Weigh In On Flatbush's Bike Lane Expansion In This DOT Survey

BROOKLYN, NY — Brooklynites have the chance to weigh in on more than a dozen new bike lanes headed to Flatbush and East Flatbush in a new survey.

The survey — shared Monday by Councilmember Rita Joseph — is the latest in a years-long plan to expand the borough's bike lane network in Community Districts 14 and 17, which extend from the lower end of Prospect Park to Midwood.

The current survey will let neighbors give their feedback on a draft map of the expansion drawn up by transportation officials late last year.

"The project aims to close gaps in the bicycle network while improving safety for all road users," officials write in the survey. "NYC DOT wants to better understand barriers to cycling and the types of bicycle lanes the community would like to see installed in the future."

Flatbush and East Flatbush currently only have bike lanes on a few major thoroughfares like Clarendon Road and Bedford Avenue, a far cry from the intricate bike networks of nearby neighborhoods like Crown Heights and Park Slope, according to DOT's bike map.

The proposal from DOT would add bike lanes to New York, Brooklyn, Albany avenues and East 40th, 51st and 52nd streets, according to the proposal. Cross-town lanes would be built on Cortelyou Road, Snyder Avenue, Foster Avenue, Farragut Road and Avenues J, L and M, plans show.

The map has already gotten some pushback from Flatbush leaders, who claim cycling isn't popular in the neighborhoods, according to Streetsblog.

But others note that cyclists do live in the area, which also serves as a connector for those who bike across the borough from other neighborhoods, the outlet notes.

They contend safety should be a top priority given the history of crashes. There have been 15,596 crashes and 6,936 people hurt in CB17 since 2017, around nine crashes per day, according to Streetsblog.

Find the latest survey here and learn more about the Flatbush and East Flatbush project on its DOT page.