Judge dismisses Soho residents’ Citi Bike suit

Residents near Soho’s Petrosino Square will have to stomach a controversial Citi Bike station, after a Manhattan judge dismissed a case demanding that the public bikes be removed. The ruling in favor of the city Department of Transportation is the new bike-share program’s first legal victory.

Opponents of the bike station, located in the park between Spring and Lafayette streets, sued DOT in June, arguing that the public space should be used for art installations.  However, in her decision, Judge Cynthia Kern said: “Bicycling is an important form of recreation that has had a proper ‘park purpose’ for many years. The infrastructure to support bicycling, such as bike paths, bicycle racks and rest stations are common incidents in parks.”

Nevertheless, Georgette Fleischer, founder of Friends of Petrosino Square, has vowed to appeal the decision, according to DNAinfo.

“We’re obviously very disappointed, but we feel hopeful that when we go before the First Department [court], that reason will reign and we will get our park back,” Fleischer said. [DNAinfo] – Christopher Cameron