Episode 500: NBBL & SFS Strikes Back

via Houstontomorrow.org

And now, the moment freedom loving bike riders across the slope have been waiting for: the Neighbors for Better Bike Lanes and the Seniors for Safety have slapped down an appeal in their losery lawsuit against the DOT. You know, the highly publicized, with-hunt theatrical one that tried to unsuccessfully remove the two lane stretch on PPW. Feel free to check out the post on Streetsblog New York City, where you can read all 44 pages of legal bullsh.

The group's attorney Jim Walden -- who probably isn't working pro bono anymore -- has been quoted in an article by Reuters about bike lanes in Chicago:

“Bike lanes are a wonderful idea and people certainly enjoy them, but right now what people need are jobs and ways to make their lives easier, for most big cities, bikes are not a practical way for people to move.”

Wha wha whaaa? People need jobs? Bikes aren't practical ways to move people around? You mean free, clean, transportation where people aren't subject to vehicular traffic or MTA service change/rate hike/insert problem here isn't practical? Not to mention it's healthier than sitting your ass in a car or subway.... Wait, can I go back to "people need jobs?" Is that a political Ron Paul style dig in a statement about a bike lane lawsuit in Park Slope? Wow, you keep razzle-dazzling them Jim. This is really some fine work.

A  non-Slope commenter said it best on the Streetsblog post:

I didn't like how the Reuters article, written by former transportation writer at Chicago Sun Times, Mary Wisniewski, included a quote from that crock, Lawyer Jim Walden. I was hoping we could keep the bile he spews from reaching the Midwest.

Looks like nobody's safe now, buddy.