UPDATE: City To Remove 14 Blocks Of Bike Lanes On Bedford Ave.

Just when it seemed like the hoopla over bike lanes in Williamsburg had come to a close, Gothamist has learned that the Department of Transportation is planning to remove a 14-block section of the Bedford Avenue cycling route.

A spokesman said that the agency will remove the "small portion" of the bike lane between Flushing and Division avenues in South Williamsburg "as part of ongoing bike network adjustments in the area." The agency will install new signage directing bikers two blocks west to the bike lane on Kent Avenue, which earlier this year became an issue of contention particularly in South Williamsburg's Hasidic community.

Some Williamsburg residents protested the Kent Avenue lane over concerns it took away parking spaces, hurt local businesses, and was used by badly-behaving bikers who purportedly fail to yield to stopped school buses. The city then reconfigured Kent Avenue, prompting complaints about truck traffic being diverted onto residential streets.

While the dispute over the cycling route on Kent Avenue turned heated, the bike path on Bedford Avenue has been relatively noncontroversial — though some have called for its removal due to the number of "schools, stores and religious institutions" on the street. The Bedford Avenue lane was also one of the cycling paths where scantily clad cyclists were first spotted.

The Department of Transportation's decision to eliminate a section of bike lane from the borough's longest street is a surprising move, considering the agency's recent efforts to bolster the city's cycling network under the leadership of bike-loving Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan.

UPDATE: The biking advocacy group Transportation Alternatives opposes the removal of the lane and is urging cyclists to continue commuting on Bedford Avenue. "This is a very heavily-used segment of the Brooklyn bike network, providing a critical connection to thousands who bike to the Williamsburg Bridge, and we disagree with the decision to remove it," said spokesman Wiley Norvell in a statement. "Cyclists will still use Bedford Avenue in large numbers, and we call on the Bloomberg Administration to provide the safe route they deserve. We encourage cyclists to continue using this route, and assert their legal right to the road."

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

By Ben Muessig in News on December 1, 2009 12:17 PM

Comments [rss]

Bobby

We Americans have many liberties. Religious freedom is one, the right to travel on public roads is another. They should not conflict, but when a religious belief is inconsistent with the liberties of the general population, that's where religious freedom stops, in America. The Hasidim are the most bigoted faith extant in America, and they look down upon everyone else as lower forms of life. They are not usually violent in their bigotry, and Jews also totally own and control America's "free press", so you will never read anything about them. While some of the most wonderful people I know come from this group, they tolerate intolerance. They have a patriarchal hierarchy that teaches their children that all of creation was made to serve them, the Chosen People, and this included the Goyim, or 'nations', if you will. In their extreme sect, the Chabad Lubavitch, sexual abuse of children and narcotics are commonplace. After all, a beard-wearing man of this community can do no wrong. God tells him so in his Talmud. As long as he follows an infinitude of man-made rules, "God" allows him to do whatever he pleases. He only cannot kill or rob another rule-following Jew; Goyim are fair game. These so-called Hasidim ('pure ones') seem to forget they didn't have many rights in whatever lands from which they immigrated, as the locals there were wise to them and their ways. They have been given great liberties here; among the rights comes the duty to observe the rights of others, like the right of liberty. And, why should bicyclists enjoy a privileged lane through a Jewish neighborhood? Have you ever seen you how they drive their big cars? They'll run you down in a heartbeat, if only to get their curly-headed bubs to shul on time, to learn more hypocritical, bigoted nonsense. If any Christian group indoctrinated their children in this fashion it would come under hate speech laws, but since the shul is taught in a foreign language (Hebrew), you'll never know, will you? One of the best-kept secrets is the contempt and actual hatred that the extremist Jews have for non-Jews, and even for other Jews who've become freethinkers. They just don't get America yet. Generations of pioneers and patriots struggled and died to make America what it is, a land of unexcelled opportunity. These people should get with the program, and stop trying to control a country they're not yet psychologically ready to become a part of.

Sara

it does suck, that these relatively new bike lanes are going away. but while I have been nearly run off the road by several minivans in that section of town (while in the bike lane), i have also witnessed numerous cyclists completely ignoring traffic laws there: going the wrong way down one-way streets (or on the wrong side of the road), riding on the sidewalks, not yielding to pedestrians... i do think it's interesting that the ones who are crying "special treatment!" the loudest are the same people who think they should get special treatment themselves.

it's all about sharing the road, people. the drivers aren't going away; neither are the cyclists. the sooner we all accept that, the sooner driving and riding in the city will both become much less stressful.

ur doing it rong

that Kent ave bike lane sucks, they should've taken out the sidewalk on one side and put it there. Drivers are getting eFFed by that transit nazi lady, these issues should go to local community boards before being shoved down peoples thoats ermm streets. Cyclists don't use them or respect traffic laws anyway, why all this special treatment.

Meredith

agreed.

To some of you other commenters. You fucking racist , stereotyping , bigots are such a laughable bunch of idiots. You know less than NOTHING about these issues.

Brownstone

The article doesn't have to mention the Hasidim. I lived in the Marcy Projects at Nostrand (Lee) and Flushing in 1950 and even then, the shtetl started at Flushing Ave and ended at Division Ave. Things have gotten more intense there, but the boundary is the same. Removing the bike lane will change little, there will still be the vans and school buses double parked in the same places, only now drivers will be even less understanding when cyclists have to move out and take a lane to pass.

Kent Ave is absolutely not a viable daily detour route for Willy B bike traffic. The added distance down Flushing and back up hill on Broadway or South 5th, plus the 2 turns onto and off of Kent Ave add up to a major safety problem, versus continuing to ride up Bedford, even without a marked bike lane. Flushing has heavy traffic. Kent under the BQE has chaotic traffic, and the right turn from the left hand bike lane is another crash risk. No, the suggested alternate route is far more hazardous. Bad design.

occupyeverything

it's funny how the article makes no mention of the hasidic community whatsoever, but almost every comment does. is the fact that the hasidic community is centrally involved in this issue not relevant? does "objective" news reporting dictate that this fact be left out? Just curious.

emilyahn

i live on spencer and park - this sucks... though i don't commute this trajectory every morning, i still ride down bedford to the Parks pool on Metropolitan, Williamsburg/Greenpoint, and the Williamsburg Bridge. bike lane or not, i'll still use bedford... but now i suppose i'll just to be more cautious.

we should organize a ride down bedford to demonstrate our distaste with the removal of the bike lane and that we have the right to bike lanes on major, high traffic thoroughfares.

robindustry

As a 22 year resident on Williamsburg's Southside, I can say with certainty that members of the Hasidic community are generally arrogant and disrespectful, the community is extremely powerful and corrupt, and that the negative stereotypes tend to generally be true.

invisibleman

...that everyone should start locking old bikes to

shitshow

they nee more room for all the busted up min vans and station wagons they drive around in

Dude69

Finally! Something Bloomie did right after we voted him back to office! We don't need ANY bike lanes in Brooklyn, Manhattan nor anywhere else in NYC! Fuck Billburg and the disgusting hipsters, I am sure they "forgot" to vote on Election Day!

S.K.

Bikes reduce the number of public buses and taxis, which pollute. Power plants provide juice for the subways.

Richard

New York has the 100% best public transportation system in the world, bar none. Get off your bikes and use it.

Spirit of 76

Yeah, stop exercising and get some heart disease instead. Heart attacks don't hurt that much. Honest!

Chillinoncentral

Yeeaaayyy!!! I can't wait for all of the new parking spaces that I'm sure this will create for me. =]

mousefacekilla

I don't care where they put the bike lanes...

I'm going to ride me bike wherever the fuck I please.

(except the sidewalk of course)

books

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/02/world/middleeast/02mideast.html?_r=1

silver

I love bike lanes. They are the express lane for my chopper.

BiffAckley

The DOT giveth, and the DOT taketh away.

Screw it, I'm still going to ride on that part of Bedford, bike lane or no. It's the best route to the bridge and I use it three or four times a week.