New Open Streets and bike lanes are coming to Brooklyn

By Brooklyn Magazine Staff

It’s becoming a bit easier to explore and enjoy the streets of Brooklyn on foot (and two wheels).

Beginning this spring, 10 new Open Streets are coming to the borough, making life tougher for motorists in exchange for easier biking, walking and more Richard Scarry vibes. The wildly popular program first launched during the thick of the pandemic, in April 2020, to help residents “reclaim and repurpose city streets for alternative uses” and it became permanent a year later.

With this year’s additions, the total number of volunteer-run Open Streets will soon total about 45 across the borough. So far, four have already opened including:

• Brownsville: Watkins Street, from the street end to Belmont Avenue (Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
• Greenpoint: North 15th Street, from Nassau Avenue to Banker Street (Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
• Williamsburg: South 1st Street, from Berry Street to Wythe Avenue (Monday through Friday 10:40 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
• Downtown: Duffield Street, from MetroTech Center to Willoughby Street (Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

The Department of Transportation also announced released six all-new new Open Streets, which are:

• Crown Heights: Buffalo Avenue, from St. Mark’s Avenue to Bergen Street (opening June 18)
• Coney Island: West 12th Street from Surf Avenue to the street end (opening May 21)
• Stuyvesant-Heights: Lewis Avenue from Fulton Street to Hancock Street (opening June 4)
• Williamsburg: Graham Avenue from Scholes Street to Montrose Avenue (opening April 19)
• Ocean Hill: Chauncey Street from Howard Avenue to Saratoga Avenue (opening July 2)
• Bensonhurst: Benson Avenue from Bay 19th Street to 18th Avenue (opening July 11)

“Expanding Open Streets is necessary for the city’s economic recovery and helps in democratizing access to our street space,” said Borough President Antonio Reynoso in a press release. He added that the program has helped the city “reclaim our streets for the people.”

And, as an extra treat to bikers, the city is soon installing an extra-protected bike lane in South Slope. The lane is on 20th street and borders Green-Wood Cemetery, stretching from 7th Avenue to 10th Avenue. It’s part of a broader $900 million investment from the city aimed at expanding bike and bus lanes throughout the boroughs.