Cyclists want to 'keep the gears turning' when it comes to upgrading the country's oldest bike path in Brooklyn
It's been around since 1894, making it the oldest bike path in the country.
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Ocean Parkway Malls Bike path in Brooklyn stretches 5 miles and runs through Prospect Park to Coney Island.
It's been around since 1894, making it the oldest bike path in the country.
The New York City Parks Department is wrapping up construction on part of the path between avenues R and X by the end of the month.
It allotted over $4 million to upgrade the section of the parkway back in 2019.
The project didn't end up starting until March 2023 due to some delays from the pandemic.
Cyclists like Jorge Sesar say they already notice a difference between the parts of the path that are upgraded, and those that aren't.
“The unpaved section, the roots are coming through and making cracks so you have to be more diligent about how you ride. But over here, I could take my phone out and change my music because I didn’t have to worry about swerving through different cracks so a lot more relaxing on the paved side,” said Sesar.
Other people like Irina Pyatetsky say they want to see construction continue along the whole route.
“These bumps, you know it’s a very old road and when you’re riding on a scooter or bike it’s very dangerous so I would love for it to get fixed all the way," said Pyatetsky.
Last year, Mayor Eric Adams and the New York City Parks Department announced an expansion and improvement initiative supported by the federal Rebuidling American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity grant. Brooklyn is included in this and the NYC Parks Department says the city is exploring improvements along the entire route.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the New York City Parks Department said "Our citywide network of greenways and bike paths connects New Yorkers to our parks, our natural environment, and to one another. Keeping these routes accessible and well-maintained is a top priority for us and our partners throughout city government, and we are focused on working with our sister agencies to maintain and strengthen our greenway network, including the historic Ocean Parkway bike path. "
