Bicycling

78th Precinct Sets Up Protected Bike Lane on Bergen Street

The guerrilla bike lane on Bergen Street now has an official imprimatur. It may be hard to believe, but the tug-of-war over whether bike riders or parked cars from the 78th Precinct belong in the Bergen Street bike lane -- tough one, isn't it? -- now has an unexpected referee. Over the weekend, NYPD barriers popped up on the edge of the bike lane where it approaches Flatbush Avenue, replicating a citizen-led effort that flourished for about a week this summer.

By Stephen Miller

4:50 PM EST on November 20, 2012

The guerrilla bike lane on Bergen Street now has an official imprimatur. It may be hard to believe, but the tug-of-war over whether bike riders or parked cars from the 78th Precinct belong in the Bergen Street bike lane — tough one, isn’t it? — now has an unexpected referee. Over the weekend, NYPD barriers popped up on the edge of the bike lane where it approaches Flatbush Avenue, replicating a citizen-led effort that flourished for about a week this summer.

Word on the street is that cyclists can thank 78th Precinct Deputy Inspector Michael Ameri for the barricades, though the precinct’s community affairs office credited the NYPD Barrier Section. Whoever is behind the short stretch of protected bike lane, the 78th Precinct is definitely being a more courteous neighbor on this block and setting an example that other precincts should follow.

Not everything is perfect, however: A photo from this morning shows a police van blocking the bike lane and crosswalk. Though the barriers remained, bike riders could not enter the bike lane and had to go around into motor vehicle traffic.

Stephen Miller

In spring 2017, Stephen wrote for Streetsblog USA, covering the livable streets movement and transportation policy developments around the nation. From August 2012 to October 2015, he was a reporter for Streetsblog NYC, covering livable streets and transportation issues in the city and the region. After joining Streetsblog, he covered the tail end of the Bloomberg administration and the launch of Citi Bike. Since then, he covered mayoral elections, the de Blasio administration's ongoing Vision Zero campaign, and New York City's ever-evolving street safety and livable streets movements.