Politics & Government

Survey Shows Approval of Prospect Park West Bike Lane

A survey shows that the majority of area residents are in favor of the controversial bike lane.

According to a survey released Monday by Brooklyn Community Board 6 and Council Members and Stephen Levin, area residents largely approve of .

The survey found that specifically Park Slope residents approve of the two-way protected bike lane by a three-to-one margin. The survey also found, however, that bike lane support dwindles to about half when only residents of Prospect Park West and adjacent streets are surveyed.

The 13-question survey was completed by about 3,150 Brooklyn residents both online and in person from October 15 to October 30. It was not, however, randomly conducted or intended as any sort of scientific study or referendum. The goal of the survey was to give Brooklyn residents a vehicle to voice their opinions, as well as to identify concerns and possible modifications to the lanes.

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Of those surveyed, 828 lived on Prospect Park West or the blocks immediately adjacent to the street and 1,137 lived elsewhere in the area. In addition to the multiple-choice questions, over 2000 respondents also filled in the open-ended questions.

According to survey results, residents feel that the largest issue with the bike lane is that it makes pedestrians feel unsafe while crossing from the street into the park.  

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In the fall, the New York City Department of Transportation released preliminary data showing that the bike lane had reduced speeding along the boulevard from three out of four cars to one in seven. The DOT also found that nearly no cyclists continued to ride on the sidewalk after the lane's installation – a persistent problem before it was installed.

The survey suggests that modifications could address many of the major concerns residents voiced about the bike lane. Potential modifications might include a redesign of pedestrian bike path crossings and widening the parking lane where possible.

The DOT will conduct an analysis of the lane in early 2011. 


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