New tool in battle vs. bikes

New Yorkers will have a new weapon in their arsenal to fight bike lanes, pedestrian plazas and other traffic measures they believe are unnecessary: a law forcing city transportation officials to explain and defend their actions.

The City Council passed a bill yesterday that requires the Department of Transportation to post online a list of guidelines for implementing the often controversial bike paths and other “traffic calming devices.”

The bill, which passed unanimously, requires the agency to detail how it chooses a particular traffic-combating method, such as speed bumps, pedestrian plazas and bike lanes.

Then residents, community boards or anyone else opposing the installation of a bike lane or other traffic-safety changes in their neighborhood can assess whether it meets the agency’s own guidelines for why it favors certain devices in certain areas.

“We have to slow traffic down, but by the same token, there are many people in our city who see a median island and they see a bike lane and they say to themselves, ‘How did that get there? How is that going to slow traffic down? Did DOT follow its own guidelines?’ ” said City Councilman James Vacca (D-Bronx), who sponsored the bill.

“I’ve certainly gotten complaints about bicycle paths and why bicycle paths are here and not there,” he added.

Vacca said people complain bike lanes and other traffic measures reduce neighborhood parking, cause confusion and don’t actually result in slowing down or improving traffic.

And he said often there’s inadequate signage for bike lanes.

In general, residents complain of “inadequate community consultations” about the traffic changes, he said.

The bill, which takes effect in three months, has the support of Mayor Bloomberg.

The guidelines also will explain why certain anti-traffic methods are used near schools, senior centers and nursing homes.

“The rollout of this initiative alienated a tremendous number of people and now folks have their backs up and oppose what they might have supported otherwise,” said Councilman James Oddo (R-SI) after signing on to the bill.

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