Crown Heights has experienced notable changes with the introduction of Citibikes, new bike lanes, revised garbage collection schedules, and loading zones.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) has recently proposed creating protected bike lanes on Kingston and Brooklyn Avenues into single lanes from Empire Blvd to Winthrop St.
The plan involves updating traffic signals and installing painted pedestrian islands and curb extensions. However, it will also result in the removal of 55 parking spaces and the conversion of these streets into single lanes.
The JFA is gathering community feedback on this proposal.
“The DOT will take it more seriously with a high number of responses, making it harder to disregard the community’s perspective. Let’s do our part and ensure our voices are heard,” said Yaacov Behrman of the JFA.
Residents are encouraged to participate in the survey to share their opinions about the plan.
Survey Link https://www.thejfa.org/
This is a task for the new Vaad to STOP!
It’s not that simple for a vaad to stop these things as you might want to think the city is way more powerful then a vaad hakohol.
Where’s the new Va’ad to try and put a stop to this?
If you read the article, you will see that “Mass Protest” is required. A board of seven members, will not be able to communicate the thousands of people that are negatively affected. But if there are thousands of signatures, then the board can make a very clear case.
Let the new Vaad come out with a letter urging everyone to join the petition.
The vaad can publicize and organize a protest-signing, making calls, and push for people to sign the survey
Don’t leave it to COL
If we cant stop money hungry politicians from ruining our streets, what are we good for? were free for the taking on every level. The last Community Council administration wouldve welcome this plan with open arms (and wallets). BH we have new people on this. Lets hope with hashems help that they are succesful.
Third World Dictatorship
Actually it was Brooklyn Community Board 9 which signed this plan in the beginning of the year
WE HAVE A VOICE BUT WE DONT USE IT!
Thank you Yaacov Behrman and the JFA for creating awareness and standing up for the community!
No one read the proposal.
The point is not to remove parking spots. The point is that the crosswalks should be safe for our children.
Too many kids are getting hit by reckless drivers.
This wouldn’t be needed if drivers would obey laws and look where they are driving.
Loosing parking spots is a outcome as trying to making our streets safer for pedestrian.
Would like to hear more documentation on this point, but Citi Bike is notorious for taking away parking spots
And while many Citibike racks’ bikes are used a lot, there is a huge rack near my house with about 20 bikes, and rarely are there more than about 3 bikes taken. The bikes sit there, day after day, unused — taking up about 3-4 former parking spots!
And at many locations having the Citibike racks, there is an extra-wide sidewalk w/lots of room for the rack (as well as room for pedestrians), but the rack is still in the street rather than on the sidewalk, stealing precious parking spots!
Streets would be safer if no one could drive
if no one could drive, our streets would transform into safe havens free from the dangers of reckless driving and traffic accidents! it’s a radical change that would revolutionize our urban environments for the better! maybe the new Vaad should work on this!!!
Why does this city keep discriminating against families who rely on cars to get from A to B? Count the number of cars vs. bikes on the road next time you are there, and try telling me that taking away a car lane makes sense? Nothing but more traffic and more pollution. They did it to Parkside Ave and it became a nightmare. Emergency vehicles unable to pass. Who knows the horrific consequences. No wonder families are leaving the city. If safety is the goal, they can install more speed cameras. They can also increase the duration of the traffic… Read more »
Completely Insane, NOT IN TOUCH WITH REALITY
And we alow…???
There are alot of actual sickening things going on and being neglected in this community.
Like what? And is it being dealt with?
I don’t think any vaad can stop this. Just like no one could stop the invasion of drug shelters and migrant centers. Or the fact that now our local volunteers are the only ones responding to crime. Even the grass around the trees on the sidewalk are no longer being mowed by the city. It’s a concerted attack against our community and New Yorkers in general.
This would be the work of senators. And we don’t seem to have any political connections since our neighborhood has been allocated by zoning to never be able to win a political election.
B”H
This is pure Communism. I dare anyone to document (film) ANYONE they’ve seen riding a bicycle along this empty road
How is accommodating everyone who bikerides and drives pure communism?
Let be real here
The Loss of 50 spots, and traffic , will be nothing compared to what’s coming with the development of 1200+ units on Clarkson ave. In addition to the infrastructure load , and safety issues it will have on the community .
This is such bad news! wake up community, they are taking away everything we have here.
Less lanes on Kingston and Brooklyn Aves will only mean slower response times for Hatzalah and other emergency services making Crown Heights more unsafe than it already is.
We need help and we need to do this all together, not just point fingers to the new Vaad or Rabbi Berman.
We need solutions and to organize a mass protest. this will totally destroy the last remnants of Kingston Ave and Crown Heights
There are enough driving lanes,a few mew bike lanes will be okay …
Really? down brooklyn from empire to be one lane…. what happens when someone double parks, which they will – its NYC. everything gets backed up.
impound the car – that driver isn’t just selfish, they’re being reckless with peoples’ lives!
First they replace our parking with ‘rent a bike’. Now THIS !!!!
I am for bike lanes. Our children will be able to get to yeshiva on their scooters safely on bike lanes.
First let them resolve the affordability crisis
While they are at it .. maybe they can resolve it for the whole country.
Has it occurred to Yaacov Berman that maybe slowing down traffic on some key roads where pedestrians have been hit, is a good thing for the neighborhood and safety of the community, before speaking “on their behalf” saying a few parking spaces are more important than kids lives?
Why is the headline about parking spots, not about making the neighborhood safer? Your car brain is showing
Plans to improve pedestrian safety around beis rivka at the cost of a few parking spots.
how about we actually give police the tools they need to arrest dangerous drivers instead of penalizing the whole community
When they put Citi Bikes in the neighborhood, there was the same complaint. Yet, on a daily basis, I see people from our community using and enjoying these bikes. Why is a dedicated bike lane, which will help keep our cyclists safe, something to protest?
With thousands and thousands of parking spots in our community, nobody is going to notice a 50 spot reduction.
It’s almost as if any change is perceived as a threat.
because they are not needed and are actually dangerous. in addition, traffic in CH is crazy. reducing the driving lanes will make it unbearable.
Many, many riders of bikes and scooters will still ride on any street they want (not only on streets with official bike lanes): often going the wrong way on a one-way street, ignoring red lights and pedestrians, or riding on the sidewalk, etc.
And, way too often, they are not wearing helmets either.
It’s not such a big deal to have a lane for bikeriders,in fact it’s a good thing and something this community was missing out on. There are much bigger issues we face as a community than accommodating bike riders,such as high cost of living and lack of community resources. Examples would be foundations to help families pay rent, tuition, help teachers and melamdim financially, provide buses to borough Park,williamsburg and upstate. It’s not just about the wealthy people, wake up!
I support this, I see bicyclists almost getting killed on a daily basis so if it increases safety I am for it, likewise for lower speed limits and more bumps.
Many, many riders of bikes and scooters will still ride on any street they want (not only on streets with official bike lanes): often going the wrong way on a one-way street, ignoring red lights and pedestrians, or riding on the sidewalk, etc.
And, way too often, they are not wearing helmets either.
There’s enough room for back in, angled parking and bike lanes, which will add additional parking.
why are people so against the proposal that aims to protect our kids/adults walking to/from school, reduce car racings, speeding, and giving bicycles and scooter a place to drive on (after all we dont like them on our sidewalks and cant expect them to drive on the roads either). There are 10 schools in the area! Are the 50 parking spots the deal braker against all other benefits??! im finding it hard to understand the anti.
It’s just like those built-out corner sidewalks that “aim to” stop people from waiting in the crosswalk to cross the street — PS, that’s another stealer of parking spots. Instead of what’s “aimed” for, people wait in the crosswalk anyway (not on the sidewalk), even more exposed to the passing cars! Many, many riders of bikes and scooters will still ride on any street they want (not only on streets with official bike lanes): often going the wrong way on a one-way street, ignoring red lights and pedestrians, or riding on the sidewalk, etc. And, way too often, they are… Read more »
Brooklyn is rezoning without parking space for all tall new buildings – this is absurd
Dont forget how they put those things DELIBERATLY next to THOSE SAME BUILDINGS!!!
this is ridiculus
Thanks, Yaacov Behrman, for all your important work, a true tzadik
Finally, we have leadership that isn’t on the take
Kingston is most of the day a one lane. But they should use the freed space to make more parking not less.
With their cruel system putting them on CORNERS THAT HAVE BUILDINGS WITHOUT ANY PARKING LOT!!!
In other communities those bikes would’ve been slashed!
We wouldnt complain if the police wouldnt be relentless on still giving parking tickets and even when you are half an inch literal next to hydrant.
Pd notice that where black pepole live they let them double park and block hydrant with ZERO tickets. Policemen for the ticket are black themselvs amd most likely bunch of jew haters
Has no one ever walked their kid on any of these streets?
All the people came in communism read the proposal?
Shame on our populist leaders who put the short-term convenience of drivers ahead of the majority of Crown Heights residents who get around car-free
People are posting a lot of comments about unsafe driving. As a driver in CH, I’ve noticed that pedestrian attention to safety is abysmal, especially on Kingston . People constantly cross streets (against the light) without looking. I think some community education around pedestrian safety would go a long way.