Bronx Assemblywoman Apologizes for Blocking Bike Lane

Assemblywoman Vanessa Gibson is doing damage control after getting busted blocking a bike lane outside her district office in the Bronx on Monday. Of course, by "busted" we don't mean "ticketed by the NYPD"; as usual it was an outraged cyclist who caught the violation, photographing her car in the bike lane and sending it to BoogieDowner. The cyclist also got a shot of Gibson's parking placard on the dashboard, which declared that she was on "Official Police Business." What kind of police business, you ask?

"My car was left in the bike lane for a few moments while I was unloading supplies for my district office," Gibson said in a statement. Wiley Norvell at Transportation Alternatives tells Bronx News Network that Gibson's placard was misused. Police permits aren't intended for elected officials, according to Norell, "and even it they were, "there's no permit in the world that lets you park in a bike lane." But who needs permits when the NYPD simply permits this bike lane abuse?

In her apology, Gibson said, "The bike lane on the Grand Concourse has been a positive addition for a lot of Bronx residents. As you know, there is a serious lack of parking on the Grand Concourse, but I have always respected the bike lane and apologize for blocking it... I realize that caused some inconvenience and will make every effort to avoid blocking the bike land in the future." The bike lane brouhaha comes less than a month after 57-year-old cyclist Megan Charlop was killed after swerving to avoid a car door and falling under a bus.

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By John Del Signore in News on April 8, 2010 11:50 AM

Comments [rss]

Clarence

As far as apologies go, this is actually a pretty good one. What I'd like to see her do is commit to a bike ride down the Grand Concourse during Bike Month. That'd be a true commitment to see things from the other side.

ilovejapgirls

even cops don't double park like that

Liam

I think it was a decent apology. I'm impressed she said anything about it. Morgenthau used to love having his SUV's park in bike lanes while he ate lunch, and obviously never got into "trouble" for it.

Manitoba

Not to be defending him, but Morgenthau was a heck of a lot more important than whoever this story is about. That guy never felt like he needed to apologize for squat - wasn't his approval rating at 90% for a while?

Spirit of 76

"I realize that caused some inconvenience and will make every effort to avoid blocking the bike land in the future."

Sounds like the idiot murderer in the story above. "I'll never do it again."

Manitoba

More like: "I'm sorry I got caught"

By the way, if people think it's not such a big deal for drivers to park in the bike lane since bikes can go around, how about if they just park in the middle of the street? I mean, cars can go around as well. Or, how about parking in the middle of an intersection, or in the middle of the sidewalk? Pedestrians can just walk around the cars - I mean, would you then say pedestrians are too stupid to walk around cars blocking crosswalks and sidewalks?

It's a bike lane for a reason: for bikes to go on it, just like sidewalks are for pedestrians.

jackmurphy

"I have always respected the bike lane." expect the time she got caught not respecting it. maybe gothamist will follow up to see if she is allowed to keep this police permit?

Kaz

Unlike many public apologies, this one takes responsibility for the act. The, "sorry if you were offended by my action," responses are tiresome. She made a mistake and owned up to it like an adult. Refreshing.

jaycjay

"Unlike many public apologies, this one takes responsibility for the act."

Not really. She whines that it was only for a moment, claims that it was only while unloading (clearly there's no unloading being done when the picture was taken -- by NYC definition the car was parked, not standing), she hints at a "it was the first time I've ever, ever done it" defense ("I've always respected the bike lane"), and says not that it won't happen again but that she'll try not to do it again ("make every effort.")

Further, she implies only that she sees now that blocking a bike lane is off limits, so her illegal parking will be done elsewhere. She doesn't address at all possession or use of the illegal placard.

Stephenson Billings

I don 't understand why these bicycle people just don't ride around the cars. Do they stop right there in their tracks and wait for drivers to move off? Are they that incapable of independent thought? This whole thing sounds like a scam to me.

brooklynlaydee

Well, duh. Of course you end up having to ride around the cars, sometimes into oncoming traffic. These aren't parking lanes. Why don't you just park in the middle of a baseball field and everyone can play around you? Oh, that's not what baseball fields are for? Neither are bike lanes.

Boogie Down

Have you ever seen the Grand Concourse? Don't let that picture fool you. It is a very long and busy stretch of roadway. While cyclists could wait to safely pass the parked vehicle, the point is that they shouldn't have to, hence the term "bike lane".