Hasids Say Cyclists Too Sexy for Bike Lanes

Leaders of South Williamsburg's Hasidic community are pressuring the city to paint over the newish bike lanes on Bedford and Wythe Avenues because they're appalled by the immodest attire of female cyclists pedaling through their neighborhood. Simon Weisser, a member of Community Board 1, tells the Post, "I have to admit, it's a major issue, women passing through here in that dress code. It bothers me, and it bothers a lot of people."

The DOT's addition of the bike lanes have been warmly welcomed by cyclists who brave the heavily trafficked corridor between Williamsburg and South Brooklyn. At a contentious community board meeting Monday, local Hasids tried (and failed) to stop a third proposed bike lane on Kent Avenue, a precursor to a Kent Avenue Greenway with a separate path for cyclists and pedestrians stretching from Newtown Creek to Sunset Park.

Weisser made no mention of the cyclists' dreaded sex appeal at the board meeting. According to the Brooklyn Paper, he told board members that he "has the whole community behind him. There is already a bike lane on Wythe Avenue — now they want a bike lane on Kent Avenue? You can’t accommodate every single street with a bike lane.” Milton Puryear, of the Brooklyn Greenway Initiative, argues that "the whole idea for the Greenway is to provide a benefit to the people of the community — not just bike riders — by making a truck route into a more inviting streetscape. If you look at Kent Avenue now, it’s just not a place you want to stroll, or ride a bike."

As if to prove his point, a bike rider was in an accident with a car service sedan on Kent Avenue the morning after the meeting, breaking an elbow and collarbone. No word yet on what the cyclist was wearing. [UPDATE: Cut-offs!]

Photo courtesy Media Eater.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on September 12, 2008 9:58 AM

Comments [rss]

hubcap

religion is poison

sharpshoota

Exactly, let's remember that underneath all the black suits, curly locks and wigs they are a separatist group. They are also bigots. I say too bad. Wah

antonius

Ladies from the Go Topless movement should have their next protest there.

cucarachita

Let them live on reservations if they don't like real life. I'm all for freedom of religion, but that shouldn't mean we all have to follow everyone else's religion and adapt to their religious beliefs or taboos!

Go live on a reservation if you don't like modern life!

abr

is abraham ruunig for councilmember?

Abraham later said another major concern is the safety of children, noting that cyclists "aren't obeying traffic laws. Green lights and red lights are the same

NannyState

What a chaloshes with these Hassidim.

Bozack

Immodest dress doesn't seem to bother the hasidic dudes that troll the bars for wasted chicks just before closing.

Does anybody remember pre-clubland meatpacking district? Tons of Haseeds would pick up tranny hookers at 5am. Now that was immodest dress!

demonyc

things that don't add up (as i watch this story on wcbs tv at 6pm):

they didn't mention issues with attire of pedestrians, did they?

would they be happy to set up a roadblock and choose which cyclists are dressed modestly enough to ride through?

according to the rabbi interviewed on tv, the problem is cyclists threatening pedestrian safety, which is not a fashion issue.

this issue has been through community board meetings already.

if the bike lane was removed, cyclists would still ride through but with less safety among traffic.

demonyc

please change "has" to "have" above!

demonyc

Their bullying ways should surprise no one.

When their leaders are pressed to act for a bigoted separatist conservative religious community they have to do these things. They has a right to complain as we all do. Trouble is, they approach it in a hugely unamerican way.

I watched video of their leaders testifying in City Hall why gays shouldn't have equal rights, while their community filled the balcony shouting ugliness. I had to take five showers afterward.

bagelman

they should do one of those cracked out panda parties in south williamsburg and combine it with a critical mass.

hard times

I actually live in South Williamsburg in the midst of Hasidic culture. I won't insult them as a group of people, but riding a bike through the neighborhood can be a frustrating and dangerous experience because so many of these Hasidim don't respect others when it comes to traffic. The charges that cyclists are the safety issue is beyond laughable.

I will be encouraging my girlfriend to exercise her right to wear only shorts and a sports bra when outside as much as possible.

Future Taliban

"I have to admit, it's a major issue, women passing through here in that dress code. It bothers me, and it bothers a lot of people."

I put up with the 18th century clothing, the ridiculous hats and the spooky curly sideburns, so I guess we're all par for the course.

soopaman

31: "As a Scientologist"

Can you have these people beamed to another planet? Send over a space ship or something.

Spirit of 76

Why can't they be like the Amish and move their little xenophobic community out to the sticks? If you live among others in the city, you normally have to deal with others, not force them to follow your beliefs.

phatbenetar

Does it matter if there is a bike lane there??

They drive real bad, in their beat up mini vans and station wagons!

I think the goal is to run down any outsiders...

interlard

As a Scientologist I'm appalled that these complaints weren't directed to the nearest talking goat. These Hasidim have no respect for others.

Morticia

They've tried to have the West Indian Labor Day Parade rerouted out of "their" Eastern Parkway neighborhood because they found the costumes and dancing offensive. "The road of life is rocky, and you may stumble, too. So while you point your finger, someone else is judging you." - Bob Marley