Williamsburg, NY – Bike Lanes to Remain But New Proposal To Solve Parking Issues Under Negotiatines

    11

    Residents have criticized the Kent Avenue bike lanes in Williamsburg,Williamsburg, NY – This could be the proposal that has Kent Avenue cyclists and motorists seeing wheel to wheel.

    Join our WhatsApp group

    Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email


    In an attempt to make peace among cyclists, who support a pair of controversial Kent Avenue bike paths, and drivers and business owners who oppose the lanes because of their impact on parking, the city is forging a truce that could turn Kent Avenue into a one-way street lined on two sides of parking and loading zones — as well as a protected two-directional bike lane, sources told The Brooklyn Paper.

    Insiders who attended meetings between the Department of Transportation and factions of South Williamsburg’s Satmar community said the one-way, one-lane Kent Avenue would run northbound between Clymer and North 14th streets.

    Such a plan would allow the city to convert the hotly contested no-parking and no standing zones on either side of the road into legal parking lanes — one of which would serve as a buffer for a protected two-directional bike lane on the waterfront side of the roadway.

    Insiders said that the city was touting the proposal as a way to give cyclists a permanent spot on the roadway, reduce speeding on the thoroughfare by restricting traffic to a single lane, and recover about 75 percent of the curb space that was once used for parking and loading.

    A Department of Transportation spokesman said the agency is meeting with Williamsburg groups to discuss the radical plan — an outreach that comes on the heels of wild rumors [first reported by VIN News] all week that the city’s plan would remove bike lanes from nearby Bedford Avenue.

    Sources told The Brooklyn Paper that those lanes will remain untouched.

    The Kent Avenue proposal shares similarities with a proposed buffered bike lane on Prospect Park West bike lane unveiled two weeks ago — and has already received support from some neighborhood activists who opposed the original bike lanes.

    “After six long months, we are coming to a conclusion that benefits everyone,” said Kent Avenue resident Leo Moskowitz. “We’ll give them the bike lanes, but we’ll get some parking, too.”

    Biking boosters said they are behind the city’s preliminary proposal for Kent Avenue, which has long been slated to host a pair of walking and biking paths stretching from Greenpoint to Sunset Park called the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway.

    “There is definitely a lot [in the plan] that is exciting and novel — as long as the design prioritizes safety,” said Wiley Norvell, a spokesman for Transportation Alternatives, a cycling and pedestrian advocacy group that supported the original lanes


    Listen to the VINnews podcast on:

    iTunes | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Podbean | Amazon

    Follow VINnews for Breaking News Updates


    Connect with VINnews

    Join our WhatsApp group


    11 Comments
    Most Voted
    Newest Oldest
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments
    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    This is a great idea and reflects a reasonable balance between parking and biking needs. It also correctly ignores those who argued against bike lanes so that, chas, v’chalilah, some ehrleche yiddin might have to see a biker dressed in non-tziniusdkike biking clothes. We should be getting out and biking more rather than kvecthing about what bikers wear when they ride through the neighborhood. This is not meah shearim. However, the parking issue is very legitimate and this may be a great compromise.

    Dav
    Dav
    14 years ago

    Special thanks for Williamsburg activist for the last 35 years and city council candidate Mr. Isaac Abraham and his partners   the Schaefer landing group Mr. Leo Moskowitz and Mr. Moty Spitzer working very hard with elected officials for the last 6 months, finely it paid off,

    Mark
    Mark
    14 years ago

    I am a biker it sounds to be a very good idea for both sides. If this is the case I and my friends are for it!!
    The person who came up with this idea should be honored….

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Just think about what it would do to the Traffic in williamsburg its not a good plan!!!

    Ben
    Ben
    14 years ago

    This time it’s a smart move from the Williamsburg community they like to live in peace with the rest of the neighbor

    Tom
    Tom
    14 years ago

    This is a great compromise. Parking and good bike lanes. Everyone wins!

    kentavenue
    kentavenue
    14 years ago

    Great idea! and a great plan!… Thanks to isaac abraham and the schaefer comunity they came up with this plan 4 months ago

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    What about Bedford Avenue?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Personally I look most forward to the walking path that is promised in the final green way. Nice to take a long walk with trees and plants and not have to look out for bikes OR cars OR trucks! I hope the City works hard to make this benefit everyone especially people walking with children.

    Chaim
    Chaim
    14 years ago

    It’s a perfect idea. This is a lesion never give up, DER IBISHTER HALFT!!!!

    Bob
    Bob
    14 years ago

    People it’s about time to bake the donates!! It comes to a point everybody like this idea residence, business owners, and cyclist, that’s Accomplishment !!!!