Judge Orders Temporary Restraining Order to Block City from Removing the Bedford Avenue Safety Improvements After Brooklyn Family and Transportation Alternatives Sue

Protected bike lanes reduce killed and seriously injured rates by 29% for all pedestrians and 39% for senior pedestrians. 

Pedestrian and motorist injuries have fallen since the implementation of the Bedford Avenue protected bike lane.

NEW YORK —  Today, a judge issued a ‘Temporary Restraining Order’ against the City of New York one day after a Brooklyn family and Transportation Alternatives sued over the illegal plans to remove the Bedford Avenue street safety projects. 

Yesterday, a Brooklyn family, represented by Peter Beadle, J.D., sued the Adams administration over its illegal plans to suddenly remove the Bedford Avenue safety improvements and protected bike lane. According to the suit, the Adams administration announced plans to remove portions of the Bedford Avenue bike lane “improperly, irrationally, without proper legal notice and in an abuse of discretion.” The protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue was initially installed by the Department of Transportation in response to documented safety issues and after months of community review of the plans.

"I am very pleased the Court appears to understand the seriousness of this matter and granted a temporary restraining order that prevents the City from ripping out Bedford Avenue's safety improvements,” said Peter W. Beadle, Esq. “When applying for a TRO, one of the elements that has to be satisfied is a showing that the case is likely to succeed on the merits. While this is by no means a guarantee of success later, and this decision is only temporary, it’s fantastic that the Court agrees that our case has merit.”

The temporary restraining order will last until the court holds a hearing on the lawsuit later this summer, and the City is legally barred from removing or tampering with the safety improvements during that time. 

“We’re ecstatic that a judge is currently blocking the city from ripping up street safety improvements,” said Ben Furnas, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives. “We know that City Hall’s plans aren’t just wrongheaded, they’re illegal — and we will keep fighting for safe streets every step of the way. We won’t let anyone make our streets more dangerous. Mayor Adams, we’ll see you in court.” 

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