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

Trottenberg: DOT Will Redesign Ninth Street With Protected Bike Lanes

Looking west on 9th Street from Fifth Avenue, the site of Monday’s crash. Photo: Park Slope Neighbors

DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg says the city is moving quickly to implement protected bike lanes, concrete pedestrian islands, and other safety improvements on Ninth Street in Park Slope, where Dorothy Bruns ran over and killed Joshua Lew and Abigail Blumenstein earlier this week.

Trottenberg announced the redesign this afternoon in testimony to the City Council transportation committee. DOT wants to show a plan to Community Board 6 within weeks and implement it "as soon as the weather permits," she said.

"I have directed my planning and engineering experts to analyze and redesign the Ninth Street corridor, including protected bike lanes and other pedestrian safety treatments," Trottenberg told council members. "We will have a more detailed plan to unveil in the next few weeks."

A 2007 redesign added buffered bike lanes to Ninth Street, but it remains wide and prone to speeding.  In 2016, a hit-and-run driver killed 41-year-old Bahtiyor Khamdanov at the same intersection where Lew and Blumenstein were killed. That year, a driver also critically injured a cyclist at the intersection of Ninth Street and Sixth Avenue.

Those collisions occurred a mere 500 feet from the Park Slope YMCA, where Mayor de Blasio exercises almost daily. On Tuesday, after news of Monday's crash had spread, more than 100 demonstrators greeted the mayor on his way into the gym, demanding immediate action to redesign the street.

“We’ve been asking for this street to be fixed for years, and it hasn’t been fixed,” rally organizer Doug Gordon told the crowd.

Two days later, DOT has made a firm commitment to redesign the street.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Cyclist: Cop Pulled a Taser During Summons Chase

In a dramatic escalation of the NYPD's criminal crackdown on bike riders, a police officer pulled a stun gun while chasing a cyclist for allegedly running a red light on a regular bike.

May 30, 2025

Albany Pols Seize the Helm(et)

Helmet laws remain controversial — they're the "common-sense" approach pushed by lawmakers who ignore that studies show they don't improve safety.

May 30, 2025

Tisch Reveals Real Reason for Her E-Bike Crackdown: E-Bike Licensing

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch doubles down on her cycling criminalization campaign, saying e-bike licensing is the only other option.

May 30, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: A ‘Critical’ Moment Edition

Cyclists will protest against the NYPD's bike crackdown with a Critical Mass ride to City Hall on Friday. Plus more news.

May 30, 2025

Eyes on the Street: Astoria’s Big Beautiful 31st Avenue Bike Boulevard

Streetsblog paid a visit to New York City's widest on-street protected bike lane ever, which is up and running in Astoria.

May 30, 2025
See all posts