As the NYC Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) starts building new safety features, such as a 1.5-mile protected bike lane, the streets of Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn will be safer for pedestrians and bikers. This comes after PIX11 News reported that a toddler was hurt in an accident with a cyclist, raising local fears.
The improvements include curbside loading zones to maintain access and pedestrian islands to reduce crossing distances and improve visibility, according to a statement from the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT). These actions are in response to the Bedford-Stuyvesant community’s observed increase in cycling activity and safety concerns following five pedestrian fatalities in the region since 2020, some of which were caused by speeding cars. It is well established that pedestrian islands increase visibility and shorten crossing distances.
On the official NYC DOT website, NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez offered his thoughts on the upgrades, writing, “The addition of a parking-protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue will create a critical cycling link in an area where bicycle ridership is booming, while making the road safer for everyone whether you’re walking, biking, or traveling by car.” In order to accommodate the many demands of the busy route, the NYC DOT outreach program has allegedly engaged a number of stakeholders over the last two years through web-based meetings and walkthroughs.
However, some questioned the NYPD’s new efforts, including Asher Helpert, whose son was hit by a cyclist and needed stitches. “I have not heard anything reasonable which will solve the problem,” Helpert specifically told PIX11 News. In spite of this skepticism, community members have collected over 3,000 signatures for a petition to reevaluate the bike lane’s current path, indicating the substantial community involvement and commitment to resolving this safety issue.
As the initial step of the comprehensive redesign process, milling will start this week on Bedford Avenue between Dean St and Lafayette Avenue and last for several weeks. Following milling, streets typically remain in that state for two to three weeks prior to paving, allowing utility companies to complete any necessary work before the redesign is finalized. The project is expected to be finished by the end of the year. Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest and Councilmember Chi Oss have expressed support for the initiative, pointing to the expected benefits for community safety, environmental preservation, and efficiency for different forms of transportation.
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