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]
“This whole suit is being orchestrated by PS native (and ironically – bike rider) Sen. Charles Schumer”
Prolly because Iris would make his life intolerable otherwise.
“By cobblehiller on March 8, 2011 10:14 AM
“OY”.
I HEARD that, cobble, even over here on PPW.
did anyone hear Anthony WEINER’s comment about bike lanes? pretty funny.
If you are upset about this lawsuit then complain to its Architect – CHUCK SCHUMER.
There is no way Jim Walden (former prosecutor and one of the best litigators in NYC BTW) of Gibson Dunn is taking this case against the Bloomberg Administration without huge political cover (which the NYT hints at) – This whole suit is being orchestrated by PS native (and ironically – bike rider) Sen. Charles Schumer. So if the pro bike-lane people want to end this waste of time and money, they need to bring political pressure to Sen Schumer and expose his (likely inapproriate) involvement.
And for the record I dont like the Bike Lane but I think this lawsuit is totally frivolous.
The “anti-lane lawyers (working pro-bono, by the way) are trying to portray the DOT as a bunch of zealots willing to use any means necessary to shove the bike lane down Park Slope’s throat—even if it means encouraging other people to make comments on the Internet.”
Comments on the Internet?!?! Heaven forfend!!
hahah that’s some pretty hardcore cane wagging going on in that picture. this issue is SO annoying, from both sides really. people must have such charmed lives that these are their biggest worries and concerns, must be nice..
*rob*
The NIMBYs are prolly unhappy because their decorators weren’t allow to select the color of the bike lane. Guessing it clashes with their decor and offends their delicate sensibilities whilst looking out their windows.
LMAO! Look at this picture:
http://gothamist.com/2011/03/07/park_slope_big_shots_sue_dot_over_p.php
“The places where bike lanes are dangerous are on side streets such as mine where there really isn’t room to comply.”
yeah – def. but luckily on those side streets cars shouldn’t be going much faster than a bike can, so a bike can just ride in the middle of the lane safely.
totally not needed on narrow side streets.