Senator Brisport, AM Forrest, Council Members Ossé and Restler, District Leader Boykin Join TA, Community Groups to Demand Protected Bike Lane, Pedestrian Safety on Bedford Avenue

Despite Mayor Adams' promises last year, the Bedford Avenue protected bike lane has not been built.

The NYC Streets Plan designated Bedford Avenue a Priority Investment Area.

BROOKLYN, NY — Today, State Senator Jabari Brisport, Council Member Chi Ossé, Council Member Lincoln Restler, Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest, and District Leader Shaquana Boykin joined Transportation Alternatives’ Brooklyn Activist Committee and local groups for a walk highlighting the dangerous conditions along Bedford Avenue and the urgent need for a protected bike lane along the street.

Despite promises made by the Adams administration last year, the much-needed protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue has yet to materialize. Council Member Chi Ossé was informed by DOT last fall that safety enhancements would not be implemented until spring 2024 at the earliest — with no commitment that DOT would actually advance the project.

“No more delays, no more excuses: We need a better Bedford Avenue now,” said Kathy Park Price, Brooklyn Organizer for Transportation Alternatives. “Despite repeated promises from City Hall, we have yet to see this administration advance plans to make Bedford Avenue safe by adding a protected bike lane and upgrading intersections for safety. Bedford Avenue is among our city’s most dangerous streets, and we need to see the city act with urgency to protect New Yorkers walking, biking, and driving along the corridor.”

“Bedford Avenue is a major neighborhood artery, making its safety a top priority. I'm thrilled to join neighborhood partners in this walk-and-talk to assess and highlight points of danger and structural problems that have to be addressed. It is time to build a Bedford that works for everyone,” said Council Member Chi Ossé.

The entirety of Bedford Avenue — a 10-mile north-south corridor stretching from Atlantic Avenue to Flushing and Parkside Avenues to the ocean — is identified as a Bike Priority District, underscoring the urgency of addressing traffic violence, historical disinvestment, and transit inequity. 

“The Bed-Stuy Gateway Business Improvement District (BID) firmly supports the enhancement of safety measures on Bedford Avenue, including the implementation of the long-awaited bike lanes. This initiative not only promises to safeguard cyclists but also contributes to the overall traffic calmness and pedestrian safety. The BID recognizes that such infrastructure improvements are crucial for fostering a safer, more accessible, and sustainable community,” said the Bed-Stuy Gateway Business Improvement District.

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