Rockaway locals oppose boardwalk bike ban

Rockaway Beach locals are opposing a proposed ban on bikes on a large portion of the boardwalk this summer. Eagle photo by Ryan Schwach

By Ryan Schwach

Some local cyclists in Rockaway Beach rallied in opposition to a Parks Department plan to ban two-wheeled vehicles on a busy stretch of the boardwalk this summer.

The Parks Department plans to ban bikes on the boardwalk from Beach 78th Street to Beach 108th Street, the busiest and most visited portion of the Rockaway coastline. The proposal is intended to limit collisions and injuries between cyclists and pedestrians, particularly around the crowd concession areas.

However, Rockaway locals are not thrilled with the plan, arguing that, while injuries have happened, the city needs to do more with signage and enforcement to keep “a few bad apples” off the boardwalk.

“The problem is they're going to stop us, but they can never stop the bad apples,” said Community Board member John Cori. “The speed demons are going to go as fast as they can past anybody that says to stop.”

The community members also say that biking the boardwalk is a part of Rockaway’s culture and tradition, and needs to be preserved.

“We need to keep our biking, our culture, our traditions, going for a long time,” said Cori.

Parks’ plan would divert cyclists onto the designated bike lane on Shore Front Parkway, which the locals aren’t happy about either.

“When I go for a nice bike ride on a summer day, I want to look at the ocean, I want to look at the waves,” said local Bobby Nelson. “I don't want to look at parked cars and apartment buildings.”

Locals also argue that the Shore Front bike lane isn’t necessarily a safer alternative. During the summer, cars often park illegally right along the lane, and beach-goers often cross the bike lane and kids wait on ice cream truck lines right on top of it.

“We've all seen what the Shore Front Parkway bike lane looks like in the middle of the summer,” said Rockaway Beach Civic Association President Bridget Klapinski. “It is not a safer solution to divert additional traffic there.”

Klapinski, who rides her own bike on the boardwalk several times a week year round, admits that cyclists need to do more to ensure safety along the boardwalk.

“I think even the nomenclature of a bike lane brings a certain sense of entitlement to cyclists that they sort of own that space,” she said. “But it is a board-’walk.’”

She also wants more signage, and more enforcement directed at the most dangerous riders.

Local City Councilmember Joann Ariola is supportive of the ban, which will run from Memorial Day Weekend through Oct. 1. Cyclists will have a brief window from 6 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. every day during that stretch to take their bikes out on the boardwalk.

"It's regrettable that a few bad apples have spoiled it for the bunch, but this was ultimately deemed necessary for the safety of everyone,” Ariola said. “We've seen too many people hurt because of motorized bicycles and speeding cyclists, and we want to avoid that going forward.”

The Parks Department has heard the complaints, but is looking forward to more feedback from the local Community Board 14.

The policy is similar to that in Coney Island and Orchard Beach in the Bronx.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming visitors to the Rockaway Boardwalk this summer,” a Parks spokesperson said. “To make sure the boardwalk is safe and accessible for all users, this summer we’re establishing pedestrian-only hours on the busiest stretches of the boardwalk, during the busiest parts of the day. We encourage cyclists to use the protected bike lane that runs in both directions on Shore Front Parkway as an alternative.”