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Q&A
Council member inquires about new bike lane policy on Rockaway boardwalk
1:41:54
ยท
153 sec
Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers questions DOT representatives about a new policy prohibiting bikes on the Rockaway boardwalk from Beach 73rd to Beach 110th. She expresses concerns about community notification and safety implications, particularly for children who now must use street bike lanes instead of the boardwalk.
- DOT's Assistant Commissioner Rick Rodriguez admits to being unaware of the specifics and promises to gather more information.
- Brooks-Powers requests a response before an upcoming community board meeting where the issue will be discussed.
- Rodriguez commits to providing detailed information ahead of the meeting.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
1:41:54
I did want to talk about something district specific.
1:41:56
I gave the commissioner heads up so they probably sent you a message already by now, and that is regarding the new bike lane policy along the boardwalk.
1:42:05
I understand that's Department of Parks but I wanted to understand what coordination if any happened with Department of Transportation.
1:42:12
So right now from Beach 70 Third to about Beach 1 Tenth, bikes are no longer allowed on the boardwalk.
1:42:20
They now have to go onto the street to go through the the bike lane that way.
1:42:26
And so I understand we always have had the you know, you have to dismount from your bike in certain zones near the concessions, which obviously makes sense.
1:42:35
But to now shift and say that no one can ride for most of the day during the summer months there and instead go into the street, I wanted to understand what that process was like because it seems like the community was caught off guard.
1:42:49
The community board does not recall getting any notification on that and I also want to know if DOT supports that change.
1:42:57
One particular comment that came to my office stood out to me and that was about the children.
1:43:02
The children that take advantage of the bike lanes on the boardwalk that may be learning how to ride the bike, we're now shifting them into the street.
1:43:11
While it, you know, some of it is I believe protected, it is a lot safer for them on the boardwalk.
1:43:18
It's, you know, a better environment also.
1:43:20
So I just wanna understand that.
Rick Rodriguez
1:43:25
Hi, council member.
1:43:26
How are you?
1:43:27
I would have to get additional information for borough commissioner, I know that she works with her sister role over in the Queens borough commissioner's office in the parks department.
1:43:37
But as to the specifics, I'm hearing this in real time from you, and we're gonna get you something robust.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
1:43:42
Okay.
1:43:42
So if I can hear back before the week is out, that'd be great.
1:43:46
I believe we have a community board meeting coming up, it may be tomorrow, but we may have a meeting coming up.
1:43:51
The sooner the better to be able to report back.
1:43:54
I know it's tomorrow.
1:43:55
Committee board fourteen is tomorrow because we have the Parks Borough area administrator that will be presenting.
1:44:03
So if I could get it ahead of that to understand what happened there, that'll be good.
1:44:09
But you're not aware of any coordination or anything because I would imagine if they're shifting bike users to the street, they would communicate that with DOT to some extent.
Rick Rodriguez
1:44:19
I mean, that all sounds reasonable to me.
1:44:21
I don't know the specifics here but we can make sure that you have that well in advance of your follow-up meeting.