Is the city's Department of Transportation (DOT) doing all it can to analyze traffic patterns in Brooklyn?Not necessarily, according to Transportation Alternatives (TA), a not-for-profit advocacy group which promotes increased bicycling, walking and use of public transportation instead of private automobiles.According to a recently released study, Traffic Information in NYC: What We Know, What We Need to Know, which was prepared for TA by Schaller Consulting, there are "large gaps" in what we know about city traffic patterns, especially in the outer boroughs.In particular, according to the study, there is a dearth of information about traffic volume, particularly for "congested corridors outside Manhattan."There is also a lack of data on traffic speeds and delays, except for what is collected as part of what the Schaller study calls "ad hoc studies."Furthermore, according to the study, there is "no data on the reliability of travel times, no travel cost data (and) no indicators of comfort, convenience or overall attractiveness of alternative modes."Available InfoWhat then do we know about travel in Brooklyn and from Brooklyn to Manhattan? According to the study, which TA released on January 23rd, "Two-thirds of Brooklyn-based trips are by public transportation, walking or other nonmotorized modes."Indeed, there has been an increase in the use of public transportation within the borough, says the report, though, "For travel between Brooklyn and Manhattan,... travel volumes and subway ridership grew at about the same pace both in the 1990s and in recent years."The increase in the use of public transportation for intra-borough travel has been largely reflected in subway use. While traffic volume, according to the study, dropped two percent between 2001 and 2005, subway ridership grew by three percent; during that same period, there was no overall change in bus ridership.Overall, according to the study, travel between Brooklyn and Manhattan remains below pre-9./11 levels: Traffic volume is seven percent below what it was in 2000. Similarly, subway ridership, "Remains five percent below the peak in 2000," the study notes. Finally, "Bus ridership between Brooklyn and Manhattan, although relatively small, increased modestly in the past several years."Legislative PushAs well as TA, some city councilmembers would like to see DOT's approach to data collection change. To that end, Councilmember Gale Brewer last year brought out legislation, Intro 199A, that would require DOT to "modify... performance targets and indicators towards the goal of reducing traffic congestion citywide."Brooklyn City Councilmem-bers Sara Gonzalez, Letitia James, Michael Nelson, Domenic Recchia, Diana Reyna and Al Vann have all signed on as co-sponsors of the measure, which aims to have the agency revamp the way it measures performance.Rather than tracking such items as "the number of traffic lights repaired and the number of potholes filled," the legislation would have the agency focus on indicators, "that can inform comprehensive policy solutions to problems such as traffic congestion and pollution."New CommutersWhile solid data about traffic patterns in the outer boroughs may be lacking, it is clear to residents and their elected officials that traffic in the city and borough is on the rise, and needs to be dealt with."We should always be looking ahead," contended Nelson who predicted that, if the current pace of development continues, "We'll be drowning in cars."Part of what needs to be determined, Nelson said, is the capacity of the borough's various roadways. But, beyond that, he said, the city must look to the $64,000 question -- "How do we reduce the number of people driving to business districts, and how to we increase the availability of on-street parking?"The city, Nelson also noted, must look for ways to encourage residents to get out of their cars. "We are trying to get more people to use bikes and mass transit, or get involved in car pooling," he explained.One route that Nelson doesn't think the city should pursue is congestion pricing. "Barring that," he added, "I do think we need to look at a new plan for tackling the problems we have."Stephen Witt contributed to this article.