You better start fighting this on a bigger level. The NY gruberment prove over an over again how stupid, fiscally stupid and control happy they are. That's why you have some of the highest taxes in the country.
As stupid and unworkable as it seems the politicians see tax dollars (even if it wont even pay for itself) and it is like crack to them. It could get sold to enough cagers pissed off a cyclist to get a foot hold. Remember, "Democracy" is "mob rule" and in the grand scheme there are not many voting cyclist when compared to other voting groups. The politician is going to go with the largest number of whiners they hear from so start calling.