City Moves 2 Park Slope Citi Bike Stations, Independent of Community Input Process

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — The Department of Transportation (DOT) has adjusted two Citi Bike locations in Park Slope, independent of Community Board 6's ongoing public review process of the bike-sharing system.

A DOT spokesperson said the station at 5th Avenue and 3rd Street was moved closer to 3rd, while the kiosk at the Prospect Park West and 3rd Street station was moved to the station's east side.

The alterations were first reported by DNAinfo.

The city spokesperson said: "DOT worked with the Community Board and other community stakeholders on the placement of Citi Bike stations in CB6, and will continue to do so."

The spokesperson also said the Prospect Park West change was in reaction to "community feedback received about that location."

"DOT will continue to review all concerns and suggestions regarding Citi Bike placement throughout the service area and will carefully explore if any stations flagged are candidates for adjustment," the spokesperson said.

Community Board 6 is in the process of conducting its own review of Citi Bike stations in its neighborhoods, including Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Gowanus, Park Slope and Red Hook.

CB6 district manager Craig Hammerman said the board did not have anything to do with the recent adjustments by DOT. He said CB6 has received about 1,000 emails about Citi Bike stations, and guessed that DOT has received significant feedback as well.

The board is also conducting a more formal station review process. On Oct. 21, it hosted a packed public hearing where people raised both praise for, and concerns about, the system's expansion into their neighborhoods.

In an email before the meeting, DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg suggested to Hammerman that CB6 send over a list of five stations it would like the agency to look at, but Hammerman said the board will instead provide as much feedback as possible.

He said Thursday that he's hoping to pull the commentary received at the hearing into a report to deliver to DOT within a few weeks.

"We're doing our best," he said. "We certainly want to act while the information is fresh."

In the meantime, the DOT has recommended contacting Brooklyn transportation commissioner Keith Bray with feedback. His office can be reached at 646-892-1350, and is located at 16 Court St., #1620, Brooklyn, NY 11241. The DOT has also set up a website where messages can be sent to Bray directly.

Pictured at top: a Citi Bike docking station in Red Hook. Photo by John V. Santore