NYC Court Ruling Tests Future of Bike Safety
Queens judge orders removal of Astoria bike lane after businesses sued over parking loss
Queens Judge Orders Astoria Bike Lane Removal
Cyclists in Astoria will lose a protected bike lane on 31st Street after a Queens Supreme Court judge ordered its removal following a lawsuit by local businesses. Justice Kevin Kerrigan ruled in December that the city's Department of Transportation failed to follow proper environmental review procedures when installing the lane, according to multiple news outlets. More than a dozen businesses filed the lawsuit in August 2024, arguing the partially installed bike lane hurt their operations.
Environmental Review Law Cited in Ruling
The judge found that DOT didn't comply with the City Environmental Quality Review, which requires agencies to assess environmental impacts of projects. The ruling represents a setback for the city's Vision Zero initiative, which aims to eliminate traffic deaths through infrastructure improvements like protected bike lanes. Officials haven't said whether they'll appeal the decision or when the bike lane will be removed. The city has built over 1,500 lane miles of bike infrastructure citywide, making this removal unusual in recent years.
Safety Data Versus Business Concerns
DOT cited crash data showing serious and fatal incidents on 31st Street as justification for the protected lane, though specific statistics weren't publicly available. The bike lane ran between 37th Avenue and Broadway in Astoria. Business owners who sued said the lane negatively impacted their operations by removing parking and loading zones, according to the 31st Street Open Streets Committee. Officials didn't disclose how many parking spaces were affected or the cost of the installation and removal.
Removal Timeline Remains Unclear
The court order didn't specify a deadline for removing the bike lane. DOT hasn't publicly commented on compliance plans or whether it'll challenge the ruling. The bike lane was only partially installed when businesses filed their lawsuit in August. Officials typically provide several weeks' notice before major infrastructure changes, but whether that'll happen here wasn't clear from available information.
Implications for City Cycling Infrastructure
Transportation Alternatives, a cycling advocacy group, expressed disappointment with the ruling and said it sets a concerning precedent for bike safety infrastructure in NYC. The decision could affect future protected bike lane projects if other business groups pursue similar legal challenges. Riders can check Moovit for real-time updates on cycling routes and alternative paths in the Astoria area as the situation develops.
