BROOKLYN — The city’s Bicycle Access to Office Buildings Law (Local Law 52), which aims to increase bicycle commuting by helping cyclists gain access to secure parking at their office buildings during the workday, takes effect Friday.

The legislation was signed into law by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg in August 2009 and was sponsored by Council Member David Yassky (D-Downtown Brooklyn/Brooklyn Heights) and shepherded through the City Council by Council Member John Liu (D-Queens), who will soon be the city’s new comptroller.

Commuter cycling in New York is already accelerating rapidly, with a 26 percent increase in the last year alone. It has more than doubled since 2005, according to city figures.

Wiley Norvell of Transportation Alternatives, a bicyclists’ and walkers’ advocacy organization with a strong Brooklyn presence, said that last week the group met with some of the city’s biggest commercial building owners at World Trade Center 7, and the owners were very positive about complying with the new law.

“Some are creating a central area to store bikes, while others are just letting people take the bikes up to their offices,� he said.

The perception of bicycles in offices has changed since 10 or so years ago, he added. “At that time, when most people thought of bikes in offices, they thought of bicycle messengers. People had these Madison Avenue attitudes that having a bicycle wasn’t proper in an office building.� Now, a much wider spectrum of people bike to work.

“A lack of secure bike access and parking at the office is one of the biggest deal-breakers for commuters who want to get to work by bike,� said Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan.

“While commuter cycling continues to grow, this new law unlocks a barrier that has stopped an untold number of bike commutes before they even started. While we launch a new era in bike commuting, we also recognize businesses that are making cycling a commuting and business priority for their employees.�

“Allowing bicycles in buildings is an effective way to encourage cycling,� said Councilman Yassky, whose term expires at the end of the year. “This legislation is an extremely realistic effort to cut emissions, improve air quality, maximize public transportation and ease congestion, reaping tremendous environmental, public health and quality of life benefits for New Yorkers and New York City.�

— Raanan Geberer
Brooklyn Daily Eagle

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