Tonight: Board Meeting to Discuss Controversial Bike Lanes

Brooklyn Community Board 9, serving the Crown Heights neighborhood, proposes eliminating 54 parking spots and putting bike lanes on Kingston Ave & Brooklyn Ave between Winthrop and Empire. Make your voice heard at the Public Feedback Meeting tonight 7-8 PM at 890 Nostrand Ave.

By Anash.org reporter

With an increase in traffic-related injuries occurring on Kingston Ave, Rutland Rd, and Empire Blvd, these streets have been marked as “Vision Zero Priority Corridors.”

Officials note that safety concerns arise from the presence of ten schools within a block of Brooklyn Ave or Kingston Ave, including Beth Rivka School, Bnos Chomesh Academy, and Yeshiva Darchei Menachem. They are particularly concerned about the speeding and dangerous driving behaviors seen during high-volume student arrival and dismissal times.

Between 2019 and 2023, there were 158 recorded injuries in this area. Seventy-one percent of severe injuries involved pedestrians or cyclists, and half of the pedestrian injuries occurred when crossing with the signal. Children ages 1 to 17 made up 14% of pedestrian and cyclist injuries.

Officials claim that the existing road conditions, including wide roadways with low traffic volumes, encourage speeding, drag racing, and other dangerous driving behaviors. They report that an average of 80 percent of vehicles exceed the speed limit. The combination of long crossing distances and high student volume means that vehicles often fail to yield to pedestrians. Wide roadways also encourage unpredictable vehicle weaving and passing, limiting drivers’ ability to see pedestrians. This issue is particularly dangerous during crossing. In addition, wide and fast turns place pedestrians at further risk.

They also note that cars parked up to the crosswalk obstruct visibility of student pedestrians, while cyclists have no designated space on the road, especially at multi-directional crossings.

To address these issues, the proposed plan includes narrowing roads to slow traffic speeds, adding road markings to organize and calm traffic, and installing speed bumps to discourage drag racing. The proposal also suggests curb extensions to improve pedestrian visibility, pedestrian islands to shorten crossing distances, and protected bike lanes to provide a safe space for cyclists.

The community board’s Public Feedback Meeting will be held on Wednesday, from 7–8 PM at 890 Nostrand Ave. Residents are encouraged to attend and share their views on the proposed changes to these streets. Community input will be used to shape the final plans, allowing residents to weigh in on how effective, or disruptive, these modifications may be for traffic flow, pedestrian access, and neighborhood safety.