PPW Bike Lane as Analyzed by Presidental Election Analysts

Images via stevencanplan.com/themuppetmindset.blogspot.com/gothamist.comNot that this will change anyone’s mind on the matter, but the FiveThirtyEight blog -- of Nate Silver and Obama 2012 fame -- agrees with the DOT’s conclusions about the Prospect Park West bike lane. This new analysis, which will not have any effect on any decision, comes two weeks before Seniors For Safety, Neighbors For Better Bike Lanes and their allies must convince a judge of their case’s validity. Because if stats that showed a decrease in number of accidents wasn’t enough to stop these people, why would an analysis about traffic flow make a difference? 

FiveThirtyEight analyzed data collected at the Carroll and 11th Street intersections of Prospect Park West. They concluded that, while the bike lane does slow down traffic, the effects are minimal. Prior to the bike lane, Prospect Park West was never filled to 50% capacity at either of those intersections. Post-bike lane, it did hit and exceed 50% at a few places but that is well below congestion levels (which start when a road is at 75% capacity). These increased congestion rates fall in line with results from other cities that have successfully instituted a bike lane. So we’re talking seconds, maybe a minute or two extra for your commute* in exchange for cars driving a little slower and less accidents. FiveThirtyEight even made a nice graphic, too:

Not that this is going to change anyone’s minds. This stupid bike lane debate doesn’t want to end and the people keeping it alive don’t appear to have anything better to do anytime soon. Maybe we can get FiveThirtyEight to figure out how long this stupid thing will go on.

*Of course, for those of us who are perpetually running late, those seconds could make all the difference, but we know we should’ve left earlier and it’s our own fault we didn’t make it on time.

VIA GOTHAMIST