Press Releases
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 10, 2024
Contact: (212) 839-4850, press@dot.nyc.gov
NYC DOT Announces Construction to Begin on Bedford Avenue Protected Bicycle Lane in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn
Along 1.5 Miles of Brooklyn’s Longest Street, Between Dean Street and Flushing Avenue, Bedford Avenue Will Gain Numerous Safety Improvements for Cyclists and Pedestrians;
Cycling Is Booming Within Local Community Board, With Nearly a Half-Million Citi Bike Rides Starting There Annually;
This Week, Crews Will Begin Milling Pavement Along the Corridor, With Plans To Complete Major Street Redesign This Year
A portion of the Bedford Avenue redesign being implemented, starting this week. Credit: NYC DOT
NEW YORK – New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced today that construction would begin this week on a new protected bicycle lane and other major safety improvements planned for Bedford Avenue in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. In addition to a new 1.5-mile protected bike lane, the street will also see the addition of pedestrian islands, which reduce crossing distance and improve visibility, and new loading zones to ensure curbside access is maintained. As the nation's largest producer of protected bicycle lanes, New York City has seen a 15 percent decline in crashes with injuries and a 21 percent drop in injuries after similar redesigns.
"The addition of a parking-protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue will create a critical cycling link in an area where bicycle ridership is booming, while making the road safer for everyone—whether you're walking, biking, or traveling by car," said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. "The city has conducted thorough outreach along the corridor and looks forward to completing the project this year."
A Vision Zero Priority Corridor, the busy northbound portion of Bedford Avenue between Dean Street and Flushing Avenue is known for vehicular speeding – with five pedestrian fatalities since 2020. At the same time, cycling is rapidly expanding in surrounding neighborhoods, with Brooklyn Community Board 3 home to more than 4,000 Citi Bike annual members. In 2022 alone, 494,000 Citi Bike trips began from within the board's boundaries.
During outreach over the past two years, NYC DOT identified and coordinated with a broad set of stakeholders along the corridor. The agency hosted several web-based meetings, in-person meetings, walkthroughs, and site visits to ensure that the Bedford Avenue project accommodates the street's diverse needs.
NYC DOT Roadways crews will begin milling Bedford Avenue between Dean St and Lafayette Avenue this week, the first step in a multi-week redesign process. Streets typically remain milled for two to three weeks before being paved, a period in which utilities are strongly encouraged to do work that would otherwise require digging up pavement. NYC DOT expects the entire redesign process along Bedford Avenue to be completed by the end of the year.
At more than 10 miles, Bedford Avenue is Brooklyn's longest street, stretching from Sheepshead Bay to Williamsburg.
"This much-needed protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue will help smooth transportation through Bed-Stuy and Crown Heights for cyclists, pedestrians, and vehicles," said Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest. "I am very pleased that DOT has been responsive to the advocacy of the community and I look forward to the installation of these safety improvements."
"Bedford Avenue has been among Brooklyn's most dangerous corridors for too long. Cyclists and pedestrians should not be forced to put their safety at risk just to commute to work, and the development of this protected bike lane will finally end that unacceptable situation. This project is a win for everyone: As Bedford becomes safer, more people will choose to commute via bicycle, reducing pollution that impacts our communities and, notably, reducing congestion for Brooklynites who drive," said Councilmember Chi Ossé. "For safety, environmental protection, and the efficiency of every mode of travel, I'm thrilled that this critical bike lane will now be protected. I am proud to have actively supported this project for years, and I want to extend my gratitude to the countless other advocates for making the plan possible."
"Biking along Bedford Avenue in Bed Stuy has been unsafe for too many years," said Councilmember Lincoln Restler. "I'm elated that DOT has embraced a sustained campaign from community members and elected officials to install a protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue."