SOHO — With thousands of Citi Bikes set to speed into town on Memorial Day, local elected officials are asking the Department of Transportation to move an unpopular docking station in SoHo right away.
In a letter released Tuesday afternoon, SoHo's elected officials said the DOT needs to move the 33-bike dock installed at the apex of triangular Petrosino Square, located at Spring and Lafayette streets, which was originally designed as installation space for public art.
"[The bike dock] should not, under any circumstances, be placed inside Petrosino Square Park," read the letter, signed by City Councilwoman Margaret Chin, State Assemblywoman Deborah Glick and State Sen. Daniel Squadron.
"The placement of bike stations in small, pocket parks, in park-starved communities, is
inappropriate, including Petrosino Square Park," the letter continued.
The DOT said it would take up the issue with local politicians. "We look forward to speaking with elected officials about this bike share location," an agency spokesman said.
Spokesman Seth Solomonow previously said locals already had ample time to help choose the Citi Bike dock locations, as part of the most extensive public outreach effort of any transportation project in city history.
The group Friends of Petrosino Square has suggested the dock be moved to the east side of Lafayette Street north of Spring Street, where the street is wider and the bikes would not be in front of any businesses.
Chin, Glick and Squadron said they want the dock relocated "immediately," potentially to this alternate location.
