DOT Proposes Protected Bike Lane Across 72nd Street

A new proposal could dramatically reshape one of the Upper West Side’s busiest crosstown corridors — and the changes would extend all the way to the East Side.

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NYC Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn announced this week that the agency is proposing a two-way protected bike lane spanning the full length of 72nd Street in Manhattan. The project would create a continuous east-west cycling connection between the Hudson River Greenway, the Upper West Side’s existing protected bike lane network, and Central Park.

DOT presented the proposed redesign to Manhattan Community Board 7 on Tuesday evening.

The plan calls for a two-way, parking-protected bike lane along the north curb of West 72nd Street from Riverside Boulevard to Central Park West. Left turn lanes would be installed where needed, and signal and turn restriction changes would be added at intersections to separate pedestrian and cyclist signal phases.

DOT said it would also update curb regulations to make it easier for drivers to find parking in high-demand areas of the street and install neighborhood loading zones to reduce double parking.

Protected bike lanes currently run north-south on multiple Upper West Side avenues but do not connect the rest of the neighborhood to Riverside Park or Central Park. According to DOT, improving crosstown cycling connections was a key need identified in the agency’s 2024 Central Park Drives Safety & Circulation Study.

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The agency says cycling is the city’s fastest-growing transportation mode, with 620,000 daily cycling trips recorded in 2023 — a 64 percent increase over 10 years. DOT data shows that protected bike lanes reduce risk for cyclists by 34 percent, and by more than 60 percent on the most dangerous streets. Installing protected lanes also increases bicycle volumes by about 50 percent, according to the agency.

The proposal also includes pedestrian safety upgrades. DOT says protected bike lanes have been shown to reduce pedestrian deaths and serious injuries by about 29 percent, with even greater benefits for older pedestrians — for whom deaths and serious injuries drop by 39 percent. The project would add painted curb extensions, improved visibility at intersections, and a new bus boarding island at West 72nd Street and Central Park West.

“Creating a protected, two-way bike lane on 72nd Street will finally deliver a safe, seamless crosstown connection between the Hudson River Greenway, Central Park, and the East Side Greenway — filling a major gap in Manhattan’s cycling network,” Commissioner Flynn said in a statement. “This proposal reflects our commitment to safer streets and meets the growing demand for cycling, making it easier for New Yorkers of all ages and abilities to get across Manhattan safely.”

Emily Jacobi, Senior Organizer at Transportation Alternatives, called the proposal a win for the community. “Since Central Park went car-free, our Manhattan Activist Committee has been fighting for safer connections from river to river and around the park,” Jacobi said. “We’re excited to work with DOT to bring this vision to life so families, seniors, and commuters can count on 72nd Street as a safe, reliable connection across Manhattan.”

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The proposal follows support from both Upper West Side and Upper East Side community boards for additional crosstown protected lanes on either side of Central Park. DOT said it expects to present a separate design proposal for the east side of Central Park — covering the stretch between Fifth Avenue and York Avenue — to Community Board 8 in fall 2026.

DOT plans to discuss the proposal with community stakeholders and refine the design as needed before moving forward.

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