New 2-way bike lane signals a reimagined Downtown Brooklyn
After years of advocacy, biking down Schermerhorn will be safer
“This is the future of New York City,” NYC Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said at Monday’s ribbon cutting to celebrate the transformation of Schermerhorn Street in Downtown Brooklyn. The event, part of the city’s “Biketober,” was attended by a crowd of officials and bicycle advocates who gathered at Hoyt and Schermerhorn streets.
The heavily-trafficked two-lane road has been substantially converted into a two-way protected bike lane, with one-way vehicle traffic and new pedestrian space. The new street design will save lives, and also complement a plan to create a greener, “people-focused” business district in Downtown Brooklyn, officials said.
“What we’ve done with Schermerhorn Street represents a complete transformation in the look and feel of the corridor,” Rodriguez told the crowd. “This used to be a chaotic two-way street with rampant double parking. The standard bike lane was often blocked, forcing cyclists to enter into vehicular traffic.”
Under the “shared streets” concept, “We are reimagining our use of public space in Downtown Brooklyn,” he said. “A disproportionate amount of street space is dedicated to cars and other vehicles. Shared streets use design that naturally slow vehicle traffic to prioritize pedestrians and cyclists, who are the majority in our city. These shared streets are being built with amenities like bike parking, and they represent a critical step in elevating safe, sustainable and efficient alternate transportation, while creating more vibrant public space that supports the local economy.”