Greenpoint Greenway proposal cheers cyclists, raises traffic concerns

A North Brooklyn bike path
A North Brooklyn bike path

The city’s proposal for Greenpoint’s section of the Brooklyn Waterfront Gateway will be a boon for cyclists and residents who crave green spaces, DNAinfo reported.

Under the proposal, unveiled today, the stretch of West Street from Eagle Street to Quay Street would be converted into a one-way Northbound Road and would add a raised two-way bikeway, according to the New York City Department of Transportation. It would also significantly widen sidewalks and create a four-foot buffer between cyclists and motorists. Linda Reardon, a consultant with the RBA group who was involved in the development, assured residents that the project would not worsen traffic flow on the stretch, which is currently a two-way street.

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However, the project, which is slated to be completed by the end of next year, would eliminate 80 parking spots. Local businesses have had mixed reactions to the plan, said Karen Nieves, a business service manager with the North Brooklyn group Ewvidco, who added that the increased bike traffic could cause problems for businesses bringing goods in on trucks.

“Some businesses say this is great, the street would be wider,” Nieves said, referring to the proposal. “Others say ‘This is going to kill me.’” [DNAinfo]—Hiten Samtani