Thanks for respecting my wish to stay anonymous, if my name leaks tomorrow I will have to start searching for new schools for all my kids (and we have many kids)
>> See below my answers...
On Fri, May 31, 2013 at 10:32 AM, Seth Berkman <berkman@forward.com> wrote:
Ok. I would like to run a story this morning, to be able to post before the weekend. If you have any questions, please let me know.
-Why did you create Hasidim for Bikes?
>> We are full fledged Hasidim living in the Shmoltz TUP (Melting pot) wearing the black garb, Wearing Shtrimels in 100 degree heat.
But we think there is nothing wrong with using bikes to go to Synagogue instead of Schlepping your minivan or your big SUV.
There is an old misconception in Williamsburg that Bikes are Non-Jewish and the principals in the Satmar Schools give speeches to the Kids Against using Bikes, calling them "Sheigetz-Bike", and whoever lets there son ride a bike gets a letter from School threatening to expel their kids.
Some say the reason is, because they don't want the kids to drive with their bikes outside of the community and meet non-Jews.
But everyone agrees for an adult that has a car and can drive out of the community whenever he wants, there is no reason not to drive a bike. but it is so ingrained in us since we are kids that bikes are wrong an non Jewish, that it takes years after we get married and independent to shed this mindset.
To prove this, if you look around the world in every Hasidic community, Hasidim are riding bikes. except for Williamsburg and Boro Park.
Everyone wants to ride a bike, but no one has the courage to be the first one, everyone is waiting for the other to start first.
When we heard last year about the Bike-share program we were very excited, finally there will be hope in Williamsburg, the bikes will be readily available, there will be where to dock them, and we will start using them.
If you look at the BikeShare original map where people could suggest locations for the bike stands, lot of suggestions went up in South Williamsburg with lots of support.
We found out the last minute that leaders (that are not in tune with the needs of the community) said that we in Willamsburg don't need bikes.
We were shocked to hear last memorial day that there will be a Black Hole in Hasidic Williamsburg, it created a Black Hole in our hearts.
That is when we we decided we need to do something, as Our Great Sage Hillel Said: “If I am not for myself, then who will be for me? And if I am only for myself, then what am I? And if not now, when?”
Last Memorial Day we decided to create the Organization. Hasidim For Bikes.
The Organization will let our voice be heard, the Silent Majority of Hasidim.
The Organization will unite and encourage Hasidim to ride bikes.
-What are the biggest misconceptions about the Hasidic community’s attitude towards bikes in Williamsburg?
>> As mentioned above, most hasidim in williamsburg have nothing against bikes and want to ride bikes, a few extreme fringe activists are against bikes claiming its a Non-Jewish thing, but they are also against lot of things, Smart Phones, Food Trucks, Grill On Lee, DVDs, Speeches in English, exercise for women. too name a few.
-Yesterday, I spoke with a Brooklyn resident who said it was only a few voices angry about the bicycle situation. Do you feel the media coverage of this conflict has been overblown and doesn’t reflect the view of the entire community?
>> I agree. Most Hasidim would welcome a Bike-share program in our community, just as we welcomed the Car-Share program in williamsburg as ZipCar that is very popular.
The media just quotes a few extreme leaders. If the community will be polled directly on those issues, you will hear a total different opinion.
The media has to start reaching out directly to people in the community to get the real picture with out any filters.
-Have you reached out to Citi Bike in an effort to get kiosks in your neighborhood?
>> We did not reach out yet to Citi Bike. We are planning to run an online petition campaign to gather thousands of signatures and Send the petition to CitiBike asking that we are not left out.
In the meantime we are encouraging everyone in Williamsburg to Sign up to CitiBike and start using the bikes from outside the community, and Call CitiBike to request to put bike stands within our community.
Thank you again for reaching to us and helping our voice to be heared.
We just launched our website. (it still under construction)
HasidimForBikes.NationBuilder.com
On 5/31/13 10:26 AM, "Hasidim For Bikes" <hasidimforbikes@gmail.com> wrote:
Thank you for contacting us.
We would love to be interviewed.
We would request to stay anonymous for the meantime. (Out of fear of backlash and intimidation from the so called leaders of south Williamsburg that do not represent the voice of the citizens of the community)
We can conduct the interview here in email or on Skype chat.
Thank you again for reaching out to us.
We really appreciate it.
On May 31, 2013, at 10:15 AM, Seth Berkman <berkman@forward.com> wrote:
Interview request today Hello,
I am a reporter at the Jewish Daily Forward. I am currently working on a story about the lack of citi bike kiosks in South Williamsburg and came across your organization. Does a rep with Hasidim for Bikes have a few minutes to talk this morning?
Kindly,
Seth Berkman
212.453.9433
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