NEW YORK - CBS New York first reported in April on a parked car takeover of grass alongside a bike lane under the Queensboro Bridge. It was a disheartening sight for Long Island City cyclists and NYCHA residents who said precious green space was being trampled by tires. Since then, they've seen little improvement.
"No Parking" warnings taped to trees have been torn down as cars continue to skirt barricades. Local activist Lashawn "Suga Ray" Marston isn't surprised to see cars still parked on the Queensbridge greenway. "It's summertime, it's hot, and it's the same exact issue, same mess, if not worse," he said.
"It's a free-for-all." Marston added, "It makes me feel disrespected. I feel sad for the Earth because this space could be so vibrant.
There's so many beautiful trees here. But the land is decrepit. It's disgusting.
" Viral videos and online forums raise the question: Who is responsible for protecting this piece of land? CBS New York reached out to the Department of Transportation, New York City Parks and NYCHA for answers. DOT declined to address how it could help keep the bike lane clear, redirecting questions to the Parks Department. NYC Parks confirmed receipt of CBS New York's inquiry and stopped responding.
In a statement, a spokesperson for NYCHA said: "NYCHA continues to work with our city partners and Queensbridge resident leadership to address the issue of illegal and unauthorized parking along the greenway. Parking control measures have been installed and enfo.