawsuit is a Reality
The lawsuit over the Prospect Park West bike lane that’s been threatened for about a month has now been filed, and it asserts that the city acted “arbitrarily” in installing the lane and that it should be removed. Streetsblog, which has a link so you can download the filing in its entirety (PDF here), says…
The lawsuit over the Prospect Park West bike lane that’s been threatened for about a month has now been filed, and it asserts that the city acted “arbitrarily” in installing the lane and that it should be removed. Streetsblog, which has a link so you can download the filing in its entirety (PDF here), says the following about the meat and potatoes of the suit: “It argues that DOT acted in an ‘arbitrary and capricious’ manner, with conclusions made irrationally or in bad faith. It argues that the bike lane did not properly go through the necessary processes given the landmarked status of the Park Slope neighborhood and Prospect Park. And finally, it argues that an environmental review was necessary to assess the impact of the lane on the historic character of the area.” The Times’ story on the lawsuit, meanwhile, notes the political connections of the group behind the filing, who have “close ties to Iris Weinshall, the city’s transportation commissioner from 2000 to 2007 and the wife of Senator Charles E. Schumer” and that they’ve “produced e-mail correspondence…[seeking] to portray…an effort by the Transportation Department to coordinate criticism of the lane’s opponents.” A DOT spokesman tells the newspaper that the data it has released on how the lane has made Prospect Park West safer is legit. The lawsuit names the DOT and, separately, its commissioner, Janette Sadik-Khan, as respondents.
Lawsuit Seeks to Erase Bike Lane in New York City [NY Times]
Opponents Sue City Over Prospect Park West Bike Lane [Streetsblog]
Lawsuit Filed Over Prospect Park West Bike Lane [PS Patch]
bedstuy11216 — Who CARES!?!
1st of all… it never looked majestic. It hasn’t looked “majestic” for 80 years. It was a 3-lane road lined with parked cars and folks driving 50 mph and honking.
2nd of all… You should stroll on the sidewalk. Ya know, the way folks would experience the “majesty.” The sidewalk on the park side now has a much wider feel because the parked cars are now another 15 or 20 feet away.
I would have no problem if they reduced the road to a Bus and Emergency Vehicle lane on one side and a bike lane on the other. Then filled the rest of grass and pavers. It would be an awesome greenspace. And I bet it would look truly majestic!
“drove down PPW this weekend. I think the bike lane makes the street ugly. I used to think it had a majestic feel (wide blvd fronting the park). Now it just looks like a congested every street.”
really? i think it looks way better:
http://gothamist.com/2011/01/20/prospect_park_west_bike_lane_study.php#photo-1
Would someone please post what Anthony Weiner said???
“Ummmm, cobble, don your reading glasses and check out your 10:14am OT post. ^^^”
I finally figured out where YOU COPIED that from! : P
Glasses on, ginko biloba taken!
drove down PPW this weekend. I think the bike lane makes the street ugly. I used to think it had a majestic feel (wide blvd fronting the park). Now it just looks like a congested every street.
22 POST lead over the Open Thread. I’m looking up at a post I haven’t read yet (haven’t read any of them yet, actually), and it ends in “f&*%ing @#$holes”.
Over/under 200?
Atlantic Yards has nothing to do with PPW. AY is near every major train & the LIRR. If 2,000 extra people a night drive to games, I would be shocked.
Secondly, anyone going to South Brooklyn would take Ocean Parkway home and anyone going to East Brooklyn would take Eastern Parkway.
The only people who would use PPW would be Park Slopers, and then, they’d have to be a bit bonkers to drive a mile to park at Atlantic Yards for a concert or basketball game.
Doesn’t mean that Schumer and his wife (and Anthony Weiner, who was NOT joking) aren’t fucking assholes.
Also… why is the loooooong process including lots and lots of community involvement (in fact it was a Park Slope community board initiative) getting lost in this story? The DOT didn’t just wake up one day an install this bike lane. And THIS is why this is a frivolous lawsuit.
If it doesn’t get thrown out of court quickly, I’ll lose even more faith in rational humanity.
“By cobblehiller on March 8, 2011 10:47 AM
I didn’t even post “OY”.”
“By cobblehiller on March 8, 2011 10:14 AM
“Charlie Sheen’s latest rant online is scary”
Cripes, there’s a new one…OY.”
Ummmm, cobble, don your reading glasses and check out your 10:14am OT post. ^^^