A Manhattan judge on Wednesday declined to immediately halt construction of a protected bike lane on Central Park West, a day after a local condo board sued the city to stop the path.
In denying the request for an injunction, Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Lynn Kotler rebuked the residents of 25 Central Park West and their attorney for taking the issue to court only after the local community board already approved the plan in June.
“This was approved by your own community board, which would have been the perfect opportunity for residents there to voice their objection,” she told lawyer Richard Leland.
The residents’ suit, filed Tuesday, argues that the project should have gone through an official environmental review before the installation — which began this week — in part because Central Park West is a historic district running alongside a park.
The plaintiffs had hoped for a temporary restraining order like the one served to the city’s 14th Street car ban last month. But Kotler wasn’t sympathetic, pointing out that the city already has protected bike lanes running along parks in historic districts.
“We have a number of historic districts and we have a number of open spaces,” she said. “Why is this any different?”
A full trial is pending, with the next court date set for August 20.
City officials put forward the bike plan after Aussie tourist Madison Jane Lyden was fatally hit while she biked on the park-adjacent strip last August.
In addition to the community board, the plan has support from local Councilwoman Helen Rosenthal and 20th Precinct Commanding Officer Timothy Malin.
City Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg claimed victory after Wednesday’s hearing.
“We are grateful for the judge’s decision today that will allow us to move forward with a design that will transform Central Park West this summer, and make our streets safer for everyone,” Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg said in a statement.
“With so many lives being lost this year on our roadways, and with the broad support of the community, we are confident that we will ultimately prevail in our efforts to build this much-needed protected bike lane.”