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City officials and cycling advocates gathered in The Bronx yesterday to celebrate meeting the goal of adding 200 bike-lane miles in all five boroughs in three years. Dr. Thomas Farley, city health commissioner, was on hand to trumpet the health benefits of cycling; Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe praised the bike lanes connecting the city's parks and waterfronts; and DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan declared New York "the bicycling capital of the United States." The bike lane network is now the equivalent length of a bike lane running from New York City to Boston! The 200-mile initiative was launched after a 2006 report [pdf] determined that cyclists were safest in bike lanes and wearing helmets. The project cost $8.8 million, and included installing 6,100 bike racks and 1,000 guide signs. According to the DOT [pdf], there are now 70.9 miles of bike lanes in The Bronx, 138.9 miles in Brooklyn, 90.4 miles in Manhattan, 96.7 miles in Queens, and 27.6 in Staten Island. And besides helping cyclists, they make for great parking spots, too!
NYC Now Has 200 More Miles of Bike Lanes!
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Great.. Now lets keep livery cabs, pedicabs, tourists and cops out of the bike lanes so we can actually call them "safe".
Great, now 1% of the city can enjoy them, and if they get bored there is always the sidewalk, and the traffic lights are optional as well. Don't get me wrong, if we had civil drivers in the city we would not need the lanes in the first place. So stop nearly running me over from behind. ;)
1%? I think your numbers are way off. You could get off your fat ass and ride a bike yourself...
1%? I think your numbers are way off. You could get off your fat ass and ride a bike yourself...
Meanwhile, 3% of the city enjoys the right to drive their private cars on taxpayer-funded streets. Awesome!
the bike lanes in Staten Island are totally getting roughed out by the terrible street conditions. Most of the lines that had been painted, particularly on Bay St. and Richmond Terrace have completely vanished. Bikers on SI continue to pedal at your own risk!
Mmmmm I being an Olympic fencer from 2006-2008, my ass is in pretty good shape. And I do ride a bike, I just am not interested in doing it in Manhattan.
I'm not interested in doing much of anything in Manhattan, but when it comes to Brooklyn, a bicycle is definitely the easiest and fastest way to get around.
Who the hell cares what you're interested in doing? Does this apply to all the boroughs as well (fyi - it wasn't about manhattan)? Oh wait, don't answer, I don't care. I happen to think bike lanes are a bit overrated, but I will certainly take what I can get, and boredom is one problem I don't have on my bike, you should try it.
Recently noticed the bike lane on the stretch of 8th Avenue from 14th to 23rd (?) is being re-configured and built out like the bike lanes over on 9th Avenue. This is good.
Yahoo....New Amsterdam!
Dear Monkey Butter. I ride a bike and my ass is still fat.
Who would ever think that for just $8.8 million, you could create 200 miles of new roadspace for people who choose not to drive a car? Money well spent.
right on the money Nanny State
I think you're being sarcastic, but I agree with the statement. I think it's money well spent. I plan purchase a bike now that it's safer to ride in my neighborhood.
Stealing lanes and car parking from majority of citizens for Transit Alternative's campaign donations for special interests. Bike lanes miles from the nearest subway line. Bike lanes down minor streets making it impossible to pass cars, etc.
"Bike lanes miles from the nearest subway line"
Which is the point!
yes, and please while you're at it repair the existing bike lanes before making any new ones. The Bedford ave lanes are almost non-existent towards the south of Brooklyn.
It's fine to take space away from cars but too bad it's wasted on bike lanes, which are barely used even on days like these, let alone in the winter or at night or in the rain, etc.
The bike lanes in the city are awesome! I love seeing delivery guys riding the wrong way! I love seeing the "hardcore" bike riders get frustrated with this—the three of them that I have seen.
Now to put more effort in preventing bike theft, so I can actually have a bike to use these lanes.
I like the Berlin model of removing space from the street and extending the sidewalks and putting bike lanes on the sidewalks, painted to distinguish the difference. If nobody is riding on the path, you are free to walk on it, and if you are biking on it and see some walking in front, you ring your bell politely and they move aside.
Of course, it is the "polite" aspect of the arrangement that would never work. It is assumed that most people there are riding "Amsterdam" commuter-style bikes slowly. All traffic lights also have separate signs for cars, bikes and pedestrians.
Another reason it would be hard to implement here is that the fear of public humiliation is what keeps people from jaywalking and bicycling uncontrollably.
I saw one of those "real" bikers with the fixed gear track bike and the heavy chain draped across his body. He got on the subway at rush hour and rode 2 stops. Fucking douche. And no, his bike wasn't broken.