A new mayor for New York. What does it mean for cycling?
“If elected, you’re going to see me on my bike all the time, riding to and from City Hall in a real way.”
That was Eric Adams, speaking at a press conference in October about two weeks before he would be elected the 110th mayor of New York. Receiving the endorsement of StreetsPAC — a political action committee dedicated to supporting candidates who prioritize transit, cycling, and pedestrian issues — Adams arrived on a Citi Bike. It was a noted contrast with the current mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio, who during his eight years in office was frequently driven in a fleet of SUVs to his favorite gym where he’d ride a stationary bike.
As the Brooklyn Borough President, Adams has frequently been seen riding to and from events on his bike. In June, shortly after winning the Democratic primary, he biked from his office in downtown Brooklyn to preside over a street renaming, the sort of ceremonial duty that’s the bread and butter of New York City retail politics. The fact that Adams, knowing he’d have the attention of the city’s press corps, rode his bicycle to this event was certainly a deliberate choice, although perhaps less a sign that he wants to take cycling seriously and more a savvy political move. Having built his brand as a man of the people, what better way to show that you’re one of them than by ditching the SUV favored by his predecessor and riding a bike?
Still, it seems that Adams wants to do more than rely on the symbolic power of the bicycle and has plans to make cycling a serious part of New York City’s transportation future. During his campaign, Adams promised to build three hundred miles of protected bike lanes in his first term in office. He wants to transform derelict, trash-strewn space under elevated highways into bicycle superhighways, which could provide comfortable cycling routes to connect people riding from the outer boroughs with the existing bike lane network. He has spoken about the importance of safe bicycle routes to school and also placed a high priority on equity, pledging to bring bike lanes and Citi Bike to currently neighborhoods that have historically been left out of New York’s cycling revolution.
While Eric Adams doesn’t take office until January 1st, 2022, expectations about a new administration will mean for cycling and safe streets are already quite high. Still, questions remain. Who will he appoint as commissioner of the Department of Transportation? An innovator like former commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, who held the job under Mayor Michael Bloomberg? Or will the role instead go to an Adams loyalist or someone from within city government who may not be willing to rock the boat? The answers remain to be seen. For now, New Yorkers should at least be grateful that the next mayor likes to ride his bike.
Doug Gordon
Car Free Megacities New York Lead | Brooklyn Spoke
