On Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn, northbound cyclists encounter a sharp infrastructure divide where a protected green bike lane abruptly ends at Willoughby Avenue, forcing riders into unprotected traffic lanes frequently used for overflow parking. The three-block stretch leading to Flushing Avenue was originally protected under Mayor Eric Adams, but the city’s Department of Transportation un-protected the area after local Hasidic community members complained that cyclists posed safety risks to children boarding and exiting school buses.
Political Compromises and Safety Concerns on Bedford Avenue
Cycling advocate and Brooklyn resident Baruch Herzfeld, who sued the Adams administration alongside his son Rafe Herzfeld over the lane removal, stated that Mayor Zohran Mamdani appears to have compromised on the project to maintain ties with the local Satmar Hasidim community of South Williamsburg. During his campaign, Mamdani criticized the prior administration for using street design to broker political deals rather than advancing public wellbeing, yet the Bedford Avenue lane remains unprotected more than three months after advocates reset tracking meters over the issue.
Did You Know? During the Herzfeld lawsuit, Department of Transportation traffic engineers provided evidence showing that removing the protected bike lane would reduce overall corridor safety, noting a 47-percent drop in injuries between Dekalb Avenue and Flushing Avenue when the protected infrastructure was active.
Cyclist Experiences and Traffic Hazards at Willoughby Avenue
Cyclists traveling through the intersection at Willoughby Avenue face immediate hazards when merging into general traffic due to parked vehicles blocking the primitive painted lane. Matjaz Vidnar, a commuter from Slovenia studying in New York, pointed out that drivers routinely park in the unprotected lane, forcing him to ride directly alongside motor vehicles. Another commuter, CJ Kent, described the intersection and subsequent narrow street layout as dangerous, noting that motorists turning or traveling down the corridor often fail to spot merging cyclists, particularly during nighttime hours.
Why the Bedford Avenue protected bike lane was removed
Why was the protected bike lane removed on Bedford Avenue?
The Department of Transportation un-protected the final three blocks of the Bedford Avenue bike lane under Mayor Eric Adams after local Hasidic community members complained that cyclists endangered children getting on and off school buses.
What evidence did the Department of Transportation provide regarding safety?
During the lawsuit filed by Baruch and Rafe Herzfeld, DOT traffic engineers presented evidence indicating that removing the bike lane would reduce overall safety along the corridor, noting a 47-percent reduction in injuries when the protected infrastructure was installed between Dekalb Avenue and Flushing Avenue.
What is the current status of the bike lane under Mayor Mamdani?
While Mayor Mamdani has worked to restart other stalled projects from the previous administration, Bedford Avenue remains an exception, and the bike lane has not been restored. Streetsblog’s tracking meter remains at zero following the administration’s failure to commit to fixing the corridor.
How will the city balance community advocacy and cyclist safety along Bedford Avenue as local commute volumes continue to rise?
Worth a look