Judge blocks Mayor Adams from removing protected Bedford Ave bike lane

A judge has temporarily halted the removal of a stretch of protected bike lane on Brooklyn’s Bedford Avenue, striking a blow to Mayor Eric Adams’ bid to redesign the thoroughfare.

Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Carolyn Walker-Diallo on Wednesday ordered the city to hold off on doing any work until a hearing in August. Her ruling came in a lawsuit brought by street safety advocacy group Transportation Alternatives, which argued Adams had abused his discretion by ordering the lane be restored to its previous unprotected design.

“I am very pleased the Court appears to understand the seriousness of this matter and granted a temporary restraining order that prevents the City from ripping out Bedford Avenue’s safety improvements,” said Peter Beadle, a lawyer for Transportation Alternatives.

The legal battle centers on a stretch of Bedford Avenue between Willoughby and Flushing avenues. Adams’ transportation department last year installed a protected lane for cyclists by moving parking off the curb. The agency justified the redesign by citing dangerous conditions and high crash rates, including five pedestrian fatalities in 2021 and 2022.

But the Bedford Avenue bike lane has been controversial, particularly among Hasidic residents of South Williamsburg and Bed-Stuy, since it was first installed under Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2007. Last year’s modifications revived the debate.

Adams said he had been persuaded by feedback from local residents who argued the protected lane had created more danger. A recent viral video showed a 3-year-old Orthodox Jewish girl being struck by an e-bike rider in the bike lane after she exited a double parked car.

Adams announced the protected lane would be reverted to its previous unprotected design, where cars park on the curb and cyclists ride next to traffic.

Several local lawmakers, including City Councilmember Lincoln Restler, protested the hasty order to remove the bike lane.

“It’s unfortunate that elected leaders are intentionally disregarding the needs and safety of the very community who elected them to be their representative," Adams' spokesperson Sophia Askari wrote in a statement. "We will address this matter in court where we are confident we will prevail.”

The judge’s order means that plan is on pause for now. Officials at Transportation Alternatives said the city had planned to proceed with construction as soon as Wednesday night.

This story was updated with a comment from the mayor's office.