Plaza Hotel Files Suit, Calls Citi Bike Rack 'Eyesore'

NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) -- The Plaza Hotel, a place where you can park your Rolls Royce at the curb and perhaps ask for Grey Poupon on your hot dog. But, is the Plaza any place for a Citi Bike rack?

"To put them here is a distraction from this wonderful hotel," Ruth Halperin told CBS 2's Dick Brennan.

The hotel agreed and has filed a lawsuit that called the racks "an eyesore" and "unnecessary when there are other alternatives."

Frank Casale told CBS 2's Brennan that there could be a quick fix to the problem.

"Shift it to the side, move it right there around the corner. At least away from that entrance," he said.

However, bicyclists want the hotel to pump the brakes.

"The city doesn't belong to rich people it belongs to everyone," Stephan Alber said.

The suit also claims that the bike lane has taken away a lane of traffic and has led to congestion.

On Monday, the city's Law Department commented on the curbside controversy.

"While we haven't seen the papers yet, we are confident that the installation was proper," the statement said.

Bikers are hoping for a speedy resolution to the problem.

"They've got to protect their business, and at the same time, people want to take their bikes out in the city, so I think it will resolve itself," Mike Vittorio said.

Citibank declined to comment. The lawsuit was filed on Friday.

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