11 community Wheels begin to turn for Queens Citi Bike BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO Citi Bike is slowly pedaling its way into western Queens. The Department of Transportation (DOT) has begun the process of bringing the Citi Bike Share Program into Long Island City, Sunnyside and now Astoria, by getting community input from Community Boards (CB) 1 and 2. On November 19 the DOT began the fi rst step of a long planning process of bringing Citi Bike to Astoria by introducing the plan to residents and board members during CB 1’s monthly meeting. Offi cials said this is only the beginning of a process that will take months and various community feedback meetings. In August, Senator Michael Gianaris announced he was working with the DOT to include Astoria in the future plans, which initially only included Long Island City and Sunnyside as Queens Citi Bike locations. “I think it’s a great program that would provide unique benefi ts to western Queens,” said Gianaris. “I’m anxious to see a good program to include Queens as opposed to just Manhattan and Brooklyn.” Gianaris said his push for Citi Bike in western Queens arose after receiving a lot of input from residents and businesses. He also said it would work better for this area because although there are mass transit options available, some residents live a distance away from train stations. People from outside the area would be able to get to local restaurants, museums and other western Queens attractions. The DOT will now conduct public discussions, collecting resident feedback and suggesting possible station locations in Astoria. The senator said the only big community concern is fear that the DOT could remove parking spaces when they install the Citi Bike stations. The DOT has begun the process of bringing the Citi Bike Share program to western Queens, including Sunnyside, Long Island City and now Astoria. “We have to do the work to get it done now,” said Gianaris. After the planning process is completed, the DOT will then have to fi nd the funding for the stations. The DOT has completed the planning process and station location selection with CB 2 for the neighborhoods of Sunnyside and Long Island City. Working together with the community, 11 locations have been selected and the DOT is waiting for resources to THE COURIER/Photo by Cristabelle Tumola become available to install those stations. The 11 locations are either in no-parking areas, sidewalks, public parks and plazas, or private property. A map of the planned stations can be found at http://a841-tfpweb.nyc.gov/bikeshare/station-map/. Long Island City was supposed to be part of the Citi Bike’s initial phase, which debuted in May, but was pushed back after equipment damages from Superstorm Sandy caused a delay. Local Restaurants: LIC is one of a kind BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO As Long Island City continues to thrive, more than a dozen restaurants have come together to support one another and send the message that they are one of a kind. The eateries have formed the Long Island City Restaurant Association to promote the community, share stories, problems and tips to move forward. “Community building, that’s what it is all about,” said Rebecca Trent, owner of The Creek and The Cave and the association’s creator and organizer. “Having the association allows us to have strength in numbers.” The group, which held its fi rst meeting on November 4, was created after Trent realized how many restaurants there are in the community and from her personal experience as a small business owner. “It’s nice to know there are others in the trenches with you,” said Trent. “Being a restaurant owner is a unique job. It’s an incredibly rewarding experience.” Monthly meetings will allow restaurant owners and managers to share common struggles, ideas and trends and also discuss what is going on in the area. The group will also focus its attention on making sure incoming residents and those viewing Long Island City from the outside know the area is separate from any other neighborhoods. “There are too many comparisons to Brooklyn for my taste,” said Trent. “Let us be Queens. Long Island City is very important to me. I’m just so excited about all the stuff going on in this neighborhood. I want it to be something that stands on its own.” As the association grows, Trent said meetings will continue to take place monthly, with the hopes that business owners and managers, along with local elected offi cials, can attend three to four times a year. “It’s all about sharing stories,” she said. For more info on future meetings, e-mail [email protected]. Photo Courtesy Tal Shpantzer Photography/talfoto.com More than a dozen Long Island City restaurants, including The Creek and The Cave, have formed the Long Island City Restaurant Association. www.queenscourier.com I LIC COURIER I DECEMBER 2013
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