Next week, a court hearing will determine if opponents of the Prospect Park West bike lane can continue with their lawsuit to dismantle the lane. At issue is whether the city was planning to install the lane on a "trial" basis, and if since it's been installed, the city has manipulated data to show that the lane has been a safe, helpful addition to the neighborhood.
On Monday, Council Member Brad Lander, along with Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Kahn, was served with a subpoena from Seniors for Safety and Neighbors for Better Bike Lanes to testify on July 20.
The city has maintained its position since the suits first court date last month, as :
"The petitioners have been unable to refute the key legal issues in the case,” said city attorney Mark Muschenheim after the brief hearing. “Their lawsuit was brought after the statute of limitations had expired. Even if it weren’t filed too late, the bike path was clearly a reasonable and rational response by the City to community concerns, the sole legal standard for this case.”
The idea of it being a "trial" effort seems to have come from Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, and Streetsblog explores how that started and how the DOT publicly corrected the premise.
Despite the hubub, people seem to like the lane. Even with positive surveys, quotes, and organized bike rides aside, walking down Prospect Park West I can see a lot of people using the lane, which seems proof at least that it's needed. And as a pedestrian, I've never felt in harm's way because of the lane, and in fact I maybe feel a little safer because I know exactly where to look out for bikers. Now that the lane's been around for a while, what do you think?
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