Proponents of protected bike lanes scored a major win at the CB7 Transportation Committee meeting earlier this week, as they unanimously passed a resolution for crosstown bidirectional bike lanes on 72nd Street, Streetsblog first reported.
For some, this news is long overdue. The city has witnessed many tragic accidents that resulted in the deaths of bikers, including the recent death of a beloved NYC pediatrician while he was biking to work. Streetsblog cites statistics that there “were a total of 169 crashes, causing 36 injuries, including to eight cyclists and 17 pedestrians” since June 2018.
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Committee and community members have been outspoken about concerns over lost parking space and risks pedestrians face from cyclists. Upper West Sider Sharon says “I already feel that space is so limited on the sidewalks and streets. Adding more bike lanes is just adding more risks for me as I try to walk to the store.” 72nd Street is of particular concern because of the double parked cars. Some residents wonder what enforcement will look like to keep all parties safe.
Despite concerns, community and city officials are making plans to embrace bike lanes. Streetopia writer, Lisa Orman, told Streetsblog she hopes to see the bike lines extend to the east side. According to the DOT, there has been a 60 percent increase in bike usage in the past month for those looking to cross town on the weekends. This is expected to increase as work and school opens back up.
Local advocacy groups such as Streetopia have been outspoken about the need for more bike lanes. As we reported back in January, the group held a meeting to engage the community and plan how to engage CB7 about getting crosstown in a safe manner, among other issues. Streetopia led the charge by polling the community about which street would be the most popular option, and 72nd Street was the winner.
There is a long way to go before the paths get built because CB7 needs to coordinate closely with the Department of Transportation, but we will keep you posted as things develop.
NYC first implemented bike lanes in 1978. The first lanes in NYC included “the southbound lane traveled on Broadway between Central Park South and 23rd Street, then Fifth Avenue to Washington Square (3 miles), and the northbound lane went up Sixth Avenue between 8th Street and Central Park South (2.5 miles).”
Biking in NYC has been a fixture since the late 19th century and has gone through many cycles of rules and regulations. Over the decades, biking has also been at the center of problem solving discussions for city officials.
The NYC’s Parks Department has been trying to find biking solutions in Riverside Park since 1875. When the park expanded in 1930, they were finally able to create space along the Hudson River to accommodate bikes, but there were still gaps that needed to be filled. “For more than seventy years, however, one of the only missing links on the west side existed in a section of Riverside Park from 83rd to 91st Street,” states their website. It took until 2007 and $13.3 million to finally build a fix to the problem.
Glad these lanes aren’t on my street. Bicyclists have a whole lot of attitude adjusting to do.
Amen, bro.
This is all well and good; however what goes blithely ignored by ALL city officials as the keep adding these bike lanes is the number of cyclists who ignore the rules of the road and race through red lights, do not stop for pedestrians trying to cross streets when they have the right of way, and even more vexing: don’t use the lanes at all and continue to ride on the sidewalks.
You can install all the bike lanes you like, but until the cyclists modify their behavior and realize they are subject to the same laws as everyone one else, there will still be accidents in which the cyclists and pedestrians get hurt. And in many cases it is because the cyclists are ignoring the rules of the road because they know the city officials will take their side.
Enough. Start licensing bicyclists, put license plates in bicycles, and ticketing them when they break the law.
Could not agree with you more!
Can’t agree more and more!
I favor more bike lanes AND long-term use of street space for restaurants. Fewer cars would obviously enhance the quality of NYC life.
I wonder what other cities license bikes and give them plates?
Wow, think about the city licensing and charging them for it and for plates and making them obey laws and ticketing them if they don’t.
Great idea.
Do you understand that when you quote Streetsblog, Streetopia, Lisa Orman, that they’re all the same?
Classic astroturfing ,a commonly organized and funded group masquerading as grass roots. The Koch brothers would have been proud.
Another bicycle lane on the upper west side. Horrible!. Why another one? We already have bicycle lanes on CPW, Amsterdam Ave., Columbus Ave., and there is bicycling in Central Park and Riverside Park. The city should enact regulations and fines to make walking safe again. Licenses should be required for all bicyclists. So should handlebar headlights so riders can be seen at night. Here on the upper west side they travel on sidewalks; go against traffic (i.e. south on northbound lanes); many ignore the bicycle lanes and bike in the middle of Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues. Most don’t stop for red lights. This must stop. I was hit a bicyclist in June 2019 going the wrong way on W. 73. I was not badly injured fortunately. But I get almost hit everyday by bicyclists on sidewalks and going against traffic. Some bicyclists pay more attention to their phones than to what is in front them! Possibly a FB group should be formed to help enact bicycle regulations in NYC to make pedestrians safe from reckless, speeding bicyclists. I used to bicycle in NYC. I gave it up here. Too dangerous now.
Until bicyclists learn to obey traffic lights CB7 is doing a great disservice to pedestrians. This is frightening.
Bike lanes are okay, but as several people have commented above, bikers have to STAY OFF THE SIDEWALKS!!! They act like they own the streets, and they are dangerous. After five surgeries, I have trouble walking, and have to use a walker on the streets, where the uneven and broken pavement is already a hazard. I have almost been hit by bikers on the sidewalks three times, and when I said something, I got looks like I was the problem. Getting hit could easily put me in the hospital. Bikers need serious attitude adjustment and a little less obliviousness. Bike lanes? Great. Stay in them!
This is perfectly expressed. Such a-holes.
And Lisa Orman chants bikes don’t kill. I can’t tell you how many times I have nearly been hit by bikes. I fear them more than cars, especially the ones doing delivery.
I visited NYC over the 4th of July weekend, staying at the La Quinta just west of Central Park West on 71st Street. I rented a bike on west 72nd on Friday afternoon and kept it until my check out on Tuesday. I biked to Little Italy, Times Square, Harlem, Upper East Side, Washington Square Park, Central Park, Bryant Park, Freedom Tower/ 911 Memorial, City Hall. I used the bike lanes on Central Park West, Columbus Ave, Amsterdam Ave, 1st Ave, 2nd Ave. In short, I was able to bike all over Manhattan and I did not take a bus or cab (with the exception of the airport) during those 4 days! I also think a crosstown bike lane on 72nd Street makes a lot of sense. I don’t like that police block the bike lane on CPW in front of the Trump International Hotel. They should allow bikers to thruway!!!
I lived in NYC in the early 90’s and biked all the time. There were few bike lanes and it was a free for all. These bike lanes are not perfect but very helpful in my opinion. I did find that the e-bikes on these lanes pose a danger and the food delivery persons are the new “bike messengers”. in the evening from 6 to 9 pm some ride the wrong way on bike lanes and some even on sidewalks. These delivery drivers (especially those with e-bikes should be licensed and ticketed.
It goes without saying that you must stay alert and be cautious of unexpected obstacles, pedestrians, and cars. I very much appreciated the improvements to the bike lanes that I noticed this past 4th of July weekend.
There is no city like NYC and a bike is the best way to get around! Stay safe out there!!!
I have become a “biker” in the last few months and overall enjoy riding. I do notice that many people (mostly delivery people and people renting Citibikes) ignore the direction of the bike lanes making it hazardous for other bikers, cars and pedestrians. There is also a danger in many of the bike lanes when vehicles stop in the middle of one to wait or load or unload something causing bikers to have to cross into the main road where the cars are. And there is always the fun bike lanes where people park there car and their doors unexpectedly open right in front of you in into the bike lane causing bikers to have to swerve out of the way again. There has to be better rule enforcement of the fundamentals like obeying the lane direction to keep it safe for pedestrians, bikers and automobiles. I think it starts with education and awareness that needs to be done by the city to make at least something safer around here. Citibike needs to be responsible too and post signs near there racks with basic rules that should be observed by their renters.
There are also “bikes” with engines, small motorcycles, skateboards, roller bladers, skateboarders, scooters, electric scooters etc…all using the bike lanes. Pedestrians have to be aware not to stand in the bike lanes waiting for the light to change to cross the street, j-walk into a bike lane or just stand in the lane and chat.
There has to be some kind of enforcement of basic rules that everyone has to adhere too make this work for everyone to be safe and happy. Again, I think it is up to the city to start awareness of the basic rules for everyone.
Yes, pedestrians do have a responsibility here too. Standing in the bike lanes, or off the curb, or against the light, heads buried in their phones, etc… is equally irresponsible.
But one major difference: pedestrians are not on wheels and/or generally moving at the speeds that cyclists are capable of moving.
EVERYONE needs to be practicing common sense and courtesy, and be aware of their surroundings.
AND obeying the traffic laws.
Science shows bike lanes increase pedestrian safety by shortening street crossing distances. I support more bike lanes. 72nd is an ideal place for one.
Not when the cyclists race through red lights as pedestrians are trying to cross the street when they have the green light and the right of way.
Agreed. It has become so bad that at 80 years old (but still in good shape) I no longer can go out walking by myself, either for pleasure, exercise, or necessity (like to the store or doctor) in my upper west side neighborhood. They don’t even stop for lights or pay attention to where they’re going when I take a cane or two or even a walker. I’ve tried both. Nothing seems to help.