Astoria Street Safety Advocates Protest Judge's Ruling Against Protected Bike Lane

Protected Bike Lane Ruling in Astoria

• 🚴‍♀️ Street safety advocates are protesting a judge's decision to remove a protected bike lane on 31st Street in Astoria, Queens.
• ⚖️ The judge ruled against the bike lane, siding with businesses and a school that claimed the redesign was rushed and haphazard.
• 📣 Advocates argue that protected bike lanes save lives and point to data supporting their effectiveness.

Arguments for and Against the Bike Lane

• 🚗 Businesses and a school sued, claiming the bike lane redesign disregarded legitimate concerns of the community.
• 💡 Advocates counter that safety infrastructure benefits students, and that many customers in the area arrive by bike, foot, or transit, not by car.
• 📊 They cite a similar redesign on nearby 31st Avenue as evidence of a safer environment where businesses are thriving.

Next Steps for the Bike Lane

• 🚧 The bike lane on 31st Street is already partially painted but its future is uncertain.
• 🏢 The Department of Transportation (DOT) is reviewing the judge's decision and evaluating potential next steps.
• 🗣️ Both sides acknowledge that the street is a legitimate safety concern that needs to be addressed.