Eyes on the Street: Dekalb Bike Lane Used for NYPD Parking

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From Clinton Hill Blog via Gothamist:

Since I’ve been biking a lot lately, I’ve
come to realize how wonderful bike lanes actually are.  I’m pleased to
say that we now have a bike lane on both Myrtle AND DeKalb!  However, I
have noticed that the DeKalb bike lane seems to be contributing to the
bottle necking that happens around Classon Ave, causing a backup.

It’s not actually the bike lane that’s causing this.

The cause is the police parking. Cop cars cut off an entire lane
just west of Classon on DeKalb, and now that practice has become even
more dangerous.

This intersection has already become a
traffic nightmare, and now cyclists have to divert out into traffic
that’s already dangerous. Surely there must be a better way to arrange
this. With a huge increase in neighborhood traffic (especially on
Sundays with the Flea), this isn’t cool.

Speaking of bike lanes, WE NEED ONE ON LAFAYETTE AVENUE!!! ASAP!!!

ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

The intersection of Classon and Lexington, where Lauren Davis was struck and killed by a turning driver last April.

Family of Lauren Davis Asks CB 3 to Support Classon Ave Bike Lane

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Davis was biking on Classon in the direction of traffic on the morning of April 15 when a left-turning driver in a Fiat struck and killed her. Her sister Danielle launched an online petition urging community boards 2 and 3 and local council members Laurie Cumbo and Robert Cornegy, Jr. to support a bike lane on Classon, and almost 6,000 people have signed on.
Lauren Davis was killed by a turning driver on Classon Avenue last April. Photo: Family of Lauren Davis

Instead of a Classon Avenue Bike Lane, Bed-Stuy Electeds Want a Street Where No One Rides Bikes

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On Thursday, DOT announced plans to paint a bike lane on Classon Avenue, the northbound one-way street where a left-turning driver killed Lauren Davis as she rode her bike to work last April. As bicycle infrastructure goes, it's the bare minimum -- some stripes and stencils to designate space for biking, with no changes to moving lanes or parking. But that hasn't stopped a group of local officials from coming out against it.

DeKalb Avenue Could Become a More Complete Street

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One of DeKalb Avenue’s potential new configurations. A major route to Downtown Brooklyn and its East River crossings is set to receive some crucial safety improvements this summer. You can learn more about it tonight, when DOT presents its DeKalb Avenue Traffic Calming and Bicycle Lane Project (download it) to Brooklyn Community Board 3’s Transportation […]

Squad Cars Clear Out of Dekalb Bike Lane

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A tipster sends photographic evidence that the NYPD does, at times, show cyclists some courtesy. Last week, a post on Clinton Hill Blog drew attention to parked squad cars at the 88th Precinct jutting out into the bike lane on Brooklyn’s Dekalb Avenue. Streetsblog and Gothamist picked up the photo, and now those cars are […]