Ikea Fights Red Hook Bike Lane
Can’t we all just get along? Today brings yet another bike controversy to the fore. This one’s in Red Hook, where Ikea has clearly calculated that it’s entrenched enough that it no longer has to play nice. The Swedish megastore is fighting a plan by the Department of Transportation that would eliminate one lane of…
Can’t we all just get along? Today brings yet another bike controversy to the fore. This one’s in Red Hook, where Ikea has clearly calculated that it’s entrenched enough that it no longer has to play nice. The Swedish megastore is fighting a plan by the Department of Transportation that would eliminate one lane of southbound car traffic in order to install a four-block long bike lane on Columbia Street from Bay Street onto Halleck and Beard. It seems dangerous to officially encourage bikes to the front of Ikea, store manager Mike Baker said at a Community Board 6 meeting on Thursday night. In addition, the retailer threatened to back away from certain promises it made back in 2008 as part of being allowed to open. “If the … traffic management elements constructed and funded by Ikea are going to be modified … then Ikea is not responsible for impacting or remedying the vehicular flow in Red Hook.” Noah Budnick from Transportation Alternatives raised the same question we have: Ikea has enough enemies as it is in that neighborhood, I don’t know why they would stand up and oppose a safety project.
Ikea to City: No Bike Lanes! [Brooklyn Paper]
IKEA Plays Hardball to Block Bike Lane [Gothamist]
Photo by bitchcakesny
Are bicyclists required by law to stop at red lights and stop signs?
They need to get rid of that stretch of cobble stones between Ikea and Fairway.
As someone who drives to Red Hook pretty much every week, I’m not sure that IKEA isn’t right to be concerned. IKEA shouldn’t fight the bike lane but — if one is created — it needs to be combined with road widening and/or other traffic flow improvements. A lot of traffic bound for IKEA turns left off Bay onto Columbia, right by the Added Value urban farm. The road is narrow and strangely marked. Then there’s a sharp right hand turn onto Halleck, directly in front of IKEA. It’s a mess now and I see a lot of cars getting confused about which lane they should be in. Add a bike lane, and there will be more confusion.
Frankly, the signage added to the streets to help drivers find IKEA — and especially the lines drawn on the asphalt itself to direct traffic — are totally inadequate. Huge improvements could be made without major cost, just by adding more/better signs.
“It’s bizarre how popular Ikea is with young liberal hipsters.” — just jump in there with some stupid generalization.
and BTW – I’ve had plenty of IKEA stuff for more then 10 years.
Only 33 posts? looks like the bike wars have run out of steam. Or pedal power.
It’s bizarre how popular Ikea is with young liberal hipsters. It’s the most non-green company ever. Disposable furniture destined for landfill within 5-10 years of its purchase. This bike-lane opposition goes right along with that.
I do like Ikea for vases, candles and napkins.
I occassionally see those crazy bikes going over the Brooklyn Bridge. All I think about is that if they fell over they would end up in the middle of the car traffic below, and that would suck for them.
so much for this idea coming to ikea brooklyn…
“Danish IKEA Intros Fleet Of Trailer Bikes To Get Those Flatpacks Home”
http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/07/08/ikea-debuts-bike-trailers-in-denmark/
m4l — and fall really far. These modified bikes are stupid… but they don’t get my ire up like recumbent bikes do.
Please tell me why it is a good idea to ride around at an invisible height, not to mention at a height where you can’t see anything?