A controversial bike lane in a predominantly Orthodox Jewish Brooklyn neighborhood has become pivotal in the re-election efforts of Mayor Eric Adams. In June, he ordered the relocation of a bike lane on Bedford Avenue to the middle of the street, a move that faced opposition and legal obstacles. Critics claim this decision is politically motivated to attract Hasidic Jewish voters, who historically prefer prioritizing cars over bikes. Adams, facing a competitive election, aims to gather support from diverse coalitions as he prepares for the general election.
The mayor in June ordered the transportation department to move the newly installed bike lane on Bedford Avenue between Willoughby and Flushing avenues away from the curb, where cyclists are protected by parked cars, and into the middle of the street.
Critics of the mayor chastised it as a political move aimed at garnering political support from Hasidic Jewish voters in South Williamsburg and Bedford-Stuyvesant, who have protested cycling infrastructure for decades.
Adams, who skipped the Democratic primary in June, plans to run on a ballot line in November called either "Safe&Affordable" or "EndAntisemitism," rushing to build a coalition to compete in the general election.
Cuomo won 72% of the first-round votes in the election district that encompasses most of the bike lane.
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