Biking Civic Leader Offends at Forum

Queens Civic Congress Vice President Dave Kulick caused the raising of some eyebrows—and voices—when he stated on Monday night at the group’s Transportation Forum that “anyone” could ride a bike from Queens to Manhattan.

Kulick spoke in support of Transportation Alternatives, a group invited to the forum with representatives of the Department of Transportation and MTA.

TA, whose mission is to “reclaim New York City’s streets from the automobile, and to advocate for bicycling, walking and public transit,” was represented on the panel by Deputy Director Noah Budnik.

“I understand that you’re biker fanatics. We can’t ride [bikes] into the city every day,” Glen Oaks Village President Bob Friedrich told Budnik.

“I do it every day,” said Kulick, adding, “Anyone can.”

“No, I can’t,” shouted back Janice Schreibersdorf—answered back by Kulick with “yes you can.”

“You don’t know my life,” said Schreibersdorf, “Don’t get on your high horse. I’m lucky I can cross the street some days.”

Kulick told his story of redemption by pedal to the QCC crowd, convened at the Queens Farm Museum.

Though he stood svelt at the gathering, he said he was overweight and diabetic 13 years ago. “I started biking—became normal since then, due to people like Noah,” said Kulick.

“I biked today in the rain. It was miserable, you get wet but you dry,” he said, professing that—because public transportation is scant in Northeast Queens— he does have a car, which he used to carpool others to the meeting.

“I’m not superman. I’m almost sixty years old,” said Kulick. Though Schreibersdorf‘s physical impediment was not apparent, there was at least one wheelchair—bound woman present at the meeting.