New Bike Lanes on Smith and Hoyt
Good news for BoCoCa bikers, as this spring will bring extended bike lanes to and from the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges. Bicycle lanes on Smith and Hoyt street will be added, with the Smith street lane going from Bergen to 9th Street, and the Hoyt Street lane going from Bergen to 3rd Street. Nine parking…
Good news for BoCoCa bikers, as this spring will bring extended bike lanes to and from the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges. Bicycle lanes on Smith and Hoyt street will be added, with the Smith street lane going from Bergen to 9th Street, and the Hoyt Street lane going from Bergen to 3rd Street. Nine parking spots will be lost on Hoyt between Bergen and Wyckoff. Worth the trade?
Smith and Hoyt Streets Bicycle Lane Extensions [New York City DOT]
NYC is all about alternative transit, drivers. If you want a car culture move to LA or Atlanta or the burbs. 9 parking spots over a what, 20 block area? Puleez. And they put the bike lanes on the busiest ave’s because they are the widest, usually.
Anyway for those of us who get around by bicycle being able to ride in a demarcated bike lane is as close as it gets to feeling “safe” on a bike – drivers (when not ‘standing’ in the bike lanes) usually give cyclists their space.
Lastly, I don’t run red lights or stop signs and to all the drivers reading this I promise I’m doing my share to get bicyclists to obey the rules at least as often as you do.
It would be more equitable if they were able to replace the lost parking spots somewhere nearby. For instance there are defunct hydrants that have never been removed and the turning radius for firetrucks are based on the 1960’s models so parking could extend a little further at some corners.
But the intent of the Borough officials is to discourage citizens from driving or owning cars, although they also desperately need the license and registration fees. So its really sort of a fake intent, to be politically correct while at the same time not wanting to lose the huge revenue stream from tickets, registration, garage tax etc.
I wish someone would do a study, it shouldn’t be difficult, on how many days a year are actually suited, weather-wise, to bicycle riding in the city for non-masochists.
Definitely worth the trade.
More cars and more parking will never be the answer (IMO), if you want giant parking lots, driveways, and a motorized vehicle lifestyle move out of NYC.
Public space should be divided equally, cars do not have a divine right of more space, why should pedestrians and cyclists not get their fair share of public space.
great.
those nine spots will benefit far many more people as a bike lane in terms of usage & improved safety, compared to what is most likely only 9 people and their large pieces of personal property.
fellow brooklynites:
dont be afraid to think long term & grander scale! it will inevitably lead you outside the (car) box.
Yes, worth the trade. Smith and Court need bike lanes, and in fact they should extend b/w Atlantic and 9th st.
Parking is not horrific in Bklyn, I always find a spot in minutes. And you can address the non-working hydrants, church parking, etc simultaneously to putting in lanes.
No it is not fair. Parking in Brooklyn is so bad already. They really should be re-evaluating spaces that can be made for parking. Non working fire hydrants need to be removed. Places of worship should not have a no parking sign in front of them for all day and night, worshiping is only time designated, the rest of the time parking should be allowed there.
Really, who thinks this stuff up. Parking is horriffic in Brooklyn
Why do they insist on putting bike lanes on all the busiest streets, such as Smith and 5th Ave??
Would seem safer all round to concentrate them on the more residential thoroughfares.
yeah 9 spots in that location is premium $$$. is that picture the street they are putting in a bike lane!? it doesnt even look like there’s enough room for a small car to go between the two sides of the parked cars.
*rob*
NO, it is not worth the trade.