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.

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

Photo: David Meyer
Photo: David Meyer
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.

Photo: Max Sholl
South 4th Street facing east from South 5th Place. The bridge path entrance is out of frame to the right. Photo: Max Sholl

ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

Safer Bowery, LES Bike Lanes Clear Manhattan CB3 Committee

By Ben Fried |
New bike routes will provide safer connections on the Manhattan side of the Williamsburg Bridge, in an attempt to divert cyclists from Delancey Street. Image: NYCDOT NYCDOT unveiled a slate of pedestrian and bicycle improvements to the transportation committee of Manhattan Community Board 3 last night. Presenters asked for votes on two street safety projects: […]

Metropolitan Bridge Bike Lane Will Connect Ridgewood and Williamsburg

By David Meyer |
After two years of back-and-forth with the local community board, a proposal to link the bike networks of Williamsburg and Ridgewood via the Metropolitan Avenue Bridge may finally be coming to fruition. DOT presented an updated version of the plan, which it first unveiled in June 2014, to Brooklyn Community Board 1 last night [PDF]. The Metropolitan Avenue […]

DOT Hints at Upcoming Bike Projects in North Brooklyn

By David Meyer |
Last night DOT outlined some of the bike projects it’s planning for Williamsburg and Bushwick in the near future, including bike lanes on Meeker Avenue and improved southbound bike connections from the Williamsburg Bridge. While it didn’t come up at the meeting, the looming L train shutdown lends some extra urgency to bike network improvements in this […]

Reynoso Tells DOT: Grand Street Needs a Safer Bike Lane ASAP

By David Meyer |
Council Member Antonio Reynoso today urged DOT to upgrade the bike lanes on the Grand Street in North Brooklyn. The existing painted lanes did not protect Matthew von Ohlen, who was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver in July. In a letter sent this afternoon to DOT Brooklyn Borough Commissioner Keith Bray, Reynoso calls for “the immediate installation of safety mitigations […]