Bike Boulevard Plan Splits Prospect Heights

Residents oppose a proposed Bergen and Dean streets redesign that would also reroute the B65 bus.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Civic Engagement

Wide view of an empty brick rowhouse street with stoops, mature trees, and a green bike lane alongside a bare bus shelter in soft morning light. — New York City's Department of Transportation and the MTA have proposed a Bergen and Dean street bike boulevard that would move the B65 bus to Atlantic Avenue, drawing a petition with more than 2,600 signatures. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should your neighborhood trade bus access and parking for safer bike lanes?

New York City's Department of Transportation proposed redesigning Bergen and Dean streets in Prospect Heights as a bike boulevard, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority proposed moving the B65 bus to Atlantic Avenue. More than 2,600 people have signed a petition opposing the plan.

Why it matters

The proposals pit cycling and pedestrian safety against bus access and walking distance for riders in Brooklyn. Community Board 8 opposes the bus changes, though its role in the process is advisory.

More than 2,600 people signed a petition opposing the plan, which would add protected bike lanes and reroute the B65 bus several blocks to Atlantic Avenue. The final street layout and bus route remain undecided.

The players

Mayor Zohran Mamdani

Mayor of New York City who announced the bike boulevard plan while riding with the neighborhood's bike bus.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority

New York State agency that operates the city's buses and subways and proposed rerouting the B65 bus as part of its Brooklyn Bus Network Redesign.

Community Board 8

Local advisory body representing Prospect Heights that opposes the proposed bus route changes.

The details

Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the plan while riding with the neighborhood's bike bus, and the redesign would reduce traffic flow on the affected streets. The petition was organized by Caitlyn Rose, co-founder of the neighborhood group Brooklyn for All of Us, and opponents plan to rally on Nov. 8.

Earlier in 2026: Mayor Mamdani announces the bike boulevard plan.
Nov. 8: Opponents rally against the proposals.
Nov. 10 and Nov. 12: DOT hosts virtual workshops on the bike boulevard.
In the coming months: A new draft of the Brooklyn Bus Network Redesign is released.

Civic Engagement Context

The proposals are part of the MTA's Brooklyn Bus Network Redesign, which will release a new draft in the coming months with public feedback opportunities. Community pushback through petitions and advisory boards is shaping how these route and street changes move forward.

Residents who rely on the B65 may face a longer walk to reach a bus stop if the reroute is approved. Those living near Bergen and Dean streets could see changed traffic patterns and new protected bike lanes.

The takeaway

Public input windows like the November workshops and the coming draft give residents a direct way to influence how their streets and bus routes change.

What happens next

The DOT will host virtual workshops on Nov. 10 and Nov. 12, and a new draft of the Brooklyn Bus Network Redesign will be released in the coming months.