This has been a hot issue in recent months, when the Hasidim in Williamsburg, Brooklyn began to complain in September about the overly sexy female bikers who use the Bedford Avenue bike lane. At first, I thought this was some kind of joke or bad reporting in the form of someone’s comments being taken out of context.
The Bedford Avenue bike lane is a major artery through Brooklyn and to the Williamsburg Bridge, with part of it traversing a neighborhood that is densely Hasid-populated. But the complaints weren’t a joke, and the Hasidic community — or, shall I more accurately say, the men of the Hasidic community — has pressured the city to remove the offending corridor, to protect them from the possibility of seeing women ride by in (GASP!) tank tops and shorts and skirts and other shocking states of undress.
In response to the city removal of the bike lane markings, a few days ago a couple of bike activists took it upon themselves to perform a late-night repainting of the lane. The guerilla artists were stopped by local residents, got hit with a few charges, and the makeshift markings will be removed.
Some questions this raises: What city am I living in? What country are we living in? What century is this? A neighborhood pressuring the city to change a bike route because of reasons such as unsafe conditions and so on, I can live with. But this makes me so angry that I want to organize a naked ride through the neighborhood. (Who’s in??)
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5 responses so far ↓
1 art+predator // Dec 14, 2009 at 11:09 am
that+would+be+a+Full+Moon+Ride
2 Humanist-Cyclist // Dec 14, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Ok, interesting… Moral influences of a transportation mode? — As an urban planning student (and former student in an honorable program of Greek and Latin languages and literature) , I always complained that there was not really and truly a actual theory of — or rather theoretical foundation for — urban planning. I.e. it was not really an ‘academic discipline’ like, say, history, philosophy, literature, art history, physics, etc.
Now, we have the potential for that foundation! Morality and Travel: The Transgressions of Cycling in Bedford-Stuyvesant. Let the full-moon-butt-bared ride be! Would our honorable, often overweight Hasidic brothers take issue with a pedestrian or motorist (in a convertible), who was dressed inappropriately, passing through the neighborhood?
There is a thing called the “public right-of-way”, right? It is in the “public realm”, right? And its design (and control) is dictated by a concern for the safety, accessibility, and mobillity of ALL users, and for the greater public good — you know, “health, welfare, etc.”, right?
Be tolerant. Look to the greater good. Support non-motorized transportation in every and all its forms.
3 Matthew // Dec 15, 2009 at 5:58 am
The Hasidim have done all they can do, but you can still ride on the road in question. The bike lane was just a courtesy. They can’t deny you that right.
4 Marie - New York City // Dec 15, 2009 at 7:58 am
Good points, all! And you’re totally right Matthew, we can still use the corridor (if you feel like flirting with the embrace of SUVs or school buses, of course!). Funny how “provocative” is generally the last thought on my mind when I suit up for the street. Ride safe, everybody!
5 Vic // Dec 15, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Yeah,+this+is+crazy+!+Ride+the+road+but+stay+safe+!
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