Big Changes Coming to Williamsburg Bridge Bike Path

NYCDOT via @nycbridgereport

As previously reported, the DOT is implementing some long-overdue changes to the bike-pedestrian paths on the Williamsburg Bridge. The paths, which have become increasingly crowded and dangerous due to the city's cycling boom, are being altered so that walkers and bikers will each have their own side, like on the Manhattan Bridge. The work is beginning today, with the complete closure of the south side path. Then it's on to the sinister "Phase 2"!

Kidding, it's not actually sinister (at least, that's what the DOT wants you to believe). Phase 2 just means the complete closure of the north path, after the south side reopens. And during the repair of the Single Width Path on the Manhattan side (i.e., The Eternal Ramp), the DOT promises work "will be performed only in one-half of the path, to allow the pedestrians and cyclists to use the other half." Peruse the DOT's little pdf here.

When it's all done, the north side of the bridge will be for cyclists, and the south side for pedestrians, who will no doubt appreciate not having to constantly look back over their shoulders in fear of getting clipped by the fixie tattooed speed demons blasting by en route to the to the McKibben dorms. The work is expected to take six to eight ~~years~~ weeks, and will also include the removal of "old markings and graffiti vandalism." [Via Streetsblog]

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By John Del Signore in News on April 6, 2010 10:57 AM

Comments [rss]

virble

It's scary walking up the north side (from Manhattan to Brooklyn) with bikes barreling down at 35 mph. I now understand why pedestrians use the other side. It made me wonder what would happen in a collision. Death?

Cannibal

This comment thread smells like dirty hair.

Trilby16

The old way was/is ridiculous. Who thought that system up? But with just 7 ft of walking space to accommodate both directions, how are tourists going to amble three a-breast?

The Edge

CAPS LOCK: CRUISE CONTROL FOR COOL

grandzu

There wil still be tools who insist on straddling the middle of the entire path.

ABSORB

I can tell you from many years of riding over that bridge that that almost all of the bikers observe the the lane directions and probably half of the the pedestrians don't observe the lane rules. I don't think changing the lanes around like this is going to change this at all.

potsmoker

CXB FOR MAYOR!!!

JacqueMehoff

I think he did run for mayor. and it's interesting to see who the new NY'ers are because if you were around during the bad or good days you'll know who he is. yeah, I would love to go back to those days. no tacos and no kimchi.

Greg Nog

Snoopy, I imagine that would be a sort of "breakdown lane"? Like, for tired bikers, or broken bikes to stop without impeding traffic?

Speaking of bike paths on bridges, I'd love to see an overhaul of the Pulaski Bridge's little path. That thing's narrow as hell.

Snoopy

That makes sense using it as a breakdown lane. It would have been better if it was in the middle creating a barrier between the two types of users of the pathway.

starrygordon

Apparently this is a matter of painting the lines differently. No one pays much attention to the lines anyway, except the Hasidim, who unlike many other residents of the city, can read. Regardless of where the lines are, we will still have to put up with oblivious pedestrians and their errant dogs and children, and too-cool bicyclists riding no-hands while chatting on their cell phones before zooming coolly into the very middle of Delancey Street traffic. (It's true they don't last very long but there are always more of them from fecund Peoria and Red Bluff.) The design of the pedestrian and bicycle paths on the Williamsburg Bridge should win some prize for Olympic-grade dumbness.

Snoopy

What is that 2 foot space on the left side of the proposed plan meant to do except narrow the available width of the passage way?

thewildpansy

you dumb FUCK, you would hit the side pole if there was no room

Snoopy

Where might you see a side pole and why wouldn't the same thing happen in the present situation that uses that extra two feet, fart breath pansy?

mctaco

I hope the new signs are in English as well as Hebrew.

Chancho

WARNING! LOOK OUT FOR STICKUP KIDS! To all bikers on the Williamsburg Bridge. Last night at 1:30am on the south side ramp in Brooklyn, a group of teenagers had the place staked out trying to rob bikers cruising down the ramp. Using lights to signal one another, a friend and I narrowly escaped. The used a BMX bike to block the exit at the end of the ramp, but we managed to avert them. Keep yer eyes peeled.

nycbiker

seriously? I ride my bike over WB ALL the time, at all hours, and I've not heard of bike stick-ups since the bad old '80s. One way to combat this is to attend your the Williamsburg Precinct's community council meetings with officers and detectives and raise hell about the issue, if it's true. I haven't heard any reports about activity like this at all. Can you describe the incident in more detail?

LB

Sign of the times .

juliec

This is awesome, but is it totally necessary to do this construction when traffic is significantly higher than normal levels? It seems like foresight and attention to present conditions are lacking.