Bedford Avenue Bike Lane Delayed Until Spring Spring: Elected

BED-STUY, NY — Work on a much-anticipated protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue was delayed until the spring, according to City Council Member Chi Ossé.

Locals were explicitly told the lane would be installed this summer — now, officials say construction won't start until at least the spring, Ossé said.

The Transportation department did not respond to Patch's request for comment.

"This is unacceptable," Ossé said in a letter to Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. "The proposed bike lane would make the avenue dramatically safer for cyclists."

The Bedford Avenue bike lane was initially included in a plan to harden 10 miles of existing bike lanes across New York City in 2023. The recent stall comes after years of undelivered promises in Bed-Stuy, Ossé contends in his letter.

"The Bedford Avenue bike lane has been unacceptably dangerous since it was first laid, and for years, the people of my district have been promised that it would be protected," Ossé said.

Advocates say city officials have ditched a large number of street safety projects in recent months. In September, Prospect Heights locals raised alarm bells that work had stalled on a planned Underhill bike boulevard.

Advocates also say officials have walked back their McGuinness Boulevard plans in Greenpoint.

The city is off-pace across all five boroughs to deliver its set goal of installing 50 miles of protected bike lanes in 2023. As of Friday, only 15.4 miles had been installed in 2023, according to Transportation Alternatives.

"It is time for a concrete plan to give the people of Brooklyn the clean, safe, and livable city that we deserve and voted for," Ossé said.