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Cyclists and residents demanding bike lane improvements along Kent Ave.

There are dozens of residents who ride up and down Kent Avenue in Williamsburg. Some of them told News 12 they rely on their bikes daily and these lanes need improvement.

Shniece Archer

Jul 10, 2024, 9:50 PM

Updated 147 days ago

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Cyclists in Williamsburg and Greenpoint are asking for improvements to their bike lanes.
It's become an ongoing battle in those neighborhoods, and the community is now coming together for change.
There are dozens of residents who ride up and down Kent Avenue in Williamsburg. Some of them told News 12 they rely on their bikes daily and these lanes need improvement.
According to Council Member Lincoln Restler, that area is one of the busiest bike lanes in the city. Restler told News 12 he, and members in his community, have safety concerns when taking their daily bike rides.
The Department of Transportation painted bike lanes and protected it by adding parking next to it.
However, the councilmember is now asking the department to come up with a capitol project that would fix what he calls dangerous issues with the current design.
"A car, truck would just drive into the bike lane, despite it being so actively used - it can be really scary when a vehicle comes into the lane, you have to dart out into traffic around it, and for a bike lane that has many of thousands of riders a day, it's so actively used, we should really have the proper protection in place," Said Council Member Lincoln Restler.
The department has previously made changes to some parts of the Brooklyn greenway to Flushing Avenue and the southern portion of Kent Avenue.
Advocates are asking the DOT to finish the job for the rest of Williamsburg and Greenpoint. For now they tell News 12 they're committed to providing safe and accessible areas for transportation and they're reviewing this request.