More Bicycle Lanes, a History of New Lanes

An interactive graphic from the New York Times illustrating the new bike lanes installed and painted throughout NYC over the past 9 years.



According to the map, the following lanes were placed in Bay Ridge:


2002-3: Colonial and Shore Roads, including Oliver, 72nd St and 68th Street (Note: We are certain the southbound Shore Road bicycle lane was already in place and just restriped with the roadway repaving and lane realignment around 2002-3 See our prior post about Shore Road).


2004: Poly Place near the VA Hospital.


2009: 7th Avenue extending northward from Ft Hamilton Army Base, Poly Prep and the golf course.

Final Day for Waterfront Comments

Here's what we submitted to NYC DCP for comments, inspired by RRR#1:

Comment to Reach 15: Improve pedestrian and bicycling connection between the end of the harbor pedestrian/bicycle path at Bay Parkway to the new Calvert Vaux Park. Continue to the Coney Island area (Reach 16) for access to beaches, amusement parks and aquarium.

Bay Ridge has the fewest list for improvements in the entire report - send in your thoughts!

http://brbrbrooklyn.blogspot.com/2010/11/vision-2020-comprehensive-waterfront.html

Bicycle Racks in Bay Ridge

This information from from B.R.A.K.E.S.:

Get a free bike rack installed for your school or business through CB 10! At the Pedestrian Safety Committee meeting last night we were told that the DOT will come and install bike racks at no cost if you request it! All you need to do is contact the CB at communitybd10@nyc.rr.com and they will assist you.

http://www.bkcb10.org/

PPW Bicycle Lane Success

A story from our uptown neighbors on the success of the recent Prospect Park West bicycle lane.

"The Department of Transportation has announced that car traffic along Prospect Park West has slowed, while bike usage has skyrocketed since the controversial bike lane’s construction this spring.

The findings suggest that the lane is passing its first scrutiny with flying colors, since it was designed to calm traffic and encourage cycling.

The study, quietly released on Oct. 19, compared data from this summer to the pre-bike lane days of September, 2009."

Read more: http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/33/45/33_45_ppwlanereport.html

Running for Your Life

Every year at marathon time, a whole lot of good articles begin to appear about healthy lifestyles and the people who benefit from it. This one is about NYC's own Dr. Thomas A. Farley, the city's health commissioner.

At BRBR, we're about pedal power, not running, but the lessons are still equally good ones.

Today is a day that a car is useless in Bay Ridge because the marathon route slices the neighborhood in half. If you are not running, take out your bicycle, ride over to 4th Ave and go watch the runners. (You can pass under the marathon at 4th Ave by using the subway station entries) Enjoy!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/07/nyregion/07farley.html?_r=1&hp

Vision 2020 - Comprehensive Waterfront Plan

Map of Opportunity Areas from the Department of City Planning

The Department of City Planning has released a draft report for public comment regarding the development and future planning for the entire length of the New York City waterfront. The entire plan can be downloaded for review and comments can be submitted until Nov 12.

Have a look and let the City know what you think - our neighborhood has the great benefit of being at the mouth of the New York Harbor with a bicycle and recreational path along the entire length. Of course, this makes Bay Ridge the envy of all NYC but there are some opportunities to make it even better.

Bay Ridge is in the area noted as "Reach 15".


Links for more info:

New York Times Article
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/07/realestate/07cov.html?_r=2

Department of City Planning, Visoin 2020
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/cwp/cwp_2.shtml?locate=3

RRR#4 - Election Day Workout

Here's a special Election Day submission - a voting workout! This rider submitted the readings from the bicycle computer. The flat line is the time spent at the Bay Ridge voting polls while the bicycle was parked, remainder of the jagged lines is commuting time to Manhattan.

http://www.brooklynveloforce.org/2010electionworkout.html