A controversial bike lane on Prospect Park West in Park Slope (Image source: Kai Brinker via Flickr).
State Senate hopeful Andrew Gounardes has come out in favor of creating more bike lanes, as well as expanding Bay Ridge’s existing bike lane “network” to neighborhoods further north – such as Park Slope and Cobble Hill, writes Will Bredderman for Brooklyn Daily.
Gounardes, an attorney and Community Board 10 member who is seeking to replace Republican State Senator Marty Golden in November, says more bike lanes would bring more money into the neighborhood.
“I’d like to see the bike lanes that are better connected to the larger network,” Gounardes told Brooklyn Daily. “People could come here to go to a restaurant or a bar.”
From Brooklyn Daily:
Yet the Eagle Scout slammed on the brakes when asked to speculate on where bike lanes should be placed, claiming that he would need to gauge Department of Transportation data and levels of community support before he would make a single suggestion for Golden’s district, which includes Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Manhattan Beach, and Marine Park.
Golden fought the creation of a bike lane on Bay Ridge Parkway last year and has criticized the city’s attempts to put bike lanes on major avenues.
Ray Riley, Golden’s campaign spokesman, questioned whether the major thoroughfares of Bay Ridge could safely accommodate an increase in bike traffic.
“Where would he like to install bike lanes to make this work — Third, Fourth, or Fifth avenue?” Riley asked.
The presidents of both the Fifth Avenue Business Improvement District and the Third Avenue Merchants Association expressed skepticism as to how many people would realistically be willing to schlep around a bike while enjoying Southwestern Brooklyn’s nightlife.
“People getting dressed up and riding a bike to go to dinner?” said Fifth Avenue Business Improvement District president Jim Clark. “I just can’t see it.”
Fellow Democrat City Councilman Vincent Gentile, who along with Golden had previously fought a plan to put a bike lane on Bay Ridge Parkway, says Gounardes’ ideas could benefit Bay Ridge.
“Anything that will bring people to Bay Ridge to shop and go to restaurants is a good thing,” Gentile told Brooklyn Daily. “We need all the help we can get from anywhere.”