A massive Citi Bike rack in front of a West Village co-op is a potential death trap, the building’s lawyer charged Wednesday.
Half of the rack was removed from 175 W. 13th St. last May after medics struggled to help an elderly man in distress — but there still is not enough room for an ambulance, attorney Steven Shore said in Manhattan Appellate Court.
He is appealing an October ruling by a Manhattan Supreme Court judge that shot down a lawsuit seeking the rack’s removal.
It is also feared the docking station will snarl traffic near an emergency-care facility about to open nearby on Seventh.
“Somebody is going to die in an ambulance because of this stupid bike-share location,” Shore said.
City lawyer Elizabeth Natrella said an environmental review found there won’t be any problems for the new facility, and that it’s not relevant to determine if the racks will stay.
Elderly residents at the building said they can’t meet their Access a Ride ambulettes out front, and have to go down the block.
Shore said the city violated its guidelines by building the racks in a no-standing zone, since Citi Bike racks can’t be placed in lanes used for driving.
“DOT followed the proper procedure for siting this Bike Share station,” said city law spokesman Nicholas Paolucci.