BED-STUY – MORE THAN 700 people in two days have signed an online petition against a new bike lane on Bedford Avenue, according to Change.org; the 1.5-mile protected bike lane began construction last month and opened a few days ago. Campaign organizer Yoel Weiss writes that the lane’s positioning, between a parking lane and the curb, makes it difficult for children boarding and exiting school buses to cross to the sidewalk safely, as visibility of the bikes is blocked by cars. Weiss claims that parents have reported multiple near-misses with cyclists since the lane’s opening.
Along with safety measures like speed cameras for bikers, signers want Councilmember Lincoln Restler and DoT head Ydanis Rodriguez to consider moving the bike lane to a less-busy street. The Bedford bike lane has long been requested by other area residents, however: an earlier petition organized by advocate group Transportation Alternatives demanding DoT action on the lane plan attracted 2,800 signatures, and plans for lanes on other portions of Bedford Avenue are also in the works. The busy stretch has been designated a Vision Zero traffic safety priority area, and has seen five pedestrian deaths in the last four years.
While the DoT says it has conducted community outreach, such efforts have often been criticized by both sides of the debate. Cycling advocates have labeled the process obstructionistic, while opponents say they feel their input is frequently disregarded.
In a September press statement, Rodriguez hailed the implementation of the bike lane, saying, “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.”
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