Mayor Mamdani's latest move has some cyclists scratching their heads - he paved over a notorious bike lane bump on Delancey Street at the foot of the Williamsburg Bridge. The removal, which was met with a mixture of relief and frustration, is being hailed as a major win for the mayor's "do-it-all" approach to governing.
For many cyclists, the bump was more than just an eyesore - it was a necessary hazard that required riders to slam on their brakes or risk a potentially messy exit onto Delancey Street. "They're tired of biking across this bridge with anxiety as to what will happen right at the end of it," Mamdani said during his visit to the site, where he patted down fresh gravel with a shovel.
However, not everyone is celebrating. Hayden Childress, a regular cyclist in Williamsburg, noted that while the bump was gone, the opening from the bridge onto Delancey Street was still too narrow, forcing cyclists to compete for space. "You have to kind of gamble because it's not a two-way, it's a one-way," he said.
Some cyclists were also sad to see the bump go - it provided an adrenaline rush and was a fun challenge to navigate. Marcus Hogan, 27 from Bushwick, expressed his sentiments: "I love it... You get some pretty nasty air either coming in and going out. That's pretty fun."
Mayor Mamdani is quick to point out that this early win is part of a larger strategy to tackle low-hanging fruit before moving on to more complex issues. "We realized that in fact this is something that need not wait for us to have the additional conversations about larger streetscape changes right here and across the city," he said.
However, it's unclear how long this fix will last - nearly three years ago, the federal government awarded a grant to redesign Delancey Street with a road diet, which is expected to bring more pedestrian space and a "rational bike route" to the area. Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn warned that this is just the beginning of the process, rather than a long-term solution.
As Mamdani continues his push for change, it remains to be seen whether his efforts will have a lasting impact on the city's streetscape - or if they'll simply pave over one obstacle only to encounter another.
For many cyclists, the bump was more than just an eyesore - it was a necessary hazard that required riders to slam on their brakes or risk a potentially messy exit onto Delancey Street. "They're tired of biking across this bridge with anxiety as to what will happen right at the end of it," Mamdani said during his visit to the site, where he patted down fresh gravel with a shovel.
However, not everyone is celebrating. Hayden Childress, a regular cyclist in Williamsburg, noted that while the bump was gone, the opening from the bridge onto Delancey Street was still too narrow, forcing cyclists to compete for space. "You have to kind of gamble because it's not a two-way, it's a one-way," he said.
Some cyclists were also sad to see the bump go - it provided an adrenaline rush and was a fun challenge to navigate. Marcus Hogan, 27 from Bushwick, expressed his sentiments: "I love it... You get some pretty nasty air either coming in and going out. That's pretty fun."
Mayor Mamdani is quick to point out that this early win is part of a larger strategy to tackle low-hanging fruit before moving on to more complex issues. "We realized that in fact this is something that need not wait for us to have the additional conversations about larger streetscape changes right here and across the city," he said.
However, it's unclear how long this fix will last - nearly three years ago, the federal government awarded a grant to redesign Delancey Street with a road diet, which is expected to bring more pedestrian space and a "rational bike route" to the area. Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn warned that this is just the beginning of the process, rather than a long-term solution.
As Mamdani continues his push for change, it remains to be seen whether his efforts will have a lasting impact on the city's streetscape - or if they'll simply pave over one obstacle only to encounter another.
I mean, I get what Mayor Mamdani is trying to do here... "fixing" things and all that 
But, come on, a bike lane bump? That thing was like the ultimate challenge for cyclists! 
It was like a mini obstacle course right at the end of the bridge. And now it's just gone? I'm not saying the old one was super safe or anything, but there's something to be said for a little adventure when you're biking across the city 
. It's like, okay, I get it, safety first and all... but what about a little fun? 
I guess that's just the nostalgic in me talking now. Maybe I'm just too old for this bike thing... 
I get why Mayor Mamdani did this move, we do need some urgent fixes on our infrastructure, especially for cyclists. But, can't we just balance progress with caution? This bike lane bump removal might've been a nice distraction from bigger issues, but what about the safety concerns that still linger?
. As a casual cyclist, I know how annoying it was to slam on my brakes every time I rode across the bridge 
. Now we've got a smoother ride, which is def a win! 
However, some cyclists are still salty about it because the opening from the bridge onto Delancey Street is still super narrow 
. Can't we just get that sorted out too? 
. It's like he just swapped one problem for another without really addressing the root issues. The federal government is still planning a major overhaul of Delancey Street, but until then, I'm not holding my breath 
.
. And what's up with the road diet grant? That sounds like a long time coming 
... hope Mayor Mamdani's "do-it-all" approach actually pays off 
. Can't they just keep the bump and make it more interesting? 
. but like, we need more info on what's next cuz u can't just fix one problem without causing another 
. And what about all the cyclists who need that rush of adrenaline? I mean, I love biking too, but this new setup sounds like a total snooze fest... 
. I hope he's not just stringing us along until the next big project comes up 
?
I don't want our city's transportation woes to just be shuffled around like a deck of cards 
. We need real solutions, not just Band-Aid fixes 
.
. Let's hope he sticks with it and doesn't get too caught up in his own hype 
.
. Have you guys tried it? I saw they're also serving some amazing sweet potato fries... anyway, back to the bike lanes, yeah... it's kinda weird that people get so worked up about bumps on the road 
. Can we just enjoy our vegan BBQ for now?
. What really gets me is how some people are already looking forward to the next "fix"...like, can't we just enjoy the progress for once? 
I'm all about the mayor being a "do-it-all" kind of guy, but sometimes I wish he'd take his time and think things through 
. It's like, how can we expect safe and fun cycling if we're forcing riders to compete for space? 
Only time will tell if this is a lasting win or just a temporary fix... 
but seriously, i think its awesome that mayor mamdani is trying to make our streets safer and more fun 4 cyclists!! u gotta admire his "do-it-all" approach 
and yeah, maybe the new design wont b perfect but thats part of the process right? we cant have it all and be done w/it 
and yeah, the new opening on Delancey Street is still super narrow...its like ur stuck in a game of chicken w/ cars