Brooklyn BP Helping Pedestrians Cross Safely

By ALEXANDRA STEVENS

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams announced a $1 million pedestrian safety initiative on Tuesday, by building sidewalk extension in busy intersections aimed at assisting young children, the elderly, and the disabled safely cross the street.

The sites will be chosen based on crash data from the New York City Department of Transportation and proximity to senior centers.

Adams and other public officials made the announcement to an enthusiastic group of old people in front of Borough Park’s Amico Senior Citizens Center, which will be the first intersection to be effected by the project. A line drawn on the street in purple chalk illustrated how the curb extension might look when completed.

The area — at the intersection of 13th Avenue and 59th Street– was the scene last yeas of a non-fatal accident when a member of the center was struck  by a forklift.

“It may seem like a minor addition, but it’s not,” said Adams. “Those few extra feet are the difference between making it there safely, or becoming the victim of a tragic accident.”

According to pedestrian safety data from the DOT, more than 40 percent of pedestrians killed in Brooklyn are over 60 years old. Not only will the curb extension give pedestrians a head start in crossing, but it will also increase visibility for motorists, said officials. Young children and those in wheelchairs are often blocked from view by parked cars, putting them at higher risk when crossing the street.

“Not everyone crosses at the same rate,” said Adams. “We want to ensure we create an atmosphere where our seniors, and others, can use and cross the streets in a safe manner.”

There is no start date for the construction, but Adams assured the audience that the project was on a “fast track.” At least five areas in Brooklyn will receive curb extensions, starting with this intersection near the center, among the most popular in Brooklyn, with over 7,000 members.

“When one of our members got hit last year, it was really devastating,” said Amico member. He emphasized how important it was for older pedestrians to feel safe while staying engaged with their communities. “We don’t want to stay home,” he said. “We want to stay socially engaged and mentally active.”

Though not officially a part of the city’s Vision Zero project, the new safety initiative was viewed by organizers as yet another measure city leaders are taking to decrease the city’s pedestrian fatalities.