Eyes on the Street: A Safer Biking Connection to the Williamsburg Bridge

DOT has started work on protected bike lanes linking to the bridge's Brooklyn entrance.

By David Meyer
Aug 24, 2017

The new two-way protected bike lane on South 4th Street, looking east from Roebling Street. Photo: David Meyer

DOT crews have made significant progress this week on a project to improve bike access to the Williamsburg Bridge in Brooklyn [PDF].

Striping and plastic bollards for a two-way bike lane on South 4th Street are now in place. The bike upgrades create a safer connection between Borinquen Place and South 5th Place to the bridge path, improving access for thousands of people every day. The full project, which has yet to be completed, includes a safer eastbound bike connection under the BQE to Grand Street.

Cycling over the Williamsburg Bridge increased 80 percent from 2010 to 2015, and another large surge is expected once L train service across the East River goes out of commission for 15 months starting in April 2019.

The redesign also includes pedestrian improvements at the treacherous intersection of Borinquen, South 4th Street, and Havemeyer Street. The painted outline of a sidewalk extension on the southwest corner of the intersection has already created a shorter crossing for pedestrians.

South 4th Street west of Havemeyer before the redesign. Image: Google Street View — South 4th Street west of Borinquen Place before the redesign. Image: Google Street View

DOT is also adding short segments of protected bike lanes on South 5th Place and South 5th Street between Berry Street and the entrance to the bridge, as well as a protected connection under the BQE to Grand Street, all of which are expected to be installed in the coming weeks.

Next year, the agency plans to install a protected bike lane on Delancey Street on the Manhattan side of the bridge.