Getting the Facts
June 24, 2013
What do you do when live in some of the most expensive real estate in Brooklyn and have been availing yourself of the pro bono services of one of the city’s top law firms to get rid of a popular bike lane? Ask for money, of course. This appeal from Prospect Park West bike lane opponents Neighbors for Better Bike Lanes was included in a message that was distributed to the +1000 Friends of Parks email list last week.
GETTING THE FACTS ON PPW“At last, good news in the long legal process concerning the bike lane on Prospect Park West….months ago, the New York State Appellate Court upheld our appeal and returned the case to Justice Bunyan’s court. The issue now is to finally determine whether the lane was installed as a trial or not. As part of that process, the Judge compelled the city to reveal data on post-lane safety. The city’s own data shows INCREASED crashes on PPW and immediate side streets since the installation of the lane…20% and more in some cases. And characteristically, the city has not shared these data with the public, despite clear evidence that the lane has decreased public safety on PPW and nearby streets…..we have also won the right of discovery, so that we can finally determine who said what to whom and when about the lane being installed as a trial…..Our pro bono lawyers at Gibson Dunn & Crutcher have fought long and hard for us and they are still sincerely committed, but we have reached the point where we need to raise some real money…..Help us keep fighting. “Neighbors for Better Bike Lanes or Seniors for Safety c/o Louise Hainline, 9 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn, NY 11215.
For an excellent explanation of how NBBL cherry picks their numbers to push the idea that the DOT’s figures are misleading, please read this helpful Streetsblog post. It may also be helpful to note the facts NBBL no longer seems to be disputing: vehicular speeds are down, congestion has not increased, fewer cyclists are riding on the sidewalk, pedestrians are able to cross the bike lane safely, and families of all shapes and sizes now feel safer on Prospect Park West.
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Brooklyn Spoke 
you can also write to Chuck Shumer…yes, THAT Chuck Shumer and tell him that if his wife keeps trying to ‘influence’ this bike lane out of existence you aren’t gonna vote for him next time.