Prospect Park West Bike Lane Study All But Locks in Lanes

The DOT's report on the impact of the controversial Prospect Park West bike lane is so overwhelmingly positive that it's difficult to see how the bike lane opponents can win this one. The bike lane, which was installed in June 2010, is still technically a pilot program, but the DOT's study all but assures its permanence. According to the DOT, speeding has been dramatically reduced on the former drag strip that was Prospect Park West, injuries and accidents are down, and despite the fears voiced by some local residents, there has not been a single reported pedestrian injury from a pedestrian-bike crash.

Furthermore, Prospect Park West now provides the shortest travel times through Park Slope. Weekday travel times have increased slightly (30 seconds max) on the avenues west of PPW, but given the safety improvements, a few extra seconds seem like a small sacrifice for motorists to make. The DOT's report [pdf] also shows how the department has worked with community groups to alleviate their concerns; changes to the lane included added "rumble strip" pavement markings to alert cyclists to upcoming intersections, and redesigning the 9th Street loading zone by the bandshell.

"Now we know that car accidents are down, so yes, I believe it should be made permanent," Councilman Brad Lander (D-Park Slope) tells the Brooklyn Paper. Still, we look forward to cringing along to the song Borough President Marty Markowtiz is surely composing at this very moment—last time he used the tune of "My Favorite Things" to sing out against the bike lanes. Maybe this time he could consider Metallica's "Enter Sandman"? "Enter bike... I don't like / Taaaaake my hand... Sadik-Khan don't understand"

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By John Del Signore in News on January 20, 2011 1:13 PM

Comments [rss]

bkbozz

I am a cyclist who uses the PPW bike lane every day, as well as a driver who uses PPW every day, and a 3rd generation Brooklynite.

The bike lane makes cycling PPW MUCH, MUCH safer, since I now don't have to fear being run off the road by homicidal maniacs trying to hit 45mph to blow a barely red light or two.

It makes driving much safer, for much the same reason.

The only time traffic on PPW is too slow is when people double park, usually delivery trucks, ambulettes, and livery cabs. If there was an ample 10 min only loading zone on the non-park side of each block, I think this problem would almost completely disappear.

BklynsFinest

JDL: the sandman riff is awesome. thx for that

mattbrooklyn

just came from the meeting. impressive presentation.

but - and Gothamist you should get on this - the DOT refused to release the raw data. so, for all we know, they are making up those stats in the powerpoint slides.

Newhce

It's in Brooklyn. Who cares.

E421_ThankYou

The people who started the fuss about this bike lane are the same people who created a fuss about airplanes going over PPW. 'nuff said?

RabbiLaFunque

The roadway inside the park runs parallel for the length of the west side of the park. Why don't the bikers just use that?

kevd

The park closes at night.
The park only has 3 entrances along PPW.
The park lane is only 1 way.
The park lane turns and meanders - so it is slower.

The Prospect Expressway is just a few blocks away. Why don't the cars go drive there?

(really supposed to be a reply to someone else.....)

Fronko

You wanna ride in Prospect Park after dark? Have fun with that. Good luck coming out alive.

random transplant

Just pretend everybody else is a zombie and bike away from them real fast. Or just pretend they might mug you, but thats profiling.

kevd

what decade are you from?

Fronko

The two thousand elevenses.

I mean, I get it...you're saying the park isn't as dangerous as it once was, but would you seriously would be cool with your wife/daughter/sister/female friend riding alone in Prospect Park after dark?

kevd

I do it all the time.
Female friends do it all the time.
I ain't got a wife or a sister- so....
so far.... zero incidents.

I think a really good way to make the park safer all night would be to allow cycling and running on the path only. more eyes and cell phones on the beat.

there are 2 kinds of people in the world. people who don't do things because they think they're unsafe - and people who do things.

random transplant

Because drivers need to be protected from themselves and simply asking them not to speed for who knows how many decades wasn't sticking.

JarekAF

1. The roadway inside the park goes 1-way

2. It's very curvy

3. It's Hilly

4. It's not parallel

5. You can only enter and exit on certain points.

6. Depending on where you're coming from and where you're going, the park might not be useful at all.

7. The park closes at 1 am.

8. Bikes use the roads as well. They're not just relegated to the parks.

***

Anyone who, after looking at the picture above, prefers the before to the after, is just an asshole.

JimboGold853OKG

Because bicycles are traffic and the lane is two-way, funky Rabbi. It's not just a kid's toy.

mushr00m

Were you listening to The Dude's story, Donny?

RabbiLaFunque

Fucking nihilist.

Gwinny

Nihilists are nothing to be scared of.

Rocknrope

It's interesting that the travel time on PPW has been reduced despite the loss of a lane, and the parallel avenues have also either dropped or increased only slightly. Anyone have an explanation for that?

The proposed narrowing of the parking strip over by GAP is a good improvement as well.

Who cares what Marty thinks. The last time that lardass got on a bike, the seat committed suicide.

luke_1

Driving speed in traffic is very much a factor of how smoothly it is moving, more than an issue of road volume or speed.

Less lanes means less trying to outsmart everyone else but actually getting nowhere and slowing everyone down. There's also the fact that many lights are timed for a car traveling a certain speed, and that speed is not going to be above the speed limit.