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	<title>Observer &#187; Entitlements: City Spent $140,000 Defending PPW Bike Lane</title>
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		<title>Observer &#187; Entitlements: City Spent $140,000 Defending PPW Bike Lane</title>
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		<title>Entitlements: City Spent $140,000 Defending PPW Bike Lane</title>

		<comments>http://observer.com/2012/02/entitlements-city-spent-140000-defending-ppw-bike-lane/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2012 10:02:45 -0400</pubDate>
					<link>http://observer.com/2012/02/entitlements-city-spent-140000-defending-ppw-bike-lane/</link>
			<dc:creator>Matt Chaban</dc:creator>
				
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.observer.com/?p=222854</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p><div id="attachment_222856" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 604px"><a rel="attachment wp-att-222856" href="http://www.observer.com/2012/02/entitlements-city-spent-140000-defending-ppw-bike-lane/judge-rules-that-contested-brooklyn-bike-lane-can-stay-4/"><img class="size-full wp-image-222856" title="Judge Rules That Contested Brooklyn Bike Lane Can Stay" src="http://nyoobserver.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/121294995.jpg" alt="" width="594" height="396" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">With all that money, maybe they could afford a new coat of paint. (Getty)</p></div></p>
<p>If brownstone neighbors thought <a href="http://www.observer.com/2011/08/breaking-city-prevails-in-prospect-park-west-bike-lane-challenge/">challenges to the Prospect Park West bike lane</a> were a nuisance—they point to community board votes and supportive surveys—it has turned out to be an expensive one at that. According to documents obtained by <em>The Brooklyn Paper</em>, the riotously named <a href="http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/35/8/dtg_bikelaneappeal_2012_02_24_bk.html">Neighbors for Better Bike Lanes has so far cost the city $140,000 in legal fees</a> defending the lane, a price that will no doubt rise <a href="http://www.observer.com/2012/02/screeeeech-neighbors-for-better-bike-lanes-appeal-ppw-suit/">now that the suit has been appealed</a>.<!--more--></p>
<p>Just as NBBL believes it is its right to have the bike lane removed from "its backyard," it believes it has a duty to spend the city's money.</p>
<blockquote><p>Jim Walden, a lawyer for the bike lane opponents, says critics of the  Prospect Park West path have the right to appeal — and the case is more  than worthy of one — because they aim to expose a government agency of  wrongdoing.</p>
<p>He described criticism of the appeal as Kafkaesque.</p>
<p>“This is America,” said Walden. “Get real.”</p></blockquote>
<p>Ironic for a group stocked with <a href="http://www.observer.com/2011/10/avid-cyclist-chuck-schumer-no-fan-of-prospect-park-west-bike-lane-says-neighbor/">current and former politicians</a>.</p>
<p><strong><a href="mailto:mchaban@observer.com">mchaban [at] observer.com</a></strong> |<strong> <a href="http://twitter.com/MC_YC">@MC_NYC</a></strong></p>
]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><div id="attachment_222856" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 604px"><a rel="attachment wp-att-222856" href="http://www.observer.com/2012/02/entitlements-city-spent-140000-defending-ppw-bike-lane/judge-rules-that-contested-brooklyn-bike-lane-can-stay-4/"><img class="size-full wp-image-222856" title="Judge Rules That Contested Brooklyn Bike Lane Can Stay" src="http://nyoobserver.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/121294995.jpg" alt="" width="594" height="396" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">With all that money, maybe they could afford a new coat of paint. (Getty)</p></div></p>
<p>If brownstone neighbors thought <a href="http://www.observer.com/2011/08/breaking-city-prevails-in-prospect-park-west-bike-lane-challenge/">challenges to the Prospect Park West bike lane</a> were a nuisance—they point to community board votes and supportive surveys—it has turned out to be an expensive one at that. According to documents obtained by <em>The Brooklyn Paper</em>, the riotously named <a href="http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/35/8/dtg_bikelaneappeal_2012_02_24_bk.html">Neighbors for Better Bike Lanes has so far cost the city $140,000 in legal fees</a> defending the lane, a price that will no doubt rise <a href="http://www.observer.com/2012/02/screeeeech-neighbors-for-better-bike-lanes-appeal-ppw-suit/">now that the suit has been appealed</a>.<!--more--></p>
<p>Just as NBBL believes it is its right to have the bike lane removed from "its backyard," it believes it has a duty to spend the city's money.</p>
<blockquote><p>Jim Walden, a lawyer for the bike lane opponents, says critics of the  Prospect Park West path have the right to appeal — and the case is more  than worthy of one — because they aim to expose a government agency of  wrongdoing.</p>
<p>He described criticism of the appeal as Kafkaesque.</p>
<p>“This is America,” said Walden. “Get real.”</p></blockquote>
<p>Ironic for a group stocked with <a href="http://www.observer.com/2011/10/avid-cyclist-chuck-schumer-no-fan-of-prospect-park-west-bike-lane-says-neighbor/">current and former politicians</a>.</p>
<p><strong><a href="mailto:mchaban@observer.com">mchaban [at] observer.com</a></strong> |<strong> <a href="http://twitter.com/MC_YC">@MC_NYC</a></strong></p>
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			<media:title type="html">Judge Rules That Contested Brooklyn Bike Lane Can Stay</media:title>
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