The NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) is set to install a protected bike lane on Adams Street in Downtown Brooklyn, filling a critical gap in the city’s cycling network. This project, announced earlier this month, aims to extend the bike lane that connects to the Brooklyn Bridgeproviding a safer route for cyclists and addressing chronic issues with illegal parking.
The new bike lane will run from Johnson Street to Bergen Street, covering a stretch that currently forces cyclists to swerve into traffic due to illegally parked vehicles. The project is part of a broader effort to improve cycling infrastructure in the area, which has seen a significant increase in bike traffic since the installation of a protected bike lane on the Brooklyn Bridge in 2026.
Addressing Safety Concerns and Illegal Parking
The current stretch of Adams Street between Johnson and Fulton Streets is notorious for illegal parking, particularly by vehicles displaying placards from the nearby courthouses. This has created hazardous conditions for cyclists, who often have to navigate around parked cars and into lanes of traffic. The new protected bike lane, which will be separated by concrete barriers, aims to eliminate this problem.
Lucie Vagnerovaa daily commuter who bikes across the Brooklyn Bridge, highlighted the dangers of the current setup. “There’s always cars parked on here, and there are trucks and, of course, also buses, delivery vehicles, personal vehicles, and there’s also a lot of potholes,” she said. “The cars coming off the bridge go so fast and when I have to veer away from the bike lane, it’s a lot.”
The DOT’s plan includes a two-way bike lane that will run south of Fulton Street, where Adams Street turns into Boerum Place. The project is expected to be completed later this year, with significant safety upgrades for the growing number of cyclists using the route.
Community Reactions and Impact on Drivers
The new bike lane has sparked mixed reactions from the community. While cyclists welcome the safety improvements, some drivers are concerned about the loss of parking spaces. Alex Chorinea local resident, frequently files 311 complaints about illegally parked vehicles blocking the bike lane. “I just do whatever I could, it seems like it does help. Not significantly, but at least every little bit counts, right?” he said.
However, not everyone is on board with the changes. Shawn Casillaa driver from Bensonhurst, expressed frustration about the loss of parking spaces. “This is a highly populated area so if I need to get coffee or something like that, I can’t just park somewhere,” he said. “If I could just go in real quick, three to five minutes to get something, that’d be fine.”
City Councilmember Lincoln Restler has been advocating for this redesign for years, citing the high number of illegally parked vehicles in the area. A survey by his office estimated that 500 vehicles park illegally in downtown Brooklyn each day, with 60 of them on Adams Street. “With this new redesign, there’s no space for illegal parking,” Restler said. “The court officers and the judicial staff and everybody going into the courthouses that just park wherever they want, whenever they want, with no regard for the safety of our community will finally have to follow the rules.”
Phased Implementation and Future Connections
The project will be implemented in two phases. The first phase, north of Atlantic Avenue, is scheduled for completion this fall, following a road resurfacing project. The second phase, south of Atlantic Avenue, will be completed in, after nearby residential construction projects are finished.
The new bike lane will connect to existing cycling infrastructure, including the Tillary Street and Jay Street protected bike lanes, as well as the on-road Brooklyn Bridge bike lane. This will provide a continuous, protected route for cyclists traveling from Crown Heights to Manhattan. The DOT also plans to link the bike lane with the Bergen and Dean Street bike boulevards, further enhancing the cycling network in the area.
The installation of the protected bike lane is part of a broader effort to improve cycling infrastructure in New York City. Since the addition of dedicated bike lanes on the Brooklyn Bridge in 2026, cycling over the bridge has nearly tripled. The DOT hopes that this new project will further encourage more New Yorkers to adopt cycling as a safe and convenient mode of transportation.
