Things are better for cyclists in New York than ever before. That is a fact.
Then this came up on the internet yesterday:
Please attend tomorrow night's Brooklyn CB1 meeting to speak out in favor of the new Kent Ave bike lane, a key route in the Brooklyn bike network and a vital link in the greenway connection:
CB1 Transportation Committee Meeting
Wednesday, November 12
211 Ainslie Street, corner of Manhattan Avenue
6:30 pm --- registration for public speaking ENDS at 6:15 (get there at 6pm and sign up!)
Bike lane opponents have sent a letter to elected officials, the press and City Hall. It is imperative that local cyclists and supporters of livable streets attend tomorrow night's meeting, sign up to and continue to speak in favor of this important transportation improvement for the neighborhood, for now and for the future.
Those bike lane opponents were primarily the residents of the buildings along Kent Avenue, who were pissed that they couldn't park their cars on the street anymore. Then there were business owners who couldn't load and unload in front of their businesses. On the other side were guys wearing all sorts of 'technical' fabrics and carrying helmets in their hands.
Here's what I learned:
The internet is a wonderful place to stir up hysteria, and the business owners have a point.
So, to the first point. There was no threat of the bike lane being recinded. None. The commuity board voted for the lane to be put in... and that's it. Apparently they can't vote for it to be put OUT. The hysteria on the internet was just that.
The residents along Kent were angry that they had lost their free on street parking. I reminded them, to a chorus of boos, that free street parking was not a right in New York. On the other hand, I thought the businesses were right. They have to be able to unload and load to maintain their businesses.
Lets always remeber that as cyclists we are members of a community, and we have to respect others. We cannot, as Bike Snob says, enter our 'cone of smugness' and not look out.
Oh yeah, read Bike Snob, he does this way better than I do.
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1 comment:
I was also at the CB#1 meeting last night and also spoke as a cyclist, although I was not wearing any technical fabrics.
Although the bike lane was not in danger last night from the community board, the community board does have influence with other parts of City government and it is important that all sides of an issue have a presence.
The other reason I felt it was important that cyclists have a presence at the meeting was partially for education. It is important that cyclists be seen as part of traffic and I believe that bike lanes help to accomplish this.
I also agree with you that the businesses have a real concern, as most of the cyclists vocalized last night, and I hope that the DOT will find a creative way to make things work for businesses and cyclists as we are all part of this community.
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