"Queens Supreme Court Justice Chereé Buggs issued the ruling on Dec. 5, siding with a number of local businesses and residents who argued that the mile-long bike lane would prevent emergency services from operating at "full capacity" on 31st Street. Others had raised concerns that the infrastructure would negatively impact local businesses and create safety hazards for students at St. Demetrios Greek-American School, located at 30-03 30th Dr."
"The 31st Street Business Association, which joined the lawsuit against the DOT, held a press conference outside the school Dec. 9 to celebrate the ruling as a "victory for the residents and businesses of Astoria." Association President Joseph Mirabella also described the ruling as a "victory for commonsense." Council Member Joann Ariola, minority leader of the NYC Council Republic Delegation and chair of the Council Committee on Fire and Emergency Management, also joined Tuesday's event to celebrate a victory for the rule of law."
A coalition of Astoria residents and business owners gathered outside St. Demetrios Greek-American School after a court order blocked a proposed protected bike lane along 31st Street. Queens Supreme Court Justice Chereé Buggs sided with businesses and residents who argued the mile-long lane would impede emergency services operating at full capacity and could harm local commerce and student safety. The 31st Street Business Association held a press conference calling the decision a victory, and Council Member Joann Ariola said the DOT failed to comply with Local Law 6 requiring consultation with firehouses. Other officials and transit advocates criticized the decision, citing DOT data that labels the corridor among Queens's most dangerous, and the DOT said it is reviewing the ruling and evaluating next steps.
Read at QNS
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]