Study Shows Interest in South Brooklyn Bike Lanes
Although South Brooklynites aren’t known for being particularly progressive when it comes to bicycling, safer streets may mean more area residents may be willing to trade four wheels for two. Streetsblog reports on an informal study asking South Brooklyn bus riders how they felt about bike lanes. Two-thirds of the respondents were interested in bike…
Although South Brooklynites aren’t known for being particularly progressive when it comes to bicycling, safer streets may mean more area residents may be willing to trade four wheels for two. Streetsblog reports on an informal study asking South Brooklyn bus riders how they felt about bike lanes. Two-thirds of the respondents were interested in bike lanes but safety remained the biggest concern. Half the respondents were interested in riding bicycles to the subway instead of taking the bus if there were bike parking and bike lanes up to the Kings Highway B/Q. However, Streetsblog notes that community boards and council members aren’t advocating new lanes yet. This Courier Life article from last month notes strong opposition recently coming up in Manhattan Beach, Gerritsen Beach, and Canarsie. One CB District Manager argued, Bike lanes create hazardous conditions in our board area.
If Streets Got Safer South Brooklyn Residents Would Ride [Streetsblog]
Image by Murray Lantner
A totally non-scientific survey, coupled with totally non-supported generalizations about an area the author knows nothing about, does not support the expansion of bike lanes. Maybe he should ask the “Honda Fit riding environmentalists” how they feel about excessive idling, Saudi Arabian fuel usage and air pollution caused by traffic congestion caused by bike lanes, e.g. on Prospect Park West. Or before surveying bus riders, remind them that a bike lane on their route will slow down their bus.
What is the measure of “success” of a bike lane? Has anyone ever counted the number of bikers actually using one? Shouldn’t there be standards of use below which a bike lane should be removed?
bus riders who are informally dressed in cycling gear overwhelmingly support the lanes.
and regular bus riders prefer them when someone else pays for them and somehow magically does not affect the traffic time of their next bus ride.
i support unlimited free guns and the total elimination of crime.
breaking news -just in – the majority little fat kids heavily support free ice cream and candy.
There’s a definite need. I want a bike path along the entire harbor!
C’mon, that’s Flat-bush, baby! ; )
To each his own Joe. What’s confusing about the south part of the old City of Brooklyn, prior to it’s 1894 expansion to include all of King’s county, being called “South Brooklyn”? It’s no more difficult than South Midwood being north of Midwood–separates the locals from the tourists 🙂
I asked 5 of my neighbors and 4 were against bike lanes. If I provide a pie chart will you publish that informal survey as well?
This is nothing but propaganda that will likely be widely disseminated.
Hey Bob,
Check out his quote from Brian Hedden of Bksouthie.com:
“You know, I usually make that distinction myself, but quite frankly, I’m a little tired of it. I blame Wikipedia for reinforcing this A-in-history-F-in-geography mentality. I mean, listen to this drivel(from wikipedia):
South Brooklyn is a region or composite neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, encompassing areas of Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Red Hook, Gowanus, Park Slope, and Boerum Hill… The somewhat historic name of South Brookyn has been revived in recent years to foster a closer connection among the constituent communities, though the name has always been popular nomenclature for the neighborhood’s locals… [no, don’t stop there, here comes my favorite part] This hilly area is not to be confused with the actual flat southern region of the modern borough of Brooklyn…
Let me see… an area called South Brooklyn that’s not actually in, y’know, South Brooklyn – why would that be confusing? But hey, for those of us that noticed Brooklyn grew out of its onesies and into its big boy pants some 150 years ago, I propose the following revision:
South Brooklyn is the section of Brooklyn that takes its name from its location south of other parts of Brooklyn, and is not north of any other part of Brooklyn.
For archaic uses of South Brooklyn, see North Brooklyn.”
http://www.bksouthie.com/2010/01/taking-south-brooklyn-back-for-the-good-guys/
As someone who was born in Brroklyn and has lived in here for most of his life, I agree. The whole idea of Carroll Gardens as ‘South Brooklyn’ is outdated (and geographically incorrect).
http://wanderingbrooklyn.wordpress.com/
This is about SOUTHERN Brooklyn, as the article itself correctly says. South Brooklyn is a completely different place. I know I’m being pedantic, but it’s a pet peeve of mine.
Our bicycle path along the Belt at Bay parkway has been a state of total disrepair for the last 22 years, as long as I have lived here. The ashphalt is all cracked and lumpy. The only part has been re done is from VZ to Pier at 69.
Ours up here in bath beach is horiffic.
We did get trees, unecessary along the Pkwy, but on the side where we had trees already, we needed them on the other side…
Like who is the person that deceides this, they must be blind