Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Bicycling

Radar Survey Says: New PPW Has Reversed the Curse of Speeding Traffic

ppw_sppeds.jpgVehicle speeds recorded on Prospect Park West at the intersection of Garfield Place before and after implementation of the road diet + bike lane. Graphic: Park Slope Neighbors [PDF]

The Prospect Park West bike lane has bestowed order and virtually eliminated the raceway conditions on a street where speeding used to be the norm.

In March, before the re-design, the community group Park Slope Neighbors clocked 85 percent of drivers exceeding the 30 mph speed limit on the open expanse of PPW. A post-implementation follow-up last month showed the new street design, with two traffic lanes instead of three, has increased compliance with the speed limit five-fold [PDF]. Average speeds are down about 25 percent.

Each sample was collected by measuring vehicle speeds on two weekend afternoons, when Brooklynites walk and bike in droves across PPW to get to Prospect Park.

Despite the evidence that the traffic-calming plan has worked, Borough President Marty Markowitz hasn't been swayed, telling the Brooklyn Paper:

"Double-parking is still commonplace and the result is more noise
from car-honking, more pollution from traffic jams and more frustration
to residents and visitors alike," Markowitz said.

Let's just appreciate this line of thought for a moment: Motorists double-park and spew fumes, so let's go back to the bad old days when they could double-park, spew fumes, and speed unchecked.

I'd like to see whether Markowitz has any evidence that making it safer for New Yorkers to walk and bike has increased people's exposure to pollution. Because we know that if you're walking, biking, or driving on Prospect Park West, this project has drastically reduced your exposure to this kind of vehicular mayhem:

ppw_crash.jpgThe sidewalk of Prospect Park West at Eighth Street, September 16, 2006 at 9:45 a.m.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Sean Duffy’s ‘Great America Road Trip’ Wants You to Drive to Central Park

Sean Duffy's "Great American Road Trip" encourages Americans to drive to sites in the most transit-rich and car-choked parts of the country.

July 3, 2025

Ex-DOT Official Warns NYC’s ‘Counterproductive’ E-bike Speed Limit Will Curb Biking, Safety

The mayor is working overtime to undo the decade of gains for cycling in the Big Apple, a former de Blasio administration official told Streetsblog.

July 3, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines: Just the News Edition

Things are slowing down for summer, but not entirely. Here's the news.

July 3, 2025

DOT Boss Defends Adams’s ‘Vision Zero’ Record As Agency Fights A Bike Lane in Court

Traffic fatalities are down and the DOT is taking a victory lap — even as it argues against a protected bike lane in court.

July 2, 2025

Cyclist Arrested After Crash with Electric ‘One-wheel’-Style Unicycle

Carolyn Backus is charged with fleeing the scene of a crash causing serious injury, but the details are murky.

Wednesday’s Headlines: Return of Summer Streets Edition

Summer Streets is back and bigger than ever. Plus more news.

July 2, 2025
See all posts