Guerrilla Stripers Paint Back Bedford Avenue Bike Lane

Looks like some New Yorkers who bike on Bedford Avenue decided not to sit idly by after the city removed 14 blocks of bike lane in South Williamsburg. Multiple sources informed Streetsblog this morning that DIY, unofficial bike lane striping has appeared along the stretch of Bedford Avenue that was sandblasted last week. We don’t know who is responsible for this act of civil disobedience and guerrilla safety enhancement, but apparently, their efforts have run afoul of the law.

SandBlastedOff.jpgAfter DOT blasted them off last week, Bedford Avenue bike stencils have reportedly reappeared. Photo: Elizabeth Press.

According to sources cited by Ben Muessig at Gothamist, the bike lane stripers were apprehended by NYPD this morning, with an assist from the neighborhood watch in South Williamsburg’s Hasidic community:

According to tipsters, the neighborhood’s volunteer community watch
group responded to reports at around 4 am that two men were using
spraypaint to recreate a section of the bike lane, which the Department
of Transportation controversially removed from a 14-block stretch of
Bedford Avenue last week. Police arrived at the corner of Bedford
Avenue and Rutledge Street and arrested two suspects, sources said.

Streetsblog has requests in with NYPD and the 90th Precinct to confirm the arrests. In the meantime, if you have more information or pictures of the unofficial bike lane, send to tips@streetsblog.org.

ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

Video: The Bedford Avenue Guerrilla Bike Lane Striping

|
For your viewing pleasure this morning, YouTube footage of yesterday’s early a.m. direct action on Bedford Avenue in South Williamsburg. It’s hard to say for sure, but it looks like the Hasidic bike lane painters chose to stay off-camera. After the jump, a look at the results in broad daylight, courtesy of a tipster.

Streetfilms: Car-Free Bedford Avenue

|
Emil Kozerawski is still working on the idea of making Williamsburg, Brooklyn’s "Main Street" into a car-free pedestrian boulevard. Now Car-Free Bedford Avenue has its own Streetfilms-style video on YouTube. Speaking of which, don’t forget to tag those YouTube videos "Streetsblog" to ensure that we get a hold of them. I love the vision and […]

Bedford Avenue Bike Parking Update

|
A knowledgeable correspondent explains why the Williamsburg bike parking facility is being held up: The Bedford Avenue L Subway Station bike parking improvements are being held up by funding problems. State Assemblyman Joe Lentol has secured funding for the project, but Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has delayed the release of the funding because there was some […]

More Bike Lanes for Brooklyn CB 1

|
Streetsblog has gotten word that bike lane construction is set to proceed next month on several streets in Brooklyn Community Board 1 territory. An August 31 letter to CB 1 District Manager Gerald Esposito from DOT Brooklyn Borough Commissioner Joseph Palmieri lists the following planned improvements: Bedford Avenue between Rogers Avenue and Division Street Division […]