A crowd gathered and medals were dispensed Monday night, but the ceremony had little to do with mayoral dreams and the city's Olympic bid. Instead, the organization behind the medals, Transportation Alternatives, had harsh words for the city government, and an urgent plea for Mayor Bloomberg. "It's preposterous that the city needs Transportation Alternatives to tell it to make cycling a priority," proclaimed avid cyclist and activist Amanda Hickman. More than simple passion motivated her words-her boyfriend Noah Budnick, who worked for Transportation Alternatives, was seriously injured in a bike wreck at the end of March. Last Monday, a large knot of cyclists gathered near the scene of his accident, the entrance of the bike path over Manhattan Bridge, to recognize Budnick's bravery, receive medals for their own, and to urge more government action in making the city's streets safer for the pedal-powered. "If the [Department of Transportation] had done its job, this accident wouldn't have happened," Hickman charged, to loud applause and cries of support from the crowd, attired in bulky chains, sleek helmets and colorful safety gear. Luckily for nearly all present, Budnick, after spending time in the hospital receiving treatment for head trauma, appears to be on the mend. "He's looking forward to being back and advocating for everyone here," said his father David, who appeared at the event with Budnik's mother Betty Anne.Budnik, though still recuperating, sent along a few statements for Transportation Alternatives' executive director, Paul White, to relate."Noah says he wishes that the mayor would take the reality of everyday bicycling as seriously as he does the fantasy of Olympic bicycling," White declared. With that pithy remark in mind, White bestowed a number of small medals to almost every bicyclist in attendance, as a reward for bravery in the face of the adversity caused by the city's neglect. While the awards were appreciated, White hopes for a day when they will no longer be necessary. "We're calling on Mayor Bloomberg to fix all of the approaches to the East River bridges," he proclaimed. White's group has issued a series of recommendations for the DOT, with the Manhattan Bridge receiving the most attention. The installation of stop signs and crosswalks near the Brooklyn access points, as well as the building of new bike lanes, and improved lane markings, and the filling in of numerous pavement gaps.The confusing maze surrounding the access point of the pedestrian bridge of the Queensboro Bridge and the speedbump-like metal joint covers on the Williamsburg Bridge also draw fire. But mostly, TA and its supporters just want a little more consideration from the city. "To put in bike paths is only half the job," said Evan Thies, a spokesman for David Yassky, at the event. "Let's make Mayor Bloomberg know how many people want to ride their bikes around this city." He urged everyone in the crowd to call 311 frequently and complain about the shoddy state of the city's pothole-filled bike lanes. "The DOT must correct these problems that put our citizens at risk," declared a representative of Brooklyn borough president Marty Markowitz. According to Transportation Alternatives, from 1995-2001, 67 bicyclists were injured and 7 were killed while in near the East River bridge approaches. It's lucky for the city government, as well as the community at large, that Noah Budnick is only in the former category.