BROOKLYN PEDESTRIAN & BICYCLE SAFETY RESOURCE
Over 2.5 million New Yorkers proudly call Brooklyn home, making it the city’s most populous borough. There’s certainly a lot to be proud of: its numerous historic neighborhoods, world-renowned diversity, and thriving artistic scene all infuse the bustling borough with a quintessential energy that can’t be found anywhere else.
Many areas of Brooklyn are a dream for pedestrians and bicyclists. Walking past a row of historic brownstones or biking through Prospect Park on your morning commute is enough to make anyone reconsider taking the subway. However, these perks can be overshadowed by challenges like sidewalk congestion, dangerous crosswalks, blocked bike lanes, and aggressive drivers.
Whether you live or work in Brooklyn, you deserve to move quickly and safely through its streets, regardless of how you choose to travel. Prioritizing pedestrian and bicyclist safety is important for the collective well-being of the Brooklyn community. Chopra & Nocerino is dedicated to promoting safety throughout New York and defending the legal rights of injury victims.
- Brooklyn Pedestrian Safety Tips
- Brooklyn Bicycle Safety Tips
- Laws and Regulations for Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety
- Brooklyn Infrastructure and Design
- Safety Resources for Brooklyn Pedestrians and Bicyclists
- Advocating for Safer Streets in Brooklyn
- Get Help if You’ve Been Hurt in a Brooklyn Accident
Brooklyn Pedestrian Safety Tips
Safety around fast-moving cars and aggressive drivers is a particular challenge for Brooklyn pedestrians. For instance, many drivers fail to yield and even turn without checking for people crossing at intersections, which can lead to devastating pedestrian accidents. Buses also present dangers for pedestrians by obstructing crosswalks or making sudden stops.
Brooklyn Streets and Sidewalks
To outsiders, Brooklyn’s streets may seem well-organized on a map, but anyone who’s ever navigated major thoroughfares like Atlantic Avenue, Coney Island Avenue, Flatbush Avenue, or Linden Boulevard can attest that poor street design is a significant issue.
These flaws can force drivers into difficult positions, and pedestrians often get caught in the fray of resulting accidents. Poorly conceived designs can also lead to confusion and accidents when pedestrians and bicyclists mistake their designated paths.
New York is famous for its high concentration of pedestrians, and Brooklyn is no exception. Sidewalk congestion has worsened in recent years as parking scooters and other motorized vehicles on sidewalks has become more common, often forcing pedestrians onto the street. Further, though Brooklyn’s vibrant restaurant scene is great for locals and tourists alike, the rise in food delivery traffic also increases congestion.
Staying Safe When Walking in Brooklyn
There are many things you can do as a pedestrian to stay safe when walking in Brooklyn, including:
Always use designated crosswalks where drivers expect pedestrians, enhancing visibility and safety.
Before stepping off the curb, ensure that all approaching vehicles have come to a complete stop.
Establishing eye contact confirms they’ve seen you and intend to yield.
Focus on your surroundings by avoiding the use of headphones or texting while walking.
Vigilantly scan the environment for potential hazards, such as approaching vehicles or changes in traffic patterns.
Brooklyn Bicycle Safety Tips
Brooklyn cyclists struggle with limited access to quick, efficient, and safe bike routes. Intersections pose significant challenges, particularly on roads with complex traffic patterns and sharp turns.
Many roads deemed “safe” for bicyclists in Brooklyn have problems beyond design and infrastructure. Cyclists may feel unsafe due to the proximity of fast-moving vehicles. Navigating between bike, bus, and vehicle lanes can also be a challenge and increases risk. The lack of protective barriers, such as bollards, further increases bicyclist vulnerability to accidents.
Unfortunately, drivers frequently misuse bike lanes by parking in them, stopping in them for drop-offs, and using them for storage. All of these traffic violations compromise bicyclist safety.
A lack of sufficient bike racks forces bicyclists to resort to alternative—and less safe—parking solutions. Inadequate parking options also increase the risk of bike theft or damage.
Staying Safe While Cycling in Brooklyn
There are many things you can do to avoid bicycle accidents in Brooklyn, including:
Be assertive and vocal in busy areas to ensure others are aware of your presence.
Choose routes with protected bike lanes when possible.
Consider using bike-sharing services like Citi Bike for short trips to avoid bike theft and lack of parking.
Remain aware of your surroundings, adapt to traffic flow, obey signals at intersections, and be cautious when merging with traffic.
Be extra vigilant on roads like Bedford Avenue, where fast-moving traffic and cars in the bike lanes are common.
Watch out for potholes, debris, and other hazards in poorly maintained areas.
Always wear a helmet and obey traffic signals while bicycling.
Laws and Regulations for Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety
Brooklyn pedestrian and bicycle safety laws are designed to protect pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicle occupants alike. It’s important to remember that all three groups have both rights and responsibilities when using public roadways.
Pedestrians: Rights & Responsibilities
Pedestrians have the right of way on crosswalks and sidewalks. However, it’s illegal for pedestrians to run into traffic without giving vehicles enough time to stop. Pedestrians are also prohibited from crossing roads outside of crosswalks when they are available.
Bicyclists: Rights & Responsibilities
Bicyclists must use bike lanes where available and are subject to the same traffic laws as drivers, including obeying traffic signals. However, some regulations do differ. For example, bicyclists are prohibited from riding on “expressways, drives, highways, interstate routes, bridges, and thruways” except where indicated otherwise. Likewise, drivers must stay out of bike lanes and watch for cyclists.
Improving Regulations for Walkers and Cyclists
Recent initiatives, such as the Vision Zero Brooklyn Pedestrian Safety Action Plan, have significantly improved safety for pedestrians and cyclists. Lowered speed limits, new speed bumps, expanded cycling networks, and increased pedestrian crosswalk times have led to a 49 percent drop in pedestrian fatalities in Brooklyn. Additionally, elevated pedestrian walkways, bicycle lanes on bridges, and bridge approaches have reduced conflict between pedestrians, bicyclists, and unauthorized vendors.
However, implementing these changes has not been perfect. Delays by the city government have slowed safety improvements, leaving many cyclists and pedestrians at continued risk.
Brooklyn Infrastructure and Design
Though pedestrians and bicyclists face road design and infrastructure problems in Brooklyn, the borough boasts some of the city’s best infrastructure for these road users. With 300 miles of bike paths, lanes, and greenways, Brookly offers more dedicated bicycling infrastructure than any other borough. Comprehensive online maps make it easy to plan your route before heading out.
Brooklyn also features some of New York’s most walkable neighborhoods. Popular areas like Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights, and Williamsburg are just a few examples. Not only do they feature robust pedestrian infrastructure, but they also showcase the borough’s rich architecture, manicured parks, popular cafés, and more.
Common Infrastructural Problems for Cyclists and Pedestrians in Brooklyn
Infrastructural issues contributing to pedestrian and bicyclist accidents in Brooklyn often stem from tight, crowded streets, nonexistent or poorly marked bike lanes, and the challenges of sharing limited space between pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. In particular, intersections account for over 60 percent of all traffic fatalities occurring in the borough.
Different neighborhoods in the borough present unique traffic risks and high-crash areas. For example:
- Bensonhurst – The intersection at 86th Street and Bay Parkway is notorious for drivers making dangerous and illegal left turns.
- Williamsburg – Bedford and Metropolitan Avenues see high volumes of pedestrian and bicyclist traffic, increasing the rate of conflict with drivers.
In areas with unsafe roads, it’s important to stay vigilant, obey traffic signals, and wait for vehicles to come to a full stop before proceeding as a cyclist or pedestrian.
Cyclist Infrastructural Development in Brooklyn
Bicycle use in Brooklyn reached an all-time high in 2023, prompting the New York City Department of Transportation (NY DOT) to actively enhance bicycling infrastructure in the city and encourage e-bike usage.
A key focus of the new development plan is the expansion of protected bike lanes throughout the city, especially along high-ridership corridors, bridges, underserved communities, and bike boulevards. “Priority investment areas” in Brooklyn include:
- Meeker Avenue, from Apollo Street to Graham Avenue
- McGuinness Boulevard, from Pulaski Bridge to Meeker Avenue
- Bedford Avenue
- Cozine Avenue, from Fountain Avenue to Louisiana Avenue
- Wortman Avenue, from Fountain Avenue to Louisiana Avenue
- Louisiana Avenue, from Cozine Avenue to Stanley Avenue
- Berry Street, from Broadway to N. 12th Street
- 9th Street
Safety Resources for Brooklyn Pedestrians and Bicyclists
Brooklyn offers a variety of specifically tailored resources for bicyclists and pedestrians. These include:
- Brooklyn Transportation Alternatives – A prominent NYC walking and cycling advocacy group.
- New York Bicycling Coalition – A city-wide organization dedicated to promoting and protecting bicyclist rights.
- Brooklyn District Attorney’s Street Safety Bureau – A resource for reporting accidents and addressing street safety concerns.
- NYC Department of Transportation – Provides essential tools, such as bike and walking maps, free bike helmets, legal guidance, and more.
Advocating for Safer Streets in Brooklyn
If you come across unsafe infrastructure in your area, like damaged sidewalks, missing crosswalk signals, or blocked bike lanes, you can report the issues to NYC 311. They will notify the appropriate authorities to address the problem.
As a resident, you can also improve Brooklyn pedestrian and bicycle safety by engaging with the community. Joining advocacy groups like Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets allows you to get involved in efforts to enhance road safety in New York. You can even attend public community board meetings to voice your concerns about bicyclist and pedestrian safety issues.
The Vision Zero project aims to eliminate pedestrian and bicyclist injuries and fatalities in New York City through community-driven initiatives. Significant strides have been made to improve safety for all road users. Ultimately, however, everyone shares a responsibility for maintaining safe streets and neighborhoods.
Get Help if You’ve Been Hurt in a Brooklyn Accident
If you are injured in an accident as a cyclist or pedestrian, our leading personal injury law firm can help. Our firm is made up of real New Yorkers who are deeply committed to enhancing Brooklyn pedestrian and bicycle safety. When accidents happen, we are standing by to defend your right to full and fair compensation.
If you’ve been hurt in a pedestrian or bicycle accident in Brooklyn, call (855) NYC-HURT or contact us online to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with our skilled personal injury lawyers. Para servir mejor a todos los miembros de nuestra comunidad, ofrecemos servicios en español.
