Thursday’s Headlines: Bike Lanes are Good for Business Edition

We’d like to start today’s headlines with a great tweet that is worth watching. Sure, it’s from Providence (where officials are turning revanchist on bike lanes), but the message is universal (“Waterfire” refers to a Providence tradition of setting fires in the river, which used to be completely buried under asphalt).

The man’s testimony is a reminder that so many arguments against bike lanes — that they cause traffic, that they’re unsafe, that no one uses them — are just ridiculous. But the most ridiculous argument — that bike infrastructure hurts business — has been debunked so many times, that it’s distressing that a business owner had to waste time out of his business-y day to testify about the essential truth about bike lanes: they make roads more inviting, which in turn leads to more business.

In other news:

• Everyone knows there’s a problem with people who cover or deface their plates (you’re welcome), but no one can agree on what to do about it. (Gothamist)
• The legendarily anti-congestion pricing New York Post has a point: This is a terrible time to raise NJ Transit fares.
• The city got some more Biden bucks, this time for climate resiliency. (NYDN)
• The mayor — and his perpetual sidekick Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar of Queens — cut a ribbon on a sidewalk package locker, part of a Department of Transportation program to reduce theft. (NYDN, Gothamist)
• More copaganda from amNY.
• Ferry ridership is up. (NYDN)
• Car carnage in Gravesend. (NY Post, NYDN)
• And, finally, from the culture desk, here’s a book we can’t wait to read: