At a lengthy meeting Wednesday night, the transportation committee of Community Board 7 passed a resolution in support of the "concept" of protected bike lanes on Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues from 59th to 110th Streets. The 6-2 committee vote came after testimony from area residents, business people, and community board members from Hell's Kitchen and midtown, who noted the safety benefits and other improvements separated lanes have brought to their districts.
In other business, the committee tabled a vote on a request that posts from old parking meters, rendered defunct by muni-meters, be converted to bike racks. During a reportedly heated discussion, at least one committee member expressed fears that such action would further delay the installation of new CityRacks, and questioned the aesthetic appeal of the converted meter poles.
The full board is set to take up the protected bike lane resolution on October 6.
