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]
It is really hard for me to imagine that with all the serious issues facing the city, state, country, continent, world, solar system, and universe, that anybody actually has time to waste on something as frivolous as the PPW bike lane.
I don’t know what the arguments will be in the suit, but I bet they will be pretty strong. These are not babes in the woods.
What I meant by not being in Venezuela is that in that country what the president says goes. if a citizen’s group or a journalist disagrees or makes a fuss, they are punished and could even face going to jail. Venezuela was a democracy that is now devolving into an autocracy, which is not a good thing.
Here in the US we have the right to question government leaders and their deputies. If we believe they have done something wrong, we can take them to court. Believe me, it’s a good thing.
That’s a fantastic idea you have for a greenspace, tybur6,
Oh wait, they have one there already. It’s called PROSPECT PARK, or did you overlook it?
PKSLPEMOM:did they count the speed of bikes on park lanes, sidewalks in the park, sidewalks on the street, what exactly is an “accident” pedestrian or vehicle (car or bike related)
psm, this is ridiculous. What rational person actually thinks that there may be ‘too many bikes’ in these parts? And if so, so what? The bikes will self-police and deal with it, like a congested car artery.
We’re so hung up on statistics, studies etc that common sense flies out the window. Isn’t it obvious that traffic is slowed and calmed by this change?
>but there are plenty of cars still breaking the rules of speed at other times and now have less room to maneuver when they run into a situation.
Insane logic at its finest…the way to deal with ‘unsafe car behavior’ it to give them more lanes and room to do it ?!!!
Seems like Norman Steisel is also part of the group against the bike lane.
I wonder if he is afraid it will limit his access to the hookers he so likes to pick up?
So your point is what? That this group, with this bogus lawsuit, is key to our not becoming *Venezuala*? That’s kind of a stretch, isn’t it?
Minard,
Informed citizens? Do you really think that’s what’s going on here?
These so-called informed citizens have not offered a shred of data for their claim that the DOT inveted the safety stats on the PPW redesign.
Absent the “pro bono” services of a highly politically connected law firm, this lawsuit wouldn’t even be taking place.
I generally support the efforts of informed citizens to sue autocratic SOB’s like Mayor Bloomberg and his apparently extremely arrogant and grating DOT Commissioner when they believe there is wrongdoing and circumvention of due process. I mean without that, we would be Venezuela.
> Anthony Weiner (D-NY) said that the fist thing he would do
> if elected mayor of NYC would be to demolish the %#&$%#
> Bloomberg bike lanes.
That’s unfortunate, because usually I like Weiner.