Recent tensions have surfaced regarding the bike lane on Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn, as Mayor Eric Adams appears to be aligning himself with opponents of the cycling infrastructure that has drawn support from many local residents.
On Tuesday, notable figures in the Brooklyn Democratic machine, including Mayor Adams’s former chief of staff Frank Carone and Brooklyn party chair Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, voiced their criticisms of the bike lane and its supporters.
The Hasidic community has been particularly vocal, expressing concerns about safety following incidents involving cyclists colliding with children who unexpectedly enter the street from school buses or parked vehicles.
Installed by Adams’s own Department of Transportation between Dean Street and Flushing Avenue, this bike lane is seen as a crucial and safe northbound route for cyclists navigating Brooklyn.
Supporters, including Council Member Lincoln Restler (D-Williamsburg) and Chi Ossé (D-Bed Stuy), advocate for the bike lane, but opposition from influential local leaders raises questions about its future.
Jon Orcutt, a former DOT official and advocacy director at Bike New York, described the backlash as “the tip of the bikelash.”
Adams’s town hall in Williamsburg, which sparked the recent unrest, was a response to ongoing dissent voiced by the Hasidic community.
The agitation peaked over the Memorial Day weekend when an anti-bike lane social media account shared a video of a child being hit by a cyclist after running into the bike lane.
Restler reacted by urging the need for prompt action to enhance safety measures related to the bike lane.
However, Hermelyn used the incident to criticize Restler, expressing her anxieties as a parent and indicating that the situation reflects “a pattern of inaction” on his part.
Carone echoed these sentiments, calling for a reevaluation of the city’s bicycle policy and criticizing what he characterized as an overreliance on bike lanes.
Assessing the responses, Streetsblog questioned Mayor Adams on whether he aligned with Carone’s opinion, prompting him to reflect on community feedback regarding bike lanes.
Adams acknowledged the need to consider local sentiment, indicating that bike lanes should not be imposed in areas where residents oppose them.
This dynamic illustrates the growing rift between Adams’s administration and those who were once loyal allies, as some now openly support disgraced former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Hermelyn has a history of contesting bike lanes in Restler’s district.
Support for Restler’s challenger, Sabrina Gates, has emerged, further complicating the political landscape.
Despite her backing for Gates, Gates indicated she also supports the idea of bike infrastructure, albeit suggesting relocating the current lane to Classon Avenue — a position challenged by safety data.
The Mayor stands by his actions, suggesting Restler has not advocated strongly for changes to the lane, despite maintaining a community meeting last week on public safety in Williamsburg.
Restler himself is not in favor of removing the bike lane but has called for improvements and a stronger community engagement approach to encourage safer practices.
The controversy around the bike lane intensified as flyers circulated in Yiddish, inviting community members to articulate their apprehensions about the bike lane at the recent meeting.
However, attendance by mothers from the community was sparse, leading to a lack of emotional appeals during the event.
Instead, established leaders like Rabbi David Niederman urged the Mayor to dismantle the lane, citing safety concerns for the 2,500 school children transported in the area.
In response, DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez emphasized that the bike lane has significantly contributed to reducing traffic accidents and improving street safety.
Despite this, segments of the Hasidic community have actively resisted the bike lane, putting up misleading signs claiming it is closed during busy school hours and blocking the lane with barriers and other obstacles.
Community outrage appears to be inconsistent; for instance, when 10-year-old Yitty Wertzberger tragically lost her life due to a speeding driver nearby, the subsequent response was notably subdued compared to the uproar over the bike lane.
In interviews, some mothers expressed an “accidents happen” mentality, while recalling a heightened concern surrounding e-bikes specifically.
Adams’s fluctuating comments regarding the Bedford Avenue bike lane contrast with his earlier promises to create extensive bike infrastructure across the city.
He had previously pledged to develop 300 miles of bike lanes within his first term but has fallen significantly short of that goal.
Despite the ongoing push for safer streets, the Bedford Avenue bike lane has faced delays in construction, with all signs of imminent progress seemingly stalled.
Contrary to complaints, data from the DOT demonstrates that protected bike lanes like the one on Bedford Avenue markedly enhance street safety.
In fact, the installation of bike lanes reduces pedestrian injuries by 21 percent and contributes to a safer environment for all traffic participants.
The area of Bedford Avenue was identified as a Vision Zero Priority Corridor, having recorded multiple pedestrian fatalities and injuries in previous years, highlighting the importance of such infrastructure in combating street danger.
Thus, as Mayor Adams navigates this complex landscape filled with conflicting opinions about cycling policies, it remains to be seen how the future of the Bedford Avenue bike lane will unfold.
image source from：https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2025/05/28/democratic-party-machine-joins-the-bikelash-on-bedford-avenue
