Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Bike Lane Clowns Give Marty Markowitz A Bike For Christmas
By
John Del Signore
Published Dec 17, 2010
Modified Dec 17, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
View all 5
By
John Del Signore
Published Dec 17, 2010
Modified Dec 17, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Last week Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz decried the increasing number of bike lanes in Brooklyn by singing a song for the City Council. The ditty, which you can watch Marty sing here, was set to the tune of "My Favorite Things," and included lyrics like "Let's not forget cars, it’s getting insane / Welcome to Brooklyn, the borough of lanes!" This week Marty also sent out his annual holiday card, which featured an illustration of a congested Prospect Park West divvied up into a lover's lane, a sitting lane, a holiday-only lane, a walking lane, a bike lane, and a narrow auto lane. Inspired by Marty's holiday spirit, a group of bike-riding clowns came to his office yesterday to give him their gift.
"Markowitz used his time last week to sing a song, rather than give any real facts to explain his opposition to the Prospect Park West Bike Lane," said Barbara Ross of Time’s Up! in a statement. "Meanwhile, a packed house of New Yorkers in favor of more protected bike lanes waited for hours in below-freezing weather for their turn to testify. Many didn’t. If Marty wants to clown around, we can too. His stance is not shared by most New Yorkers. Marty does his constituents no favors by lacking both knowledge and a desire to be educated on the challenges faced by pedestrians and cyclists alike."
As you can see in the video, the clowns' attempt to give Marty a shiny new bike proved fruitless. (They did sing lots of carols, however.) His spokesman Mark Zustovich tells us, "The Borough President appreciated the offer, but we urged them to give the bike to a school or children’s group or donate it as a holiday gift for Toys for Tots." But the holidays aren't just about giving, they're also about receiving. And the clowns want Marty. As one clown explained yesterday, "We've been doing bike lane clowning for years and we've felt like Marty should be one of the clowns with us." BEEP BEEP, Marty, the clowns are coming for you! They ALL float down here. When you're down here with them, you'll float too!
Tagged
bike lanes
borough president
brooklyn
clowns
cycling
marty markowitz
PPW bike lane
prospect park west
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Doctors seek to save girl's hand after firework blast at Staten Island park, friend says
Neighbors described seeing the girl with the firework just before it exploded.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Aug 12, 2026 at 5:10 p.m. ET
Cyclists to Mamdani: Electric Citi Bikes are way too expensive
Street safety advocates say lowering the cost of riding zippy two-wheelers would align with the mayor's affordability agenda.
By
Stephen Nessen
News
Cyclists to Mamdani: Electric Citi Bikes are way too expensive
Street safety advocates say lowering the cost of riding zippy two-wheelers would align with the mayor's affordability agenda.
By
Stephen Nessen
2 Brooklyn men indicted in Coney Island mass shooting that wounded 8
By
Giulia Heyward
Gov. Hochul says NYS will help provide lawyers to unaided migrant children
By
Arya Sundaram
Is 'woke' a joke? AOC sparks debate among NYC progressives about liberal excess.
By
Elizabeth Kim
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .