Sunnyside Cyclists Under A-Tack

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Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer holding thumb tacks that were found scattered in bike lanes across 43rd Avenue in Sunnyside on Thursday. Twitter photo via Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer.

Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer holding thumb tacks that were found scattered in bike lanes across 43rd Avenue in Sunnyside on Thursday. Twitter photo via Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer.

By Christina Carrega

A suspected cyclist saboteur got right to the point in expressing their opposition to new bike lanes, Sunnyside residents say.

Police are investigating allegations of an anti-bike lane bandit who scattered several thumbtacks in Sunnyside bike lanes.

On Thursday, Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer learned that a family of constituents were almost injured while riding on 43rd Avenue when one of wheels of the bicycle suddenly burst.

“I just want it to be known that whomever did this is obviously in opposition [to] this already existing bike lane and their protest could have seriously injured or even killed me or one of my kids,” the angry dad said on social media, according to Van Bramer’s Twitter account.

In July, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the Department of Transportation would construct parking-protected bike lanes and other safety precautions for pedestrians despite opposition from Community Board No. 2, which voted against the plan.

Construction for the bike lanes began in August and eliminated 116 parking spaces over a span of 2.6 miles.

The father found three thumbtacks in the deflated wheel and several others scattered along 43rd Avenue, Van Bramer said.

Before Van Bramer filed a complaint for the 108th Precinct, he took to Twitter to call out the possible mischievers.

“Let me be clear: the bike lanes are not going away. I support them. And while people may disagree, the increasingly desperate campaign against them is now riling up the worst elements of our community and inspiring criminal vigilantism,” Van Bramer said in a statement on Twitter.

If there is an arrest, police could hit the suspect with criminal mischief charges.

“The Commanding Officer of the 108 Precinct is aware of and looking into the allegation that thumb tacks were intentionally placed on the bike lane at 43rd Avenue,” said NYPD spokesman Lieutenant John Grimpel.