THE pitted stretch of road just north of Gramercy Park between Lexington and Fifth Avenues was recently repaved. Roads are a quintessential public good, and though New York City’s leave much to be desired, their condition has vastly improved under Michael Bloomberg, the city's soon-to-be-departing mayor. But something was lost in this specific improvement: the painted strip of bike lane. Were Mr Bloomberg continuing in office, there is little doubt that the bike lane would be restored. It could still happen, but the fate of bike lanes and bicycling in New York is now in question with the election of Bill de Blasio as mayor.
