Senator Jabari Brisport, Bed-Stuy Community Leaders, and Brooklyn Residents Rally to Save Bedford Avenue Street Safety Improvements

The Adams administration announced its intention to illegally rip up three blocks of the protected bike lane on Bedford.

When protected bike lanes are added to New York City streets, these streets have less speeding, fewer crashes, and fewer pedestrians killed or seriously injured.

BROOKLYN, NY — This evening, Senator Jabari Brisport, Transportation Alternatives, Good Co. Bike Club, Knight Ryders, Black Girls Do Bike, Artshack, and Oonee hosted a rally and march to recognize fatality sites along Bedford Avenue in support of the street’s recent street safety improvements. 

"What Mayor Adams is trying to do would put Brooklyn families at risk — and it's illegal. Thankfully, today a judge blocked the mayor from single handedly making Bedford more dangerous," said Ben Furnas, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives.

Last week, the mayor announced plans to rip up three blocks of safety improvements on Bedford. Earlier today, Transportation Alternatives announced a lawsuit to stop the Adams administration from pursuing this illegal move.

Earlier today, a judge issued a ‘Temporary Restraining Order’ against New York City, and they are blocked from ripping up the bike lane until an August hearing. 

“Years of study and community input went into the Bedford Avenue bike lane and it’s been effective at making the street safer for everyone. The Mayor’s plans to eliminate this safety measure will put New Yorker’s lives at risk,” said Senator Jabari Brisport.

"We cannot make progress as a city if the administration turns its back on every successful street safety project. I hope the City will comply with the recent court order to preserve the full extent of the Bedford Avenue protected bike lane, a critical safety improvement for cyclists in my district,” said Assembly Member Phara Souffrant Forrest. 

“The administration’s decision is dangerous and unacceptable, as well as a demonstration of callous hypocrisy. Bedford Avenue was among New York’s most dangerous corridors for decades and Eric Adams clearly wants to make it so again. The decision must be reversed,” said Council Member Chi Ossé. 

“Now is not the time to roll back progress, the Bedford Bike Lane is a move forward. Our community shouldn’t suffer from the mayor’s political two step. Protect the protected bike lane,” said Reg Wyns from Knight Ryders. 

“While the Bedford Avenue bike lane is outside our district, we stand in solidarity with our neighboring communities and express our disagreement with the Mayor's decision to cut out three blocks of this essential bike lane. This decision compromises the safety of many cyclists who depend on this route. We urge the Mayor to reconsider and prioritize the safety and well-being of all New Yorkers,” said Dale Charles, the Executive Director of the Bed - Stuy Gateway BID.

“The closing of any protected bike line is harmful to all New Yorkers. This makes the road more dangerous for pedestrians and bikers. And a decision that is made purely for political reasons is the cherry on top of this terrible decision,” said Thomas Worden, a Brooklyn public school teacher. 

“The real lives of New York’s most vulnerable residents are at stake with the proposed removal of this critical safety infrastructure. Since the addition of the protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue last year, the street has seen a measurable decline in injuries and collisions. According to the city’s own data, protected bike lanes across New York City have significantly improved safety for all road users—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike—with the most dramatic reductions in injury rates seen among senior pedestrians. After years of careful study by the Department of Transportation and sustained grassroots advocacy from Brooklyn residents, the city rightly took action to redesign the corridor in the interest of public safety. To dismantle this proven, life-saving infrastructure now—despite clear evidence of its success and widespread borough support—is not merely a step backward, but a willful decision to place lives at risk. Bedford Avenue should stand as a model for safe, inclusive streets throughout New York City—not a cautionary tale of progress reversed. As the only protected bike lane in Bedford-Stuyvesant, the city must uphold its commitment to safety, equity, and data-driven planning by preserving it—and safeguarding the lives it continues to protect every day,” said Eric Lawton, Co-Leader of Better Bedford campaign. 

“The Bedford Avenue bike lane is an essential transportation route, ensuring all cyclists arrive home safely. Without it, cyclists would be forced to once again bike in the streets with cars, putting their lives in danger. We’ve lost too many people to car crashes that were completely preventable — why would we go back to that? Save the Bedford Avenue bike lane now!” said Aiofe Duna, a Brooklyn resident. 

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