Williamsburg, NY – In March the DOT unveiled plans to install a two-way, protected path along Flushing Avenue, which would have been the last piece of the puzzle giving cyclists a safe bike route, completely separated from traffic, all the way from Greenpoint to DUMBO.
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But local residents and businesses raised objections about the DOT’s intention to change Flushing into a one-way avenue for cars between Kent Avenue and Navy Street.
Now the DOT has drafted a compromise, which has won the approval of the local community board transportation committee. While it’s a step in the right direction, the new plan will take years to fully implement.
The first phase of the project will create bike lanes on Flushing Avenue between Kent and Navy as an interim solution to the hazardous conditions.
Phase 2 will widen the sidewalk on the north side of Flushing by six feet, creating a two-way bike path and shared pedestrian space, similar to what’s currently in effect on part of Kent.
But expanding the sidewalk requires coordination with multiple city agencies, and the DOT estimates that it will take two to four years to build. (We’re told that the 50 or so saplings planted along Flushing and Williamsburg Street this month will not need to be uprooted to extend the sidewalk.)
Responding to opposition from Navy Yard tenant Steiner Studios, the DOT’s Ted Wright said, “I want to ask you guys to support the greenway as much as possible. Lets not shoot it down before we get it up and running.”
Why will it take so long to complete this improvement in the bikelanes. The safety of the bikers should take priority over any other concerns. At least they will not have to take away any trees to make these imporovements but it will take much too long.
who needs bikers in a chassidishe neighborhood?
These idiots took many traffic arteries (two or more lanes), where it is crucial for traffic to move and made it one lane roads, many times causing severe accidents and you never see a single bike on many of those roads. You really have to ask who is benefitting? Many times I walk on the tiny road of ft. hamilton right after ocean parkway on rush hour, and there are many bikes where there is no bike lane, and it is extremely difficult to walk with the passing bikes? Maybe they can install one there? Right!
Enough already with these bicyclists. Motorists which accountneed the space the most have become second class citizens to these few cyclists.
Hmmm… maybe if we got out of our cars and walked or cycled we would be a healthier community. I would take a Schwinn over a Honda Odyssess any day. Good Shabbos.
I always wondered why the traffic is so bad in Europe, after all gas is almost double what it is here and they are soooo busy with the environment, well flushing plan explains it that for every car lanes there’s 3 bike lanes and trees in between the lanes, WHY WHY? why isn’t anyone asking the very simple question, it makes absolutely no sense, yes we need bike lanes but to turn every 2 and 3 lanes street into a 1 lanes will cripple traffic!