On Tuesday I attended the Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce‘s monthly luncheon at Dazie’s. The Chamber’s Board of Directors voted last week to support the bike lanes on Skillman and 43rd Avenues.
That evening there was a hearing of Community Board 2 to discuss transportation-related issues. Skillman Avenue was on the agenda, but when I got there I found out that it wouldn’t be discussed after all. I did get a chance to ask Commissioner McCarthy about some of my requested bike lane improvements. She was noncommital about the idea of extending the lanes to Roosevelt Avenue, but accepted the request and said, “You’ll probably be seeing more bike lanes in the near future.” I didn’t get a chance to ask about the idea of making the ones on 43rd and Skillman protected cycle tracks, or about making the route on 48th Street and 39th Avenue striped or separated.
I did ask about bike racks near the planned route, though. The Commissioner said that bike racks near businesses are best requested by the businesses. She said that her staff could canvass the businesses, but I think it would be good if we also suggested it to them. Request forms (PDF) can be downloaded from the DOT’s website. Feel free to print them out and bring them to your favorite businesses. If I can find the time I’ll try to coordinate a group effort, but if anyone else wants to coordinate it, please send a message to our mailing list!