Atlantic Avenue: The New Boulevard of Death

Fact: Brooklyn's Atlantic Avenue has now eclipsed Queens Boulevard as the most dangerous street in the outer-boroughs. Nine pedestrians were killed there from 2006 to 2009, almost twice the number of fatalities racked up in Queens. This won't come as much of a surprise to anyone who's ever had to cross Atlantic Avenue— cars and trucks use it as a highway, particularly in the stretch between Flatbush and the Brooklyn border.

Some good news: the DOT has begun adding left turn lights and increasing the the timing for walk signals, and there was only one pedestrian killed in all of 2009. But with Atlantic Yards bringing thousands more people into the area over the next several years, you can bet that the numbers of deaths will be going up.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jake Dobkin in News on January 10, 2010 2:16 PM

Comments [rss]

Knickerbocker

The intersection of Fulton and Flatbush Ave Ext is possibly the worst I have ever seen (and I have lived in Manhattan and Brooklyn my entire life).

Cars making a left turn off Flatbush onto Fulton speed right in to the backs of pedestrians walking south every cycle. I have seen Brownie cops (yes - we should all still call them Brownies) standing around picking their butts while cars speed through the red light.

The city could make 10k a day with all the moving violations that occur at this intersection. Add diligent cops and a red light cam at the DeKalb and Lafayette intersections, and they could make a real dent in the budget gap.

Kim Bong Ill

What a shock -- two of the longest and busiest thoroughfares from the outer boroughs into the city are also the most dangerous.

In other news, it has been irrevocably determined that bears shit in the woods.

newsyspice

My fellow residents of Queens! We CANNOT ALLOW The Boulevard of Death to lose its title! Rise up -- I beg of you -- and start running lights and pushing kids and old ladies in front of cars. We must!