We were pleased as punch to notice the new bike lane addition on Dekalb Avenue. There has been one for a while between Cumberland and Ashland–the new addition now extends the lane from Cumberland well up into Fort Greene. (Anyone know exactly how far it goes?) While this is great news, we got an email from a resident of Dekalb describing a perhaps unintended consequence of a simultaneous elimination of parking on the north side of Dekalb between Hall and Adelphi streets.

This parking restriction, (“No Standing 7 am – 10 am 4 pm – 7 pm”) may not have resulted in the desired outcome: Traffic on these tree lined brownstone blocks of DeKalb Ave. has speeded up to what appears to be 50 MPH, traveling in three unimpeded lanes. Cars drive in the newly painted bike lane at high speed until they encounter a bicyclist and merge back in. The new B38 Limited bus also barrels up the far right hand lane of DeKalb Ave. at a substantially increased speed. While the intent MAY have been lane reduction and traffic calming, this has had just the opposite effect. There appears to be MORE automobile traffic on Dekalb, moving much faster using all three lanes. Cars in the bus lane – just 10 feet from my front door – are traveling at what seems to be 50 miles an hour or more. During rush hour, it’s like living on the Belt Parkway.

Have others noticed this as well?