City To Break Record For Protected Bike Lane Installation

By Wayne Sheppard

Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg and  Mayor de Blasio announced that New York City has committed to installing over 15 miles of physically protected bicycle lanes in 2016, the most of any year on record. The projects include protected lanes along Amsterdam Avenue, 2nd Avenue and 6th Avenue in Manhattan, as well as new two-way protected bike lanes in Marine Park in Brooklyn, on 20th Avenue in Queens and along Bruckner Boulevard in the Bronx.

On top of the twelve miles of protected bike lanes created in 2015, DOT plans to install protected lanes that will build on the designs that have reduced crashes for both cyclists and pedestrians.

DOT has bike lane projects planned for 2016 in all five boroughs.  Among the new protected bike lanes already in development and planning, are the following:

• Bronx: Bruckner Boulevard, Hunts Point Avenue to Longwood Avenue.
• Manhattan: Amsterdam Avenue, West 72nd Street to West 110th Street; Chrystie Street, Canal Street to 2nd Street; 6th Avenue, West 8th Street to West 33rd Street and; 2nd Avenue, East 105 Street to East 68th Street.
• Queens: 20th Avenue, 37th Street to Shore Boulevard; Shore Boulevard, Ditmars Boulevard to Astoria Park South; and Hoyt Avenue North, 27th Street to 19th Street.
• Brooklyn: Marine Park Connector, Ave U to Flatbush Avenue.
• Brooklyn/Queens: Pulaski Bridge, linking Greenpoint and Long Island City.

As part of the process for these new bike lanes, DOT will be taking part in community consultation efforts, including detailed presentations and plans before community boards and local elected officials.