"The proposed modifications should make the new Prospect Park West even friendlier to pedestrians. At intersections, the tan paint marking the pedestrian zone of the median will be replaced with raised islands. That should keep parked cars from intruding on pedestrian space. Along the bike path, DOT wants to install “rumble strip” markings to alert riders that they’re approaching an intersection. DOT also suggests rearranging the loading zones at 9th Street and narrowing the bike lane buffer at the very northern end of Prospect Park West in order to better transition into Grand Army Plaza."The Brooklyn Paper (briefly) reported what is by far the most important fact of the whole bike lane "controversey" - it's safety effects.
"• Crashes are down from an average of 30 in six months to 25, or 16 percent.
• Crashes that cause injuries are down from 5.3 in six months to two, a whopping 63-percent drop.
• Before the project, a crash was twice as likely to include an injury.
• Injuries to all street users dropped 21 percent."
But Community Board 6 is the bastion of progressive bike thought. From the Brooklyn Paper comes this month's worst idea ever:
"Nica Lalli, a writer and member of Community Board 6, said her plan makes cyclists as accountable as motorists — and makes it a cinch for cops to ticket two-wheeled scofflaws.
“Making it easier to give people tickets with bikes will be good revenue for the city,” said Lalli, who admitted she is not a “bike person,” but that she holds no prejudice against cyclists — including her husband."
Since when does making it HARDER to bike in the city make sense? All of this backlash against cyclists is the result of rich, connected car owners making a stink. Here is one fact that should end any debate, as if the safety improvements aren't enough: In Brooklyn, car owners are a minority.
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