In this eco-friendly community of Park Slope, tell me we’re not going to make a radical change to our cherished Main Street to appease those who insist on driving.
What about those who ride buses north and south?
What about the pedestrians who enjoy the leisurely pace of walking down and across the Avenue?
What about the merchants who benefit from the "congestion," the sense of vitality on the Avenue.
I would sooner make Park Slope a car-free zone than cave into the needs of drivers and/or the Atlantic Yards traffic that is expected.
Understood, cars and trucks are needed to supply the stores and restaurants and to ferry children and other living things into the neighborhood.
But why change the flavor of what is basically a pedestrian strip. Why turn it into a speed zone like 8th Avenue or Prospect Park West. Those Avenues are so decidedly unfriendly to bikers and pedestrians. And scary.
Long live the Avenues that cater to the walkers. Walking is good exercise, environment-friendly, a good way to connect with one’s community, a boon to merchants, who rely on the foot traffic, and a perfect pace for all of us.
Changes like this make you wonder, whose Seventh Avenue is it? And whose problem are we trying to fix?
Dahlia, you’re the first cyclist I’ve heard about who thinks this is a bike-friendly idea. I’d much rather ride on 6th and 7th with slower traffic than ride down 8th or PPW hoping that the drivers of the cars coming up behind me at 45 mph didn’t just spill coffee in their laps or get bad news on their cell phones.
the plan is ridiculous. our taxes pay for the studies of plans like this?
and secondly, who cares about bikers..its the pedestrians we need to protect.
The last time I saw a cyclist on 8thAv/PPW was, probably, never. The one time I cycled on PPW I was harassed constantly (since I had to be, legally, in a lane.) How anyone can claim cycling on these fast 1-way streets is likable is…hard to believe?
7th traffic is so slow it’s fairly easy, if not enjoyable, to cycle on. If more people cycled, there’d be no need for bike lanes; there’s even some evidence that it’s safer to ride streets without them…
As a biker, I personally hate biking on 7th Ave where I’m constantly scared for my life. 6th ave is a bit better, but still not great. I would prefer to bike on 8th ave or Prospect Park West anyday. I understand all the frustration about 6th and 7th aves turning into thruways, but my first reaction when I hear the news was, Yay, room for bike lanes!
So while I agree with you from the pedestrian standpoint, I definitely don’t from the biker standpoint.