It was only a test!
The hated Prospect Park West bike lane was only a “trial” project that was supposed to be yanked if it caused safety problems, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz claims in court papers made public today.
Park Slope residents fuming over the lane change filed a lawsuit, and Markowitz, a fellow foe of the lane along the park, said in a supporting affidavit that city Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan told him the bike lane was installed temporarily — contradicting DOT arguments in Brooklyn Supreme Court that the lane was always meant to be permanent.
“Sadik-Khan explicitly described the PPW bike lane as a trial,” Markowitz wrote. “Neither Sadik-Khan nor anyone else at DOT ever told me that they had changed their minds and that the PPW bike lane was being installed on a permanent basis.”
The suit was filed in March by Neighbors for Better Bike Lanes and Seniors for Safety.
They submitted evidence contending that crashes and injuries involving bikers, motorists and pedestrians have skyrocketed in the neighborhood since the lane was installed in July 2010.
But the DOT has tried to block that evidence and have the suit tossed by claiming it was filed too late because the lane was always intended to be permanent.
Suits against permanent facilities have to be filed by a set deadline, which had passed by March. If the court rules the lane was temporary, the suit can proceed, a source said.
The next hearing in the case is Wednesday.
Additional reporting by Rich Calder