Anti-Bike Lane Protest Small, Full of Hot Air

Yesterday's anti-bike lane protest drew a small but kvetchy crowd to the corner of 1st Ave and 14th St. Organizer Leslie Sicklick was joined by a handful of concerned citizens with a variety of cycling-related complaints, most of which revolved around a common anti-Bloomberg theme. Some were more personal: Michael O'Connor, 63, was there because his dog's tail was run over by a bike rider on the sidewalk. The gaggle of protesters was met by about ten bike lane supporters, who carried "Love Your Lane" signs while debating the anti-laners.

"Bloomberg did these bike lanes not for environment or for people, but to get back at drivers. Someone at the Department of Transportation told me that," Sicklick told us. She argued that businesses were losing "tons and tons" of money due to the lack of parking spaces. "I went into at least 30 business. All you have to do is walk down 2nd Avenue and check out all the businesses that have that my sign. They will tell you!" She was unable to remember the name of any of the establishments however.

Barbara Ulrich, who let us know that she is writing a "book on the holistic treatment of bedbugs," feels that the city "looks ridiculous" with cyclists everywhere. "This is not Amsterdam," she said. She argued that bikes should be taxed to pay for road maintenance: "$65 million is going towards building bike lanes that serve so few people. Bloomberg is wasting our money." She believes the funding should have gone towards better subway accessibility: "What about the old lady with the walker? What is she supposed to do?" Like Gothamist commenter LegalBiker noted, a woman repeatedly mumbled "violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Don't forget," into Ulrich's ear. She refused to give her name because she "works for the MTA and they might find out."

Micah Anderson, a Greenwich Village resident, was among the lane supporters. "To me it seems a reasonable thing to lose a parking spot every once in a while, if it will increase people's safety," he said. Bicycle commuter Brian Van felt that it wasn't an issue of bike lanes at all, but rather a need for enforcement of legal riding practices via community initiative, to "make people aware of what they need to do in operating a bicycle in this city."

The pro-laners appeared calmly amused by Sicklick as she vehemently preached into tape recorders. "It seems like one person that is pissed off and somehow got a lot of attention," said Anderson.

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

By Zoe Schlanger in News on October 16, 2010 4:40 PM

Comments [rss]

Leslie

Oh almost forgot Barbara Ulrich is a good friend of mine talking about bed bugs problem through out NY. I am not one talking about bed bugs. Also if I am so crazy how come so much press came out. It was me who contacted them not bike protests. When I spoke with some of the bikers we agree that the bike lanes should have stayed in the middle. I never said get rid of all bike lanes but design them better. Also this was not the only issue the protest was about.

Leslie

Wow just goes to prove how stupid and childish many of these people sound. First people are not crazy,bikedyke is my favorite so far I am not gay but wow you sound like a very nasty person. For all those stupid remarks I won't respond. All you hide behind there computer wow so brave.

At least I came out and took a stand sadly I did not get the many of thousands of drivers who resent dangerous bikers who go against red light, against traffic. My protest is not against bikers but some of the poorly designed bike lanes. Some bikers would agree that they are not safe up against curbside. The protest was against Mayor Bloomberg that does what he wants anyway.

Also against pedestrian islands that look horrible, new no turning signals, loss of parking spaces for people who come to New York with families or elderly, handicapped who live to far to ride in the city.

I hate these bikers who tell me to get out of my car and use a bike that is my decision not yours. I often take a train or bus. I also have started to walk more and met many pedestrians young and old that include many minorities who are upset. I only could cover so much ground but I went into business near the protest and they told me they are getting hurt by loss of parking space of customers from other Boro's. You know there are other Boro's right not just Manhattan.

I will try having a another protest with a better turnout by New Yorkers of all ages, colors to reflect the many people angry with what is happening.

dgeee

Is Sicklick an anti-bikedyke?

Leslie

To dgreee I will send your comment to the Gay and Lesbian community who I am sure have words for you and your comment.

sowhtifithppnsitwll

I am waiting for the snow.

LegalBiker

I can understand using language like "KUNT!" in the heat of the moment, but I don't think we need to stoop to using words like "intelligentsia".

Heavens to Betsy. Next we'll be accusing each other of being college graduates, and *then* where will we be?

Mr. Know-It-All

Hey, look! It's crazy PaulaNYC again. And, apparently, when she's not fuming about The Gay Agenda, she's sputtering about Bicycles Taking Over The City! I can't wait to see what she has to fulminate about when the next animal story breaks.

wonderdog2012

Aside:

Good job Barbara. Bedbugs deserve holistic treatment too.

kevd

More proof the New York contains a disproportionately high percentage of the whiniest bitches on earth.

dadoc

And how long until someone comes up with a 2AM paint stencil, international No symbol over a salmon, to mark up the bike lane? Hipster artists? Are you listening ?

dadoc

Still some breaking in time needed for folks. Bad riders will ride badly, bike lanes or not. Fine 'em, make it a three-times you get your bike impounded & have to take a biker safety class (gory vids and all). I always looked both ways when crossing, even on one-ways, Now I just do it before crssing the bike lane. The little ped islands now on the West side of 1st avenue are interesting, but what's with the soil? Hopefully not some obstructing foliage? I was hoping for a little "TAXI" light thing that would help getting cabs, and some good signage. And something has to be done about cleaning the bike lane. A few weeks old, and it's filthy! I don't know it the current sweepers will fit behind the islands.

LegalBiker

The Transformers, er, I mean... street sweepers fit in the 2nd Avenue bike lane through the East Village. I had to follow behind one the other morning. They've got from the curb to the parked cars, but I do think that under most circumstances the sweepers will fit.

Heh. The other day in Chinatown I saw this tiny, ancient, and apparently very industrious Asian woman sweeping the lane in front of me and bending down to pick up the debris she'd collected. I would have stopped and thanked her, but I didn't want to break her astonishing concentration.

so1337

PaulaNYC is a troll.

To the opponent(s) of the bike line I apologize for not making your drive easy(ier). Deal with it.

PaulaNYC

Yes, anyone who doth protest is "troll", a "homophobe", a "misogynist", or some other name you libs dream up to dismiss rational arguments.

We'll dismiss yours, too, with a name that suits you: You're a fucktard.

Spirit of 76

"thefacts" would like you to call him. He needs a date. You obviously haven't had one in a while, either.

cubswincubswin

hey, stop making fun of PaulaNYC! she's my friend. She can handle things, she's smart, not like everybody says. Not dumb. She's smart, and she wants respect!

Or maybe that was Fredo. I don't know, I always get the two of them mixed up. Fredo's the one who got his dad shot and then his brother had him shot in the head in the middle of a lake, right? Okay, well, that's not PaulaNYC. She's never even been fishing on Lake Tahoe that I know of.

kevd

With Sicklick, thefacts, paulanyc and Marcia Krammer holding up the anti-bike lane banner, all we really have to do is sit back, keep riding and watch the wackjobs discredit themselves further.

Liam

Someone should hook thefacts up with sicklick. Maybe he has a spandex diktator fantasy he can play out with her. They can move together to somewhere with no sidewalks, bikes, or people younger than them.

Spirit of 76

Don't you just love PaulaNYC with her "Sadist-Kunt" while "thefacts" uses "Diktator Sadik-Khan"? Apparently, it's "childish name-calling" if it's on this side of the argument, but brilliant debating if it's on their side.