Lane Laws

City Council Votes To Increase Oversight of Bike Lanes

By David Freedlander 11/03/11 3:42pm

The City Council voted today to requite the Department of Transportation to consult with local community boards before installing any further bike lanes in the city.

“Bicycle lanes should be constructed only after consultation from residents who live in the neighborhoods they are meant to serve,” said Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn.  “Our legislation will ensure the Department of Transportation works with community boards and fully considers feedback from neighborhood residents on where, and how, bicycle lanes are installed.”

The Bloomberg administration’s zeal to make the city more bike friendly has been hailed by cycling and environmental advocates, but has created a backlash in some neighborhoods and among business groups who say that the lanes are not used very often and create an imposition for residents and drivers.

The Council’s bill would require the Department of Transportation to make presentations at affected community boards on the proposed bicycle lane, if requested by that board and would require the Department of Transportation to give affected community boards at least 90 days’ notice before the proposed installation.

“Passing this legislation will give community boards enough time to officially go on record about bike lanes in their districts, ” said Council Member James Vacca, head of the Transportation Committee and a former district manager for a Bronx Community Board. “Communities deserve to have the chance to work with DOT on any concerns to a proposed bike lane, and I believe that this bill strikes a balance between the community’s need to be heard with the desire for bicycle lanes to be installed where appropriate.”

 

 

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topics: Lane Laws
  • http://www.flickr.com/photos/7995989@N03/ J

    I find it very interesting that the city is now required to provide extensive community outreach for bicycle lanes, which the city already does, but when it comes to building massive stadiums, enormous parking garages, and policing our streets there is no oversight at all. Clearly, our politicians have their priorities straight.

  • Community Member

    Quinn & Vacca have essentially passed a redundant legislation, since the DOT already consults with Community Boards on bike lanes.  Indeed, most of the most “contentious” bike lanes, including Prospect Park West, are the result of Community Board requests TO the DOT.

    But congratulations to Quinn & Vacca.  You’ve now taken away a main talking point of the New York Post, Lew Fidler, Iris Weinshall, Dov Hikind, and many other notorious, knee-jerk bike lane haters.  From now on, they can’t really claim that bike lanes are “jammed down communities’ throats,” since this legislation will allow the DOT to really, once and for all, say, “No we don’t.”

    Meanwhile, Vacca has remained silent on the hundreds of cycling and pedestrian deaths caused by reckless driving all over the city.  Some Transportation Committe head he is.  Can we just call him the anti-bike guy from now on?  Or how about Council Member Parking?

    His priorities are shameless.

  • Larry Littlefield

    I assume that no consultation is required to remove bike lanes.  And that this was not an oversight.

  • Larry Littlefield

    I stand corrected, another blog pointed out that similar notification would be required before bike lanes would be removed.  A pleasant surprise.

  • Larry Littlefield

    I stand corrected, another blog pointed out that similar notification would be required before bike lanes would be removed.  A pleasant surprise.

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