The Kent Avenue Bike Lane Smackdown That Wasn't

Have you ever been to a Community Board meetings? If not, let me tell you something: they are not sexy.

I was freaking geared up for a BIG smackdown over the Kent Avenue bike lane. But,my righteous fury fizzled mighty quick: the meeting kicked off with a wonkapalooza presentation about waterfront zoning. As a biker and card-carrying-bearded-liberal-dude, I know I should be in to such stuff, but dudes and dudettes it was a wonkfest that led most everyone to ponder their navel fuzz.

Said discussion nudged the hot button Kent Ave issue to nearly 7:45pm. If that wasn’t enough to dull a biker’s anger, there was also a noticeably different dynamic from last month’s Transportation Town Hall. Simply put, there were many bikers there and they got up and made some lovely, impassioned please for the lane. To that, I can only say: YIPEEEE!

The other difference was…well, let’s just say it: there were far fewer Hassidim at the meeting. I don’t write this to suggest that the Hassidic community is the enemy here—they got very legit beefs and I certainly want them to feel comfy with the lane. But there were but a handful in attendance and, during my time at the meeting, they didn’t raise a peep against the bike lane.

What gives?

One thing might be that the folks behind the Brooklyn Greenway have been working diligently, if quietly, with DOT and the community to address concerns about parking and stopping and other very understandable sore points. The result has been more parking spots and some other reasonable sounding changes. You can get the full scoop at the Brooklyn Greenway’s website. Full disclosure: I work on the site...I am shameless little mofo!


Back to the meeting! There was also a classic Community Board fuss to sort of distract everyone: the unceremonious ouster of longtime CB1 Transportation Board Chair Teresa Toro. I will not comment on said fuss, save to say that it direct you to our more informed friends at Streetsblog

All that aside, there were some voices raised against the lanes, largely from Kent Avenue residents and business owners. Some of the beefs sounded very legit (business owners have to shlepp a bit to get deliveries, which sure seems like a pain if your deliveries are of any weight). Other beefs--having to walk to cross the street, wanting the bike lane ONLY on the west side—sounded a might less pressing to this chap.

What’s next? I am curious to see if DOT’s changes make folks happier. And I also wonder if more can be done to aid Kent Ave business owners. I did think that Milton Puryear from Brooklyn Greenway Initiative (the stewards of the Greenway) made a great point: we are all gonna have to accept some changes as well as some things that are less than ideal. I am game to do that if the final result is a safe lane that leads me to South Brooklyn and others to some nice new parks.

Kent Avenue Showdown on Tuesday, Jan 13

Showdown is a strong word: we want to broker peace on Kent Street...and keep our lovely, tremendously useful bike lanes!

Truth be told, we have no idea if anyone reads our humble, sporadically-updated blog...and if you do, you likely already know about this really important meeting.

But if you don't, details are below. If you aren't busy on Tuesday, please haul over to Anslie Street, please! The voices against the bike lane are plenty loud and at the last meeting bikers barely made a peep. So, let's pipe up!

Part of the urgency here is not only protecting bike lanes (though I for one can't believe we would really use taxpayer money during a big recession to roll back something that greatly aids safe, enviromentally sound transportaton). The Kent lane is also part of the burgeoining Brooklyn Greenway, which will be a boon to the borough's bikers, walkers and joggers. Kent Ave. is an integral part of the Greenway--it loops people around the Navy Yard and makes for a convenient route all the way to Greenpoint. Hand, sexy and good!

Anyhow, soapboax stuff over, here's the scoop on the meeting:


WHEN: January 13, 2009
WHERE: Swinging Sixties Senior Center
211 Ainslie Street (Corner of Manhattan Avenue)

QUOTH TRANSALT:
"Williamsburg, BrooklynThe back and forth over the Kent Avenue bike lanes has continued over the last several weeks. This coming Tuesday is the first full meeting of Community Board 1 since the dispute erupted, and we need a strong showing of supporters to make the biggest possible impression on the board leadership. Please attend this critical meeting, and sign up to make a brief 2-minute statement during the public comment period to back up this critical safety improvement.

You must sign up by 6:15 pm AT THE LATEST to speak"


More from TransAlt

Save The Kent Avenue Bike Lane

ACK! Maybe this is just a scare tactic by T.A., but I just received the missive below and it sure gave me the heeby jeebies.

I have no idea if anyone reads our little blog. And if you do, I am guessing you probably already get the full slew of T.A. stuff. So, maybe you have already sent something in.

But if you haven't done the e-fax thingy, please do. Trite but true: it takes but a moment and it can't hurt to have our voices massed and shouting!

Thanks and ride on...

Click here to send your E-Fax To Mayor Bloomberg

Dear T.A. Brooklyn Committee member,

The Kent Avenue bike lane is in trouble. Local elected officials are bending to the will of drivers angered at the loss of parking, and are calling for the lane's removal. We need you to reach out to Mayor Bloomberg, who has the final say, and affirm the value of this critical link in the bike network.

We would not be reaching out to you if we didn't think this project and future lanes in North Brooklyn weren't in jeopardy. To prevent this lane's removal, please help by sending this e-fax now . You can modify the text as you see fit.

The Kent Avenue lane is not perfect. T.A. supports the efforts of Community Board 1 and the DOT as they identify addition parking and loading zones on adjacent streets, and work with businesses to find solutions to loading difficulties. But we firmly oppose the premature calls of residents and elected officials for the lane's removal in order to preserve convenient parking spaces for area car-owners at the expense of bicyclists' safety.

The Kent Avenue bike lane is the precursor to a fully-formed Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway. This plan, including the removal of parking, was overwhelmingly approved by Community Board 1. T.A. supports the Kent Avenue bike lane as a way to hold the future greenway's footprint, and protect the thousands of cyclists who use this dangerous street.

Send off the e-fax today . T.A. will cc your other elected officials and community board, multiplying the impact of your statement.

transportation town hall

So, we're just back from the Transportation Town Hall at the Swinging 60s Club. Simple summary: the Hassidim are pissed.

The slightly glib summary would also mention that business owners are also pissed. So was this lady behind us, who represented everyone's palpable displeasure with the new bike lanes on Kent Street.

Speaking as a dude who bikes every day and is wholeheartedly in favor of bike lanes, including one on yummy wide Kent Street, I can get their beefs.

The Hassidim can't safely drop their kids off and it does sound like some cops didn't get the memo about stopping exceptions, leading to some perhaps dubious tickets.

The business owners and their bunged up deliveries most certainly get the short end of the stick.

So, the bike lane is not ideal. As a biker, I don't ask for the world. I want a basically car-free space, where I feel might rights and person are respected: I am not scrapping for a wee sliver of the road that I most certainly deserve to be on.

Anyhow, David Yassky sort of played conciliator and agreed that there should be further discussion amongst affected parties.

Which leads me to a few final thoughts:

1. People, we got our asses kicked. The Hassids, business-owners and pissy lady factions showed up en masse. All we bikers had were a few valient, voluble bikers...but just a few!

Anyhow, I am new to this politics stuff and perhaps Yassky was posturing/throwing a bone. If there is a subsequent pow-wow of some consequence, bikers should be heard!

2. This section of Kent is part of the proposed Brooklyn Greenway. I am a fan of the Greenway and do a bit of work for them. It absolutely seems like a great project. Still, I would be curious to know how necessary a continuous Kent path is...I suspect it does make a very real difference and I for one like it and I would gladly stop if the cars stopping also do it in an orderly fashion that respects my space.