Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Bicycle Infrastructure

An NYC First: On-Street Parking Spaces Replaced by Bike Racks

The new bike racks have been installed at the Bedford Avenue L subway station in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. As the Dept. of Transportation announces in today's press release, "The
facility marks the first time car parking spaces have been removed to
accommodate bicycle parking in New York City."

DOT extended a 76-foot section of the sidewalk by five feet and
installed nine new bike racks to provide parking for more than 30
bikes. Demand for bicycle parking is high in the area around the
Bedford Avenue subway stop and it has been the scene of frequent NYPD bike seizures.

Livable Streets advocates take careful note of the work that Community Board member Teresa Toro and DOT Deputy Borough Commissioner Dalila Hall did to push this project through. It's not easy to make change in New York City. This is how you do it.

Here's the money quote in today's Daily News:

"It's superconvenient," said Matthew Holtberg, 34, a graphicdesigner from Fort Greene, after unlocking his set of wheels yesterday.

But tow truck driver Luis Padilla, 46, was ticked off that threeparking spots for drivers were removed for a bike port. He came to pickup a relative from the station and couldn't find a legal spot. Heworried about getting a summons.

"I could have parked away from the hydrant and now I'm right in front of it," he fumed.

Previous Coverage:

    • NYPD Stealing Bikes (Again) in Williamsburg, 11/10/05
    • Wider Sidewalks and Bicycle Park-and-Ride for Williamsburg, 12/18/06
    • StreetFilms: On-Street Bike Parking in Portland, 12/20/06 
    • Small Step for Peds & Cyclists, Giant Leap for NYC, 12/22/06
    • A Historic Sidewalk Widening in Williamsburg, 6/8/07
    • 94th Precinct (Still) Clipping Locks & Seizing Bikes on Bedford Ave., 6/28/07

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Astro-Turf: Industry Group Says Fair Pay For Delivery Workers Means Higher Grocery Prices

An app industry-supported group is trying to sway the conversation around expanding the delivery worker minimum wage.

December 11, 2024

Pizzeria Deploys School Bus to Serve Customers During Winter Curbside Dining Ban

So let's get this straight: You can eat a slice of pizza in a car ... as long as the car doesn't belong to the pizzeria?

December 11, 2024

Intro 606 Alert: E-Bike Licensing Bill Is Not Even Legal, Lawyers Say

Buckle up, dear reader, because we're diving into the municipal code!

December 11, 2024

Op-Ed: Council E-Bike Registration Bill Is Impossible to Enforce, Unnecessary … and Won’t Even Work

It sounds common-sense: register electric bikes just like cars. But there are so many flaws to this Council bill. Let us set you straight.

December 10, 2024
See all posts