Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Bicycling

One Community That’s Ready to Work With DOT on Bikes

It is unusual for the New York Times to print a letter to the editor in response to another reader's letter, but yesterday the Times did just that. And so continues the super-slow motion debate on the Department of Transportation's bicycling policies. We're looking forward to next week's installment...

To the Editor:

In a Sept. 3 letter ("New York Is Bike-Friendly"), Ryan Russo, the Department of Transportation's director for street management and safety, states that he and his colleagues "have to work hard to win local support for the bike lanes, as there is often significant community board and elected official opposition to these plans."

We have been working for two years with Queens Community Board 9 to establish a bike path on the long-abandoned city-owned former Long Island Rail Road Rockaway Beach Branch right of way. Returning it to public use as a greenway would seem to be a no-brainer, especially considering it was on the city's 1997 greenway master plan.

The city, however, has been less than helpful. Last year the Department of City Planning obtained funding for a feasibility study for this proposal, but could not go ahead because they were unable to secure a required implementation partner, even though they approached the obvious choices: the Parks Department and Department of Transportation. We ourselves were rebuffed in a meeting with officials from the Parks Department, who suggested that we assume full responsibility for conducting a study and amassing the funds for implementation.

Mr. Russo has our support. Do we have his?

Jordan SandkeRichmond Hill, QueensThe writer is chairman, Rockaway Beach Branch Greenway Committee

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

And the Winner Is…: Streetsblog’s New Video Team Honored with Deadline Club Award

Streetsblog's social media team, led by Engagement Editor Emily Lipstein, received the Deadline Club's award for digital video reporting on Thursday night.

Friday Video: The ‘Clear’ Benefits of Daylighting

The doyen of daylighting is back with a new video.

May 16, 2025

How One Anti-Gov’t Republican Signed onto a Street Safety Bill to Rein in Reckless Drivers

State Sen. Anthony Palumbo went from "government overreach" to reaching across the aisle in a single day.

May 16, 2025

‘All in the Family’: NYPD Commissioner and Power-Broker Mom Are Both Crusading Against E-Bikes

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch has justified her criminal crackdown on cycling by saying that complaints about cyclists are the most frequent concerns she hears. Such complaints could be coming from inside the house.

May 16, 2025

Puddles Plague Hudson River Greenway As Rain Batters NYC

Greenway cyclists face dangerous conditions when it rains — as Streetsblog observed this week in Manhattan.

May 16, 2025
See all posts