4 THE QUEENS COURIER • JUNE 10, 2021 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Mayor commits to 30 miles of protected bike lanes
BY JULIA MORO
jmoro@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Amid a record-setting “bike
boom” across the fi ve boroughs,
Mayor Bill de Blasio doubled
down last week on his administration’s
Photo by Rebecca Henely
The city DOT began creating bike lanes on 44th Drive between Vernon Boulevard and Thomson Avenue.
Lawmakers pass bill to extend work permits in Breezy Point
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
When Superstorm Sandy smashed into
the Rockaway Peninsula nearly nine years
ago, more than 300 homes and businesses
were destroyed by fl ooding and fi re in
Breezy Point. Th e rebuilding continues to
this day.
State Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. and
Assemblywoman Stacey Pheff er Amato
passed legislation in both chambers that
would allow residents of the oceanfront
enclave to continue rebuilding their
homes without additional delays brought
about by the city application and review
process.
“It’s hard to believe that in 2021 we are
passing another extension so that Breezy
Point homeowners are guaranteed another
two years to rebuild with relief from
red tape,” Addabbo said. “I will continue
working with Breezy Point neighborhoods
until they are able to rebuild
and return to living in structurally sound
homes. Th e need to introduce and pass an
extender bill shows the magnitude of the
devastation Sandy brought to our constituents
in Breezy Point.”
Th e devastation of the private bungalow
community, wedged between the Atlantic
Ocean and Jamaica Bay, was seen around
the world following the storm in October
2012 and thousands of residents were subjected
to delays under the Rapid Repair,
Build it Back and other programs at the
city level.
“Our community was uprooted by
Hurricane Sandy, and we are still feeling
those eff ects and working to rebuild nine
years later,” Pheff er Amato said. “I am
thankful to Senator Addabbo and the residents
of Breezy Point for their advocacy
to help make government work for their
community. We will not stop until all our
residents can fully come home again.”
Th e measure will now head the desk of
Governor Andrew Cuomo who is expected
to sign the Breezy Point work permit
extension measure into law.
“With the passage of this legislation,
we are helping the people of Breezy Point
continue to move forward and succeed in
the aft ermath of Hurricane Sandy, while
sparing them additional frustration and
expense in dealing with bureaucratic red
tape,” Addabbo said.
commitment to add
30 miles of protected bike lanes
this year.
A record-breaking 2,709,684
rides were taken on Citi Bike in
May, according to de Blasio —
who said these numbers are a
good indication of a “bike boom”
all over the city.
“Th is is great for our environment,
for stopping climate
change, for a healthier city, for a
less congested city, for a greener
city,” said de Blasio. “What a
good way to ride into the summer
of New York City. You’re
going to see people out on their
bikes, enjoying this city like
never before.”
Th e city outlined where these
protected bike lanes would be
created:
Manhattan/Queens
• East 61st and 62nd Streets,
Manhattan/Northern Blvd,
Queens: Connecting Midtown
to the Queensboro Bridge and
the 34th Avenue Open Street
in Jackson Heights
• 7th Avenue – Connecting
Central Park to Midtown
• Varick Street/West Broadway/
Church Street/6th Avenue
and Centre Street: Connecting
Brooklyn Bridge and Lower
Manhattan to Tribeca and
Chinatown
The Bronx
• Bronxdale Avenue and White
Plains Road: Building protected
lanes into the existing
neighborhood network, hosting
e-scooter pilot starting this
summer.
• Morrisania Neighborhood
Network: Improving access
and safety for local community
and schools
Brooklyn
• Meeker Avenue: East/West connection
from new Kosciusko
Bridge to Williamsburg
Laura Fox, general manager
at Citi Bike and Lyft Bikes,
said adding these protected bike
lanes is essential to safety and
encouraging more ridership.
“We know from research that
it’s one of the most impactful
things you can do to get folks on
to bikes across the city,” said Fox.
Lyft has invested over $100
million adding thousands of
new bikes and stations in the
west Bronx, Inwood, Astoria and
Sunset Park.
“These communities are
underserved by traditional transit
and our bikes are providing
New Yorkers in these areas
with a fast and easy way to get
to the train, run errands and see
friends,” Fox said.
Protected bike lanes create buff -
ered paths for bicyclists to travel
separated from regular vehicular
traffi c. Th e city’s Department
of Transportationhas previously
reportedthat protected bike lanes
have helped increase street safety
and reduce instances of cyclist
collisions and fatalities.
Photo courtesy of Sullivan & Galleshaw
Breezy Point residents are still rebuilding from the devastation of Superstorm Sandy and new legislation was passed to help them navigate the city’s
red tape.
/WWW.QNS.COM
link
link
link
link
