Mark Your Calendars…Again

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the bike lane…

On Thursday, January 20 representatives from the Department of Transportation will be in Park Slope to present “findings and recommendations regarding the Prospect Park West bicycle lanes and traffic calming project installed in Summer 2010.”

On paper, there seems to be little question that the bike lane is here to stay.  The before-and-after safety data is unambiguous.  And the cherry on top?  It’s a huge hit in the neighborhood.

Still at the last CB6 meeting, Neighbors for Better Bike Lanes members outnumbered livable streets supporters by too great a margin, a huge disappointment considering the overwhelming turnout in favor of the bike lane at October’s rally.  I know that activism fatigue can set in.  Even my first thought upon getting the confirmation about the DOT presentation was, “Here we go again.”  God Himself could ride His bike down Prospect Park West and NBBL would want to hold a hearing about it.

But even though nothing, absolutely nothing, will convince NBBL that the bike lane makes the neighborhood safer and more livable, you need to be there.  Come not to shout down your misguided neighbors, but to show the DOT and the mayor’s office that there is broad support for this vital traffic calming project.

The details:

DATE: Thursday, January 20, 2011

TIME: 6:30 PM

PLACE: Old First Reformed Church, 729 Carol Street (Corner of 7th Avenue), Park Slope

So please come.  For fun, please let me know what baseless claims you think NBBL will make at this meeting.  Make your predictions in the comments section below.