Citibike Expansion to Cobble Hill

In late October, the NYC Department of Transportation announced the expansion of its bike sharing system. Citibike is slated to come to Cobble Hill in the 2nd phase of the expansion, approximately 2017. Though DOT has already come to our local community to seek input for locations of potential bike share stations, it has now launched an online map that allows more New Yorkers to weigh in and give feedback. If you haven't done so already, please visit the web portal and provide your own thoughts.

http://nycbikeshare.herokuapp.com/

Reminder: Lock your bike the right way, in the right place

Chaining to the fence is both illegal & damaging to the paint and plants.

With nice weather upon us and more lanes being rolled out each year, biking has never been quite so popular in the city. However, there are rules to follow and etiquette to abide by. At Cobble Hill Park many bikes are repeatedly locked to the park's fencing alongside Veranda Place. Though this may seem harmless, it chips the paint on the iron railings and can damage the plantings at the ground level. Volunteers and the Parks department staff work hard to maintain the park's beautify and repairing the fencing here need not be such a frequent task. Please remember to look for proper bicycle racks and follow these tips on how to lock up securely.
http://gothamist.com/2012/05/15/basic_bike_lock_etiquette_and_safet.php

Want to request additional bicycle racks somewhere? Follow the steps in this DOT link.
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/bicyclists/cityrack-suggest.shtml

Safety enhancement installed

The Cobble Hill Association is proud to see another piece of its advocacy for safer streets come to fruition. On the heels of two success (1- getting standard alternate side of the street parking regulations returned to Hicks Street to increase parking, while slowing speeding & 2 - adjusting the traffic light at the intersection of Amity and Court Street), we are excited that daylighting has come to the corner of Court Street and Pacific Street.  Though there was already a No-Standing zone, it was rarely enforced and reduced visibility for cars turning left onto Court from Pacific. Now, the Dept. of Transportation has installed on-street bike parking at that corner, creating 24-7 enforcement of existing rules.

Installation took place last Thursday, November 29th, and the improvement was noticed immediately. While locking my own bike to those racks I over heard passersby take enthusiastic note of the change (one father actually walked past and pointed to the racks to explain daylighting to his young son).  Many thanks for DOT for the responsiveness to our request, and to the Atlantic Avenue BID for its help securing the planting and agreement to sweep the curb as needed.

Also worth reading is the Streetsblog article about our improvement, viewable here.
http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/11/30/eyes-on-the-street-new-bike-corral-in-cobble-hill/

And remember, this is just one of many street improvements the CHA is working on bringing to our neighborhood.

Court Street Parking gets Improved

Last week, one of our readers spotted new black stumps placed in the sidewalk on Court Street. Just a few days later, it became apparent; those stumps were the bases for recently installed Muni-Meters on Court Street. This a plan that has been in the works for months and the Cobble Hill Association appreciates our Department of Transportation's advance notice and discussions on the issue. Commercial corridors citywide have been getting this treatment which offers more payment options for drivers, more parking spots per block, and in some select cases variable peak pricing so the cost of a space can wisely change based on the demand for it.

But what's to come of all the existing meters? Right now they have the below pictured message... 'Please pay at Muni-Meter.' However, those will be removed (possibly by the fall) and the old meter racks will be retrofit to become bicycle parking. This is a simple addition that will help reduce dangerous clutter on our sidewalks when too many bicycles are locked up to a street sign or other pole. Keep an eye out for those changes, and now be sure to feed the Muni-Meter!

CHA creates a SAFER intersection

After months identifying several dangerous street conditions in our area, members of the Cobble Hill Association discussed potential improvements, collectively formed a presentation with several ideas for solutions, and then brought it to the Department of Transportation. Thankfully, last week an  important element of the CHA's plan got a unanimous vote of approval from Community Board 2's Traffic and Transportation Committee, and will now allow the DOT to improve the intersection of Pacific and Court streets.
As the image above makes it clear, vehicles already park in the Northeast corner's existing "No Standing Zone." This creates a severe danger to motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists all merging at the intersection. The CHA believes an installation of on-street bicycle parking could offer a 24/7 solution that would not only enforce the existing "No-Standing" regulation but also addresses the demand for bicycle parking from Trader Joe’s and other retailers. With the new Atlantic Avenue BID signed on as a maintenance partner, DOT agreed, and now thankfully CB2's endorsement has given the project a green light.

This was by no means the only idea the CHA proposed to make our streets safer. Other suggestions include additional crosswalks on Court street at Congress street, adjusting parking regulations in front of Trader Joe's to allow more loading and unloading without double parking, and adding neckdowns at the Amity/Dean intersection across Court Street (first with planters and paint, eventually with expanded sidewalks). Click to view that full presentation, and stay tuned to this blog for progress as each step moves forward.

CB6 Bike Share Meeting

Later this year, NYC will be added to a long list of cities worldwide that have chosen to add a low cost, additional transit option for residents: bike-share. A private company, Alta, is footing the bill while the city and its inhabitants will reap the benefits. The bike-share stations will be abundant and our our Cobble Hill is fortunately one of the neighborhoods to be included in the initial launch. However, where in the area are the smartest locations to place a station? Court Street? Cobble Hill Park? You Decide!

Brooklyn Community Board 6 Planning Workshop

Thursday March 15th, 2012, 6:30 PM–8:30 PM

 

Join Brooklyn’s Community Board 6 and local residents and business owners at a roundtable planning workshop to help decide how bike share should work and where stations should go in Cobble Hill and Park Slope.  In partnership with Community Board 6, NYC Council Members Brad Lander and Stephen Levin, and NYS Senator Velmanette Montgomery. The Workshop will be held at Old First Reformed Church, 729 Carroll Street, (at 7th Avenue) Brooklyn, NY 11215. The entrance to the workshop will be on Carroll Street.

Sessions will begin at 6:30 pm and 7:30 pm.
Timeline | New York City Bike Share

Remembering one of our own

Just over two months ago, Cobble Hill resident and Cobble Hill CSA founder Jeffrey Axelrod was killed while riding his bicycle through the Lower East Side. Though it happens with alarming regularity, our streets MUST NOT remain speedways that give cars priority over people's safety. These types of 'accidents' are largely preventable by better engineering of our roads, education of our drivers/cyclists, and most importantly better enforcement by our NYPD to take vehicular crimes more seriously.

Though nothing will bring Jeffrey back, the generous collective at the NYC Street Memorial Project have installed a ghost bike recently to make sure his death will not be in vain.
http://www.boweryboogie.com/2011/10/jeffrey-axelrod-ghost-bike-now-at-chrystie-and-delancey/
http://carrollgardens.patch.com/articles/boerum-hill-resident-remembered-with-ghostbike-memorial

Cobble Hill Cyclist Killed

We are very sad to read reports that Jeffrey Axelrod, a Cobble Hill resident and founder of the Cobble Hill CSA, was killed last night while cycling in the Lower East Side near the Delancey and Chrystie Street intersections. There is undeniably a surge in ridership the past few years throughout NYC and though opinions vary on to how best accommodate all modes of transportation, the universal truth is that all forms must offer SAFE travels.  Our condolences go out to Jeffrey's family and friends, and we hope the Department of Transportation takes this tragedy to heart and continues improving safety for all street users to avoid incidents like this in the future.

For more reports....
http://carrollgardens.patch.com/articles/cobble-hill-towers-resident-killed-in-les-bike-accident
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/08/jeffrey_axelrod.php
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/08/18/2011-08-18_man_crushed_underneath_cement_truck_after_losing_control_of_bicycle_on_lower_eas.html

Happy Hour Wednesday & MORE!

The dogs days of summer are giving us one last heat wave, so cool off with a drink at the next Cobble Hill Association Happy Hour, Wednesday September 1st at Watty & Meg.  $3 beers, $5 glasses of wine from 6-9pm. Come with the friends you already know & strike up a conversation with the neighbors you meet for the first time!

Need some neighborhood news to fuel those conversations?
- CHA President Roy Sloane may have come up with an ideal solution to the BQE reconstruction that will eventually reduce excess traffic on our local streets! Read more.

- Notice the construction at the PS 29 School Yard? Big improvements are on the way, and pictures can be seen here.

- Got old computers and tv's to recycle, but missed the last CHA e-waste event? Not to fear... in just a few weeks there's be two more Electronics Recycling Events just a few blocks away, courtesy of our friends at the Lower East Side Ecology Center. Get all the details right here.

- Miss the old Cafe on Clinton by Cobble Hill Park? Well this Friday it's set to re-open as a brand new place called Breukelen. Read more.

- Had a dangerous ride on the new bike path between Pier 1 and Pier 6 of Brooklyn Bridge Park? You're not the only one worried to use that path! Read about it here.

CHA / BGI Ride 2009

On an unseasonably perfect Sunday this past weekend, nearly 35 cyclists gathered for 2nd annual Cobble Hill Association/ Brooklyn Greenway Initiative Ride. With six marshals escorts, riders toured ten miles of Brooklyn's surrounding neighborhoods. The route included the brand new Sands Streets protected bike path, the paved stretch of Columbia Street's future Brooklyn Greenway, waterfront views of the city from the Brooklyn Cruise ship terminal, and a visit to the newly constructed pedestrian plaza at the Hoyt-Schermerhorn subway station. The ride also included two rest stops; first was at the Ikea Esplanade where Meg Fellerath from BGI spoke about the Brooklyn Greenway and second was on Livingston Street where Ryan Kuonen from the Street Memorials project spoke about ghost bikes as they related to cycling and pedestrian safety in the city. Big thanks to all Meg, Ryan, and all the marshals who helped, and a double thanks to Ryan Philips for snapping these great photos.
Want to see more pics from the ride? Check out the Cobble Hill Flickr pool.

memorial bicycle ride: January 4

The city has commendably added bicycle lanes around the city, but there is still plenty of room for improvement, particularly in matters of safety and enforcement. CHA Green Czar Paco Abraham writes in with sad news of a memorial bike ride:

With the holidays upon us and New Year just around the bend, its a time for reflection of all that has happened over the past 12 months. Unfortunately this includes the passing of our neighborhood's own Alexander Toulouse, an eight-year-old who attended P.S. 29, and was tragically struck while riding his bicycle just a few blocks away. He, along with all the other NYC pedestrians and cyclists fatally hit, will be honored on a memorial group bike ride on Sunday, January 4.

At approximately 2:45 p.m., we'll gather at the intersection where Alexander Toulouse was hit, Livingston and Boreum, sharing thoughts and prayers for him and his family. If you can join us, please do.

There will be a citywide bicycle ride to remember everyone killed while cycling in the past year. The whole day's schedule is available at Ghost Bikes. The 2.45 p.m. time is for the portion of the ride devoted to Alexander. Here is the entire Brooklyn portion of the ride:

Brooklyn/Lower Manhattan Ride
12:45-1:00 gather top of Sunset Park hill (6th ave btwn 41-44th sts)(subway: R to 45th st.)
1:15 Pedro Fernandez-Pacheco 54th st and 7th ave.
2:15 Jonathan Millstein President st. and 8th ave.
2:45 Alexander Toulouse Livingston and Boreum
3:30 Jian-Lan Zhang Hester and Allen sts

We look forward to a safer future for all cyclists.

new bicycle lanes

The Department of Transportation is planning to add new bicycle lanes in Cobble Hill. The purpose of the additional lanes is to enhance the existing grid and to improve connections for bicyclists to the waterfront. The plans were presented to the public last month at the CB6 Transportation Committee meeting by Christopher Hrones, Downtown Brooklyn Transportation Coordinator.