Anti-bike lane activists took to the streets handing out fliers and educating the public this week in hopes of raising awareness about a pressing issue. The Department of Transportation has ushered in a plan that aims to increase street safety in the Clinton Hill section of Brooklyn. According to a recent article, the plan will convert Clinton Avenue from a two-way street to a one-way northbound street, adding a two-way protected bike lane.
Once the plans were made available to the public, Clinton Hill's Community Board 2 transportation meeting was flooded with residents who were eager to have their voices heard. The Fort Greene Association quickly aided the activism effort by emailing residents to urge them to voice their opinion on the proposed changes.
"I do believe that we do need a solution. I do believe that we can come up with a solution together. I believe that the process in terms of how this was brought forward has created such an adversarial environment around it that we simply can't move forward with the plan as it has been presented to us." said City Council Member Laurie Cumbo, who was in attendance during the tense meeting.
According to the dynamic proposal which can be viewed here, the DOT proposes that converting Clinton Avenue to a one way northbound street would thereby calm traffic, shorten pedestrian crossing distances, and make the street safer residents who frequent the area. At least 90 residents signed up to speak up at the board meeting, citing concerns for elderly pedestrians and children who will have to cross the bike lanes.
Some residents even expressed concern that the DOT was showing favoritism for bikers instead of rallying for local residents who use the street for other purposes. As the dust settles on the issue, the DOT has to prepare for a second committee meeting where even more residents have already signed up to express their concern.
