NYC business collective files lawsuit against city authorities to halt installation of bike lane beneath subway tunnels
In a move aimed at addressing critical safety needs, the city of New York has proposed a redesign for 31st Street in Astoria, Queens. The redesign, which includes dedicated loading zones for businesses on every block and spots for taxis to pick up and drop off passengers, is intended to better organize traffic, improve visibility, and keep vehicles moving. However, a local business association has filed a lawsuit to prevent the construction of the new protected bike lane.
The lawsuit, filed during the specified time, alleges that the redesign of 31st Street violates the Constitution's Equal Protection Clause by individually benefiting bicyclists at the expense of the broader community. The group views the bike lane as a "Trojan horse" in the city's broader plan to create 50 miles of protected bike lanes annually to reduce car traffic.
The new bike lane is planned to extend from Newtown to 36th avenues and is seen as a key segment in a growing network of safe bicycle routes in Western Queens by transportation officials. However, more than a dozen businesses claim the Department of Transportation ignored their concerns and pushed through plans for a bike lane that interferes with daily pickup and deliveries.
Among the businesses that signed on to the lawsuit are a truck driving school, a Greek food truck called King Souvlaki, and an auto shop. King Souvlaki's owners described the city's approach as "vile" and claimed they have been "vilified" for speaking out against the plan, according to court papers.
Dan Monaco, a spokesperson for the businesses, stated that the city gave their concerns short shrift and barreled ahead with the plan to install the new lane. Monaco found the city's actions of harming businesses and the community, while pretending to care about what the community has to say, extremely frustrating.
Will Livingston, an agency spokesperson, stated that the redesign of 31st Street aims to address a high number of serious and fatal crashes in the area. Data shows 190 injuries to drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists along the stretch between 2020 and 2024, which were attributed in part to poor visibility due to columns in the road supporting the tracks.
Interestingly, local businesses on Skillman Avenue in Queens experienced a boom after a bike lane was installed, according to Streetsblog. The redesign of 31st Street is intended to address these safety concerns while maintaining a smooth flow of traffic.
Dan Monaco, a spokesperson for the businesses, expressed hope that Mayor Eric Adams' administration will heed the businesses' complaints, citing Adams' recent decision to rip up a section of the protected Bedford Avenue bike lane. The future of the 31st Street redesign remains uncertain as the lawsuit makes its way through the courts.
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