4th Avenue and 9th Street is used by high volumes of pedestrians, bicyclists, cars and trucks. It is a transit hub with two connecting subway stations, bus stops, children walking to school, families to the Church and the YMCA. There are shoppers, IKEA devotees and bicycle riding park goers. Despite this heavy foot traffic, 4th Ave and 9th Street is dominated by vehicles. 4th Ave serves as a truck route and as a speedway for cars.

Vehicular domination has resulted in high numbers of accidents and the recent fatality of a boy coming home from school. Crossing pedestrians are forced to dodge speeding right and left turning vehicles. Bicycle lanes are occupied by double parked cars and delivery trucks. The left-turn pockets on 4th Avenue are too short, causing vehicles to maneuver for position, change lanes and often stop in the crosswalk, directly in the path of pedestrians. Bus stops offer no shade or rain cover. There is a lack of green space and human connectivity. The result is a dangerous and intimidating environment for anyone not encased in the steel of a car.

Prospect Walk ‘n Roll creates an identity on a more human scale and maximizes the smooth traffic flow among pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicles. Public art along the median on 4th Ave, sidewalks imprinted with leaves, and planters on the four corners of the intersection will give life to the area and meet its practical purposes.

Walk ‘n Roll suggests a pedestrian only crossing phase with curb extensions, crossing islands and diagonal crosswalks. Pedestrian only phasing slows traffic on 4th Ave and allows pedestrians to cross without the danger of turning vehicles. Curb extensions provide a safe space to see oncoming traffic and islands on 4th Ave allow slower walkers a resting place. Diagonal crosswalks give pedestrians more turf and let commuters access north and south subway entrances efficiently. The leaf-motif crosswalk design echoes and extends the beauty of Prospect Park.

The “Roll” side of Walk ‘n Roll replaces current dangerous bicycle lanes with a protected center bicycle lane flowing from the entrance of Prospect Park and 9th street all the way down the hill to the intersection of 3rd Ave and 9th street, where it will divert onto the 3rd Ave bike lanes. This lane will in effect be a bicycle river flowing to and from Prospect Park, giving safety and identity to families on bikes and bike commuters alike. Brick buffers, bollards and planters keep bicyclists safe and help to green 9th street.

Walk ‘n Roll uses public art in two ways: Artist inspired bicycle parking and mural will energize the gloomy space under the 4th Ave subway overpass. Silhouette sculptures of pedestrians and bicycles will energize the 4th Avenue median.

4th Ave and 9th street intersection needs a lot of help. With smart design, Walk ‘n Roll uses the beauty of the Park above and the energy of the people below to create a safe and enjoyable space for everyone to use safely.