Gowanus Lounge was at the Civic Council meeting last night and has a report. Anyone else at that meeting, please write in. I’d love to know more. I’m away at the moment.
A group of Ninth Street residents turned out in force to strongly oppose a Department of Transportation proposal that would add turning lanes and bike lanes to Ninth Street, and in the end the PSCC voted 14-3, with one abstention, to object to the plan.
The primary objections voiced by residents were that a bike lane would interfere with double parking and the ability to pick up and drop off children, for instance. There were also concerns that narrowing the street from two lanes to one lane would cause traffic congestion and that bicyclists would be deposited at the Ninth Street entrance to Prospect Park, which is for pedestrians. There were also a number of complaints that the city’s Department of Transportation had not involved residents in preparing its plan.
“It’s not a plan that was done looking at community needs,” said PSCC Trustee and Ninth Street resident Bob Levine, who led the charge against the bike lane proposal. “Yes, we need bike lanes, but DOT didn’t talk to the neighborhood.” Mr. Levine suggested placing new bike lanes on 15th Street, which he argued is more amenable.
It’s a tough problem. Any time you put a bike lane on a busy business street, it’s hazardous. Car doors are opening all the time, trucks are stopping and unloading, and what are they going to do?
15th street? is he insane? we have two buses on 15th, no stop sign or light on the circle above it so you’re lucky if you don’t get hit by a car service, and any double parking makes it so the bus can’t get by, and then there’s honking for half an hour. we’re also the ambulance route of choice, and the yellow cab route to take to the BQE to get back to the city.
the guy must be insane