Bike Wars-The Evil NBBL Strikes Back

Well FIPSters, the shit has officially hit the fan.

Our friends at Neighbors for (no more) Better Bike Lanes and their tardy allies the Seniors for Safety have officially bitch slapped the DOT with a classy lawsuit. And since I am officially the FIPS Bike Wars correspondent, it is my mission to report on this crucial new stage in the battle for Prospect Park West.

Not to bore those who have all the deets on this issue but if you're showing up late to the game you can catch up on how this monstrosity unfolds here:

Or here.

Or here.

And then there's here. Oh and don't forget about here.

So obviously our Better Neighbors in their duplicity had no interest in compromise. Color me shocked. Park Slope Patch reports that NBBL and SFS claim they are invoking their right to contest government actions that are "arbitrary or unfair," especially since the DOT has been "manipulating" data to make the bike lanes appear to be a success in slowing down traffic and increasing bike ridership in the neighborhood. Big government making decisions for freedom loving drivers. Big government lying to freedom loving admirers of three lane speedways? Could it be that Park Slope is having it's own little Tea Party helmed by the wife of a Democratic state senator? No of course not, this is just a small group of out of touch people ignoring the opinion of the masses and resorting to ridiculous measures to get their way. Wait a minute? NBBL get on the honker to Sarah Palin, she hasn't had a camera in front of her face in 3 days.

Favorite quote ever on this:  "It's a real shame that two groups that claim a total membership of 215 people would go to such extraordinary lengths to try to eradicate a bike path that's used by 10 times that many people on a nice day, that's contributed to a 75 percent reduction in speeding, and is supported by the vast majority of people in the neighborhood." That was said by my new bestie Eric McClure, co-founder of Park Slope Neighbors (the nice kind), as told to Park Slope Patch. Eric, buddy, I owe you a beer. Name the time and place.

What can you do about it?

If you love the bike lane (or even If you don't), let your voice be heard at the Community Board 6 Hearing on this Thursday, March 10, 6:30 PM, John Jay High School Auditorium, 237 7th Avenue, between 4th and 5th Streets. If you're subway-ing it, the F to 7th Avenue is your best bet. 

Get over there people and shake some shit up. Then maybe someday I can get back to work on suing the city for those bastard traffic circles I didn't ask for.