Community on Fire Over Bedford Avenue Bike Lane

By Williamsburg 365 Staff

Just weeks after the launch of the new bike lane on Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg, community members are voicing strong concerns over safety issues that have already led to multiple accidents.

Residents are alarmed at the dangers posed by the bike lane, particularly in a bustling neighborhood filled with families and children who cross streets and board school buses throughout the day. With cyclists speeding through, the bike lane has added unnecessary risk to an already busy area. Additionally, such accidents also harm the bikers, creating unnecessary risks for everyone involved.

Community members had raised concerns about safety before the lane was installed, and now, with incidents of injuries captured on security footage, the issue has become even more pressing. Some residents have initiated a petition, urging local politicians to advocate for the bike lane's removal before more serious accidents occur.

However, others believe that simply opposing the bike lane isn’t enough. "The reality is, nothing will change unless we come up with a solution," one resident said. "Complaining won’t achieve anything unless we propose a viable alternative. The DOT will keep its plan unless we present a unified solution that works for our community." "A proposal has been suggested to end the Bedford Avenue bike lane at Dekalb Avenue, diverting cyclists to nearby Classon Avenue. This route would link up with existing bike lanes on Dekalb and Classon, allowing cyclists to safely connect to Kent Avenue without congesting Bedford Avenue. If the community supports this proposal, residents plan to launch a campaign titled “End the Bike Lane at Dekalb” and call for a meeting with the DOT to advocate for this alternative."

While this has become the talk of the town, every day hundreds of children are put at risk by the new bike lane, with their parents praying for their safety and anxiously hoping that local politicians and the DOT will make changes to protect the community.