Williamsburg
Streetsblog Basics
New Twist in Kent Ave Saga: Safer Bike Path Plus Parking
After a contentious few months full of clowns, scantily-clad women, illegal billboards, and community board strife (since resolved), we may finally be approaching the denouement to the city's most talked about bike lane drama. The Brooklyn Paper reports on the latest Kent Avenue development:
May 4, 2009
Report: New Yorkers Like Ped Streets More Than They Expected
In addition to last summer's blockbuster car-free event, Summer Streets, three New York neighborhoods tried out pedestrian streets on a more intimate scale. Williamsburg Walks, Summer Space in Brooklyn Heights, and the 78th Street Play Street in Jackson Heights gave communities a taste of how streets function as public spaces when cars aren't clogging up the curb or barreling down the road. Get ready for more this year: About ten neighborhoods are applying to put on pedestrian streets in the summer.
April 9, 2009
Teresa Toro is Back in the Saddle at Community Board 1
Here's some good news: The Brooklyn Paper reports that livable streets advocate Teresa Toro has been reinstated as chair of the transportation committee at Brooklyn Community Board 1.
February 11, 2009
Cyclist Turnout Impressive at CB1 Meeting on Kent Ave Bike Lane
Supporters of the besieged Kent Avenue bike lane made a strong showing at last night's meeting of Brooklyn Community Board 1. About 150 people showed up, says Transportation Alternatives' Elena Santogade, and of the 60 or so speakers, only three opposed the current configuration.
January 14, 2009
Tomorrow: Speak Up for Safer Biking on Kent Ave
A tipster sends word that opponents of the Kent Avenue bike lane are making appeals to Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, a long-time supporter of the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway. A large group representing the Williamsburg Hasidic community showed up at Velazquez's office last week, our source tells us, to register their opposition to the bike lane, which is a precursor to the full build-out of the greenway.
January 12, 2009
Dispute Over Kent Avenue Bike Lanes Keeps Rolling
The controversy over the new bike lanes on Kent Avenue in Williamsburg (which recently resulted in the ouster of livable streets activist Teresa Toro as chair of the CB1 transportation committee) was chronicled in the New York Times over the weekend:
January 5, 2009
The Livable Streets Backlash Claims a Victim at Brooklyn’s CB1
Teresa Toro, one of New York City's most productive livable streets activists in recent years, has been deposed as chair of Brooklyn Community Board 1's Transportation Committee. CB1 covers the Williamsburg and Greenpoint neighborhoods of Brooklyn and has recently been embroiled in bitter fighting over the new bike lanes on Kent Avenue. CB1's executive committee voted unanimously to remove her.
December 24, 2008
Kent Ave Bike Lane Stirs Passions in Williamsburg
New York's latest bike lane skirmish flared up Monday night at a "transportation town hall" in Williamsburg. About 150 people turned out, and DOT bike program coordinator Josh Benson caught an earful from bike lane opponents upset over new parking rules on Kent Avenue, in effect since last month.
November 26, 2008
Tonight: Opposition to Kent Ave Bike Lane Expected at CB1 Meeting
New bike facilities on Kent Avenue are expected to be the subject of protest tonight from motorists angry about the removal of on-street parking.
November 12, 2008
On the Way Home, Ride for a Protected Bike Lane on Delancey
This evening, Adopt-a-Bike-Lane and Transportation Alternatives will launch a campaign for a protected bike lane on Delancey Street by leading escorted "bike commuter pools" across the Williamsburg Bridge. Reads a TA press release:
October 24, 2008