Local Electeds Call for More Bike Access

After unveiling over 70 miles of brand new bike lanes in the past year, local politicians have decided to take the next step in promoting a greener, healthier, more bicycle-friendly city by making a motion to allow bicycles into consumer buildings in all five boroughs — allowing bicyclists more safe spots to park their bikes.

On Tuesday morning, David Yassky was joined by legislators, council members, Transportation Alternatives and bicycle enthusiasts to rally free bicycle access, and to support Intro 38, a preexisting bill mandating commercial landlords to allow tenants to bring their bicycles into their buildings.

According to the Department of City Planning, the most significant barrier cited by potential bicycle commuters is the lack of safe, secure places to store their bikes, and Yassky, among other legislators, is putting pressure on pushing through legislation requiring that all large commercial buildings grant access to bicycles and provide some sort of bicycle storage, either onsite or nearby.

“Thousands of people in this city want to bike to work,” Yassky said. “But they can’t do it if they’ve got to worry about their bikes being stolen or ruined by the weather. New Yorkers want a greener city, and they’re ready to help us build one. We’ve got to make sure we’re enabling their efforts.”

This mandate, which is supported by over 30 members of Congress, is already a part of PLANYC, Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s program to create a “greener, greater New York.”

“Not allowing bicycles in buildings runs counter to every initiative that the city has proposed,” said John Liu, the City Council Transportation Chair. “Biking is healthy, economical, environmentally responsible, and there’s no reason people should get stopped trying to bring their bikes inside. Yassky and I rode our bikes to city hall the other day, and we were stopped on the way into the lobby! There’s just no reason for that.”

Similarly, Paul Steely White, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives, stressed the importance of the Bloomberg administration recognizing its obligation to urban bicyclists.

“We are asking Bloomberg not to forget to commitment he has made,” White said. “We’re asking him to make good on his promise. It’s simple; we just want to solve the problems of bikes not getting let into buildings. Building owners misunderstand: This isn’t about creating or dedicating additional space for bikes, it’s just about granting access.”

Ian Dutton, a commercial pilot and the Vice Chair of the Transportation Committee of Manhattan’s Community Board 2, expressed his hope that this mandate would encourage more and more people to ride bicycles instead of driving cars or taking the train.

“As a pilot, I’ve traveled to many cities where bikes are a part of the transportation system, and those are happy, clean environments,” Dutton said. “New York City has a reasonable climate, a friendly geography, and a density that allows trips to be short and practical. I think as a result of this initiative, over the next five years the number of people riding bikes to work could double.”

As for the passage of this mandate, Yassky is confident that great strides will be made in the near future.

“This thing doesn’t have legs,” Yassky said with a smile. “It’s got wheels! And they are spinning rapidly forward every day.”