Opposition to newly painted bike lanes on Kent Avenue is so strong in Williamsburg’s Hasidic community that one Orthodox leader vows that the faithful will block traffic if the city does not remove the cycling routes.
In South Williamsburg’s Satmar section, the wheels were already spinning against the bike lanes – which eliminated curbside parking and standing when they were painted last month (see story HERE on YWN) – and now de facto Satmar spokesman Isaac Abraham kicked the conflict into a higher gear when he said this week that private buses would obstruct Kent Avenue to pressure the city to remove the lanes and reinstate alternate-side parking.
“We will ask all the drivers: ‘When you pick-up or drop-off our children, put your bus in an angle, block the entire street, wait ’til the parent gets to the door of the bus, [and] slowly — very slowly — take your child off or put it on the bus, [and] don’t rush to get back on the sidewalk,’” said Abraham, who added that the protests would occur every morning from 8–10 am and 4–7 pm and would be accompanied by rallies.
“One day the traffic will be backed up all the way to Long Island City to [the] Department of Transportation Headquarters, traffic will come to a halt,” he said.
Abraham revealed to The Brooklyn Paper his calls for a traffic slowdown just before a contentious Nov. 24 neighborhood meeting about transportation hosted by Councilmembers David Yassky (D–Williamsburg) and Diana Reyna (D–Williamsburg) that addressed the controversial Kent Avenue bike lanes, which are placeholders for the proposed Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway — a divided cycling and walking path planned to stretch from Greenpoint to Sunset Park.
Once and future City Council candidate Isaac Abraham demanded that the city remove the “No Stopping Any Time” signs that were installed on Kent Avenue. Behind him, Councilman David Yassky and state Sen.-elect Dan Squadron (far left) listen.
Members of the Hasidic community said that blocking traffic is their only way to voice their grievances about the no-stopping, no-standing signage that they have protested since the city installed the signs on a Saturday morning last month and immediately issued tickets, even though observant Jews aren’t allowed to drive on the Sabbath.
“I don’t like it, but if that is what needs to be done to get their attention, people are going to do it,” said Williamsburg resident Leo Moskowitz. “We don’t want to do it, but if we have to, we will.”
Department of Transportation Bicycle Program Coordinator Joshua Benson — who fielded questions and insults at the transportation meeting — wasn’t surprised by the negative response from some members of the community, which included complaints from business owners about declines in sales and difficulties with deliveries.
Benson said that the lane was necessary to create a “network” of bicycle paths around the borough, and suggested that in time, Williamsburg residents might come to embrace the cycling lanes.
“Change is hard, and when we change the way the streets work, there is always an adjustment period,” he said.
VIDEO LINK: Click HERE for video.
(Source: Brooklyn Paper)
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20 Responses
Why would the city need to specifically route the bike lanes through the religious section of Williamsburg? Why is the city routing riders whose attire does not live up to the local dress codes? Is there no other place in Brooklyn for a bike lane and do they have no other projects where there efforts can be better spent?
Excuse me – The bike route happens to run through Willamsburgh, and is designed to benefit all citizens of NY. And now arrogant meshugenahs are threatening civil disobedience over it? Chutzpah – It is not their City.
And by the way – I hope the hotheads among you remember the ease and comfort with which these zealots assert themselves, the next time you cower in a corner bemoaning the threats Yidden suffer in this repressive anti-Semetic country. The fact is that we are so free here that zealots can threaten actions like this without any fear.
Very soon, it won’t ONLY be regular residents of Williamsburg who will complain, but visitors as well. There are many simcha halls in Williamsburg. For a variety of reasons (mutiple simchas on one night etc.),many people will not give their cars for valet parking (if available). Parking is already a major problem in Williamsburg. This makes no sense at all…except for the “yuppies” who are buying condominiums on the outer fringes of Williamsburg.
GO blumberg go how about u stop making bike lanes planting trees all over the city taking away lanes from cars to drive stoping the police academy we have a strugling econoemy the city dont have much money after that i think u will be able to send our rebate checks stop giving out tickets and all those stupid moves.
This is a Medina Shel Chesed, jst as Satmar can garb in Chasidehse clothing so can bikers ride the road. Welcome to Galus and calm down.
The Mayor does what he thinks is right. Unfortunatly he is also a bully and there are times when he should reverse himself and he doesnt becuase he is bully. In this case, he should reconsider becuase it is a terrible smack in the face to a community that has legitamate concerns. Safety, morality are not issues to be taken litely. The Mayor is really over reaching in many areas- over zealous ticketing, bike lanes,congestion pricing, plastic bags fees and other nickle and dimes charges that we just cant afford anymore.Withholding the rebate check is the correct financialmove but a political loser for him. I give him credit for doing what he thinks he should do- but I have a feeling people are really getting tired of his “my way or the highway stand” on everything.
Oh great. Another chilul Hashem…
Take a drive on Kent Avenue near ROSE CASTLE and see for yourself that the CAR lane is narrower than a car.
The bike route is ridiculous and harassment to the values of the Williamsburg community. The expense is unnecessary in addition to a bike route running through a neighborhood that does not have any considerable cyclists. One would also think that the bike route, as it existed before running through Williamsburg, was a longer one, thereby a healthier ride; which I assume is a concern of cyclists.
why is this not a massive chillul Hashem? I didn’t know that we yidden handle problems this way. why is it ok to cause hundreds of innocent drivers to have to wait in traffic? isn’t that g’naivas zman? Do they really think that the gov’t officials will think highly of us yidden after the protest??
Bike lane directions clearly point to a sidewalk in Williamsburg. Around the corner, cops await!
Cyclists in Williamsburg had the rug pulled out from under them Tuesday when the DOT suddenly changed a bike lane leading towards the Williamsburg Bridge pedestrian path to direct riders onto a nearby sidewalk. Cops from the local precinct hadn’t gotten that memo quite yet, so they sat just around the corner of South 4th Street in Brooklyn ticketing cyclist after cyclist as they rode by.
A call to the DOT by Gothamist wielded some answers, as a spokesman explained, “We are in the process of designating the sidewalk along South 5th Street as a shared bike/pedestrian path. We will soon add appropriate signs and directional bike stamps along the sidewalk and we are reaching out to the local precinct with additional details about the project, which is not yet complete.”
Obviously! When you have cops taking advantage of a recent change in traffic law, perhaps it’s time to expedite your attempts at “reaching out” and start “calling everyone we know”. I’m just sayin’.
Despite the hiccups, this bike lane is definitely needed. As it was, riders faced two lanes of traffic tearing onto the bridge down Grand St., and one lane on South 4th and another leading away from the bridge on Roebling.
Wiley Norvell of Transportation Alternatives noted, “A cyclist was killed at this location back on 2007 (I think, or possibly 06), and I regard it as one of the more dangerous parts of the north Brooklyn bike commute.”
Riders had to hop on the sidewalk anyways for the last 25 yards or so just to get on the pedestrian path, and faced the same technicality upon exiting in Manhattan.
Just last week, FREEwilliamsburg got reports that cops were ticketing riders here because of orders from above. One tipster said a cop told him, “Everyone in this neighborhood has a bicycle, so we are starting to spend more energy on bicycle infractions. Expect to see more of this in the future and stay off the sidewalks.”
Copyright NBC Local Media
This is not just a matter of traffic. In the summer it is a matter of tznius. Better to protest now than have to deal with such issues and the problems they can, heaven forbid, cause to each individual during warmer months.
ALSO, New York City, in documentaries, and the Mayor, seem to pride themselves of how New York likes to retain the unique flavor of each “ethnic” neighborhood.
Any one who is tired of busy streets, no parking and bike lanes should come to South Bend, IN where the Torah is flowing and the housing is CHEAP….Imagine 3000 SF House for $100,000.00.
The streets belong to EVERYONE. They are not chassidic or Jewish. The USA and NYC allows EVERYONE,including Jews and Chassidim to live here and dress the way they like. Tznius is YOUR problem. YOU have to dress modestly and ACT modestly,not anyone else. You don’t have to look at the bodies passing by.
Satmer .. this is not your country … you do not make the laws … and the entire US does not have to follow your version of tznius
ANOTHER CHANCE!!!! At a Chilul Hashem!!!! Yay!! Let’s Grab It !!!! Apparently the Rubashkin scandal wasn’t enough ….. :
I agree with #1. This unfortunately sounds similar to the street traffic on the main street in Mea Shearim. Bicyclists (if they would travel through Williamsburg)may upset the people who live in the community.
Yassam frummies are ready to riot if their needs are not met.
I have nothing against having bike lanes. But have any of you seen how narrow Kent Ave is?
#16, that is your opinion and you are entitled to it. Tznius, from passers by, is no less a problem for our communities than drug selling or other illicit activities that go on. To date, it looks as though our values work for our families. Family life in every other culture has sunk considerably. You may not care and you may have let the slippery slope of depravity affect you. Maybe not. I hope not. But added to this is the concern that New York prides itself on valuing and maintaining the ethnic richness of the values of various neighborhoods. So we set the bar high. So be it. G-d bless us! It is not easy to have principles and the city should be grateful for the quality of life it’s Jewish citizens abide by.