New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-12
BICYCLE ROADS IN BROOKLYN

=
WHERE ASPHALT PAYMENTS ARE EsPE-
cIALLY NEEDED.
FROM THE CITY HAL TO THE PARK,-A ROUTE TO
THE HILL REGION UNDER coNsiDERA.
TIoN-BRIc1S TO DE USED IN Paw
INC SOME STREETS.
Bicycle riders In Brooklyn deeply interested In
the plans that under way for improving the
pavement Of n number OF streets 80 as to facilitate
movement from one part OF the city TO another.
Before the present season Is over an asphalt road
way will be provided all the way from tho Heights
and the vicinity OF the City Hall to Prospect Park
II will not be In direct linefar from II; In fact,
the way will be decidedly roundabout. in a sense.
for the idea in view has been to avoid all streets In
which there are cartracks
In the first place. the three blocks In Schermcr-
horn-st. now paved with granite are to be covered
with asphalt. Then Nevinsst Is to have an asphalt
pavement as far as Dean-st Dean-st from Nevins-
st. to Fourth-ave. has recently been repaved with
asphalt. and one-half OF the roadway OF Fourth
ave- has been treated in the same way on the two
blocks between Dean-st. and ST. Marks-ave. The
latter is already asphalted up to and beyond
Sixth-ave., but to reach the Park one needs
only to go as far as Sxth-ave and then along that
avenue to either Lincoln Place or Berkeley Place.
whence II Is a short run over smooth paVements 10
the Park Plaza and the Park Itself
This improvement will be carried into effect proba-
bly, In the course OF the next few weeks. 1t will GER
tanly be great improvement. for the granite pave
ment in Schermerhorn-st. is particularly disagreea-
BILE 10 ride over and there is no way or escaping IL
except by taking either Fultonst. or Atlantic-ave
in both Of which there are cartracks IN ADDITION 10
the granite pavement.
Another much needed improvement is some meth
cd Of going from the entire Hill region 10 the neigh
borhood Of the City Hall without travelling over
rough pavements. The natural thoroughfare here
would be Lafayette-ave., had not that been paved
with granite years ago and given over to heavy
traffic. The condition into which Bedford-ave gets
after the asphalt pavement is repaired Is good
argument against asphalting street over which
large amount Of heavy trucking passes.
So Lafayette-ave must be considered out OF the
question, things are at present. II 1t could have
been reserved for driving purposes and provided
with a smooth pavement. 1t would have been a good
thing for the city, for Lafayetteave. Is virtually
prolongation Of Schermerhorn-st and runs eastward
to Bushwick-ave. There Is no other street running
through the city in this direction for so great
length that is not occupied with cartracks.
Hanson Place. which runs from Flatbush-ave. TO
Fulton-st., already has an asphalt pavement
though not a good one. although 1t has just been
three blocks out TO Frankln-ave, and then
undergoing repairs-and would naturally be
link in a general asphalt route to the upper part OF
the city. 1t can pe reached from Schermerhorn-st.
by trayersing one block In Fatbush-ave, which
would have to be repaved to carry out the plan in
view Hanson Place practically brings one to Cum
berand-st. which has asphalt pavement leary
its entire length. The next street parallel with IL
which has the same kind Of pavement Is Clinton
ave. which repaved about year ago. III some
plan be devised for reaching Clinton-ave. easily
the bicycle route proposed will probably be through
he last 10 liateSave.
(three blocks) TO ST. James Place. st. James Place
to Lefferts Place, Leners Place TO Franklin-aVe''
and then through Brevoort Place to Bedford-ave
How 10 get from Hanson Place 10 Ciinton-ave. is
the problem with which some Of the officials CT the
CITY Works Department are now wrestling. one
plan suggested IL 10 take Greeneave. for these hve
blocks, In all n distance OF about 100 feet The OBJ
lection 10 this Ii that there troIey.car tacks
In Grecne-ave. This would be the most direct route
As an alternative 10 that It is proposed that VII
ioughby-avc. DO substituted for Greene. IL Ia the
only avenue except Lafayette that In free from car
tracks The course OF tho wheelman would DO n
little longer this way. but more new pavement
would be required than II Greene-avc. were used
only the five blocks between Cumbcrland-st and
Cllnton-ave.
The route from the city Hall would then be as fol-
lows: Joralemon-st, Cllnton-st.. Schermerhorn-Ht
Flatbush-ave.. Hanson Place, Greeneave Zone short
block not than 100 feeD. Cumberland-st. Will
loughby-ave., Clinton-ave., Gates-ave.. 81. James
Place. Lefferts Place. Brevoort Place. to BEDFORD
ave Looked at on the map this appears eAceedinsiy
the best route that can be laid out 20 as To- bring
uptown and downtown into communication WIN
each other over smooth streets, while avoiding
And 1t will require not a vast amount OF new as
phait pavement That In Schermernorn,si 10 az
ready provided for. What Will be needed u one
block in Flatbushave the short distance In Greene
s five the bo ts PARK Ia @
blocks IN Gates-ave Qrom Waverey-dve: 10 81
fh. ,afIn m
phalt pavement in ST. James Place from Fulton;sl
tone short 6loc TO Leferts Place and me covering
In nc connection With this Plan It is further sGg
gested that at some time in the future me asphalt
rectly to Bedford-ave. which would make an al
I'VE route FOR large part OF me DIS
trict OK the city into easy communication win 'he
Another proposed improvement Is 10 extend
the asphalt pavement in ~. Mark's-aye from
Frankn-aye. to vanderbilt-ave; this would tnord
Park than the usual route along the Easiern PARK,
way, since they could follow ST. Marks,aVe s, 10
leading a& '1so from take sss lie he
An oeia OF the city Works Depar,m sm, "n enc
pressed his Views on as follows ror KY asrtt the
MEANS Of getting Han.o 20 aee to
ave do not believe the cartracks would be a
York oeed Sp maj ,sa shg srre Of
cies were being used Lexington ana ,ra"hea
sye ana the riders dd not en- to pc
dage ,hs pending bin is passed ths ra.r "os
SG Se paw Ssvs S %sh
SScs 'h Now ss to the sS
by going 70 woughbyave you would aSe1a Az Az
journey ABOUT two.ihirds or three OF mile
and make II necessary TO the Dekaipave car
out through ToSshSSSy' sVs az 70 1Bedfor shai
surely out OF the question for the present Gas. OF
are number Of Factories along there. Il would be