Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Jim Walden

Will NBBL Bury the Hatchet or Continue to Wage War on Safer Streets?

The decision issued by Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Bert Bunyan Tuesday dismissing the Prospect Park West lawsuit should reverberate in a few ways. Among them: The storyline probably doesn't have as much allure to the press as it used to. And without the PR value, the opponents' legal challenges lose a lot of their fundamental purpose.

NBBL could appeal Bunyan's ruling, but they would have to convince the appellate court to overturn a decision that hinged on a finding of fact, which, our sources in the legal profession tell us, would have even lower odds than the initial suit, in all its flimsiness. They could also file a new suit to stop adjustments to the lane that haven't been built yet, like the addition of granite pedestrian refuges to PPW, but only after "exhausting administrative remedies" by appealing to DOT first. A separate suit could not undo the basic geometry of the bike lane, given Bunyan's ruling.

So any future litigation from NBBL, it seems, would be an even more obvious exercise in scorched earth tactics. NBBL lawyer Jim Walden appeared to acknowledge as much when he told the Brooklyn Paper, "This is just the first battle in what is inevitably going to be a longer war."

The quote drew this response from Bill Carey of Neighbors for Better Neighbors:

Our community is not a battlefield and the work of making our streets safer does not "inevitably" have to be a "war." Mr. Walden's clients can graciously accept Judge Bunyan's decision and move on. We look at the bike path as a place to come together, not a line of division in this great neighborhood.

We encourage the plaintiffs to drop the martial language and the legal crusade, and join with their neighbors to continue the work of making our streets calmer and safer. There's still much to be done, and we extend our hands to all those who want to take part in a positive and constructive effort.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Report: Efforts to Speed Up Bus Speeds Have Stalled … Like Bus Speeds

City buses move slower than ever after Mayor Adams reneged on his commitment to build more bus lanes, according to a new analysis.

February 7, 2025

Paradigm Shift: MTA Boss Says State Should Pony Up More For Capital Plans

"Every time the MTA capital program comes up, we treat it like, 'Oh my god, they need a bailout,'" the MTA CEO said, pointing out the absurdity.

February 7, 2025

Who is Trump’s FTA Pick Marc Molinaro — And Will He Kill Congestion Pricing?

If confirmed, Trump FTA pick Marc Molinaro can do a lot to gum up funding for mass transit across the country. Here's a look at his record.

February 7, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: It Never Ends Edition

A great Hell Gate story about fake placards is our top story. Plus other news in our digest.

February 7, 2025
See all posts