Revisiting The Amity To Dean Street Bike Network

In December, the Department of Transportation presented to the Community Board 6 Transportation/Public Safety board members a proposal for a 3-block bike project that would fill a gap in the bicycle lane network. The project would install a bike lane on Amity Street from Henry to Court Streets that would provide access to the bike lane on Dean Street.

The project would make it easier for people bicycling from downtown or from the west—like Brooklyn Bridge Park or the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway, to travel east and connect to the bike lane on Dean Street.

Complicating the plan is the fact that Amity and Dean Streets are off-set. Bicyclists on Amity Street would need to turn slightly north when crossing Court Street to reach Dean, but traffic on Court travels south.

The proposed plan includes adding a new pedestrian crosswalk and ramps on the north side of Dean Street to increase pedestrian mobility and safety as well as “markings and signs” to help pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers alike understand the intersection.

At the time, the proposal was tabled because board members were concerned that signs would not clearly communicate that cyclists are allowed to make the slight left across Court Street but that cars are forbidden. Safety concerns were also raised regarding pedestrians understanding and crossing the intersection alongside cyclists.

Preston Johnson, Project Manager of DOT’s Bicycle Program, returned Thursday evening to revisit the proposal with board members, presenting the signs that would be installed at the intersection, such as “[No Left Turn] Except Bikes,” “[Bicycles] Yield to Peds,” and “Use Ped Signal.”

After much debate, having mostly to do with concerns for pedestrian safety, a motion was raised to support the proposal under the condition that DOT examines additional signage (such as additional paint on the crosswalks) and engineering options to minimize bicycle and pedestrian conflict. The motion also includes DOT returning to meet with the board six months after the installation (of both the bicycle and the pedestrian components) is completed to report usage/accident/injury/ statistics as well as 311 data.

Of the 12 board members, 6 voted for, 5 against, and 1 abstained, so the proposal will be presented to the committee as a tie early next month for a decision.