Comments on: Two-Way Protected Bike Path Sails Through CB6 Committee

By: mary beth kelly

mary beth kelly — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:47:23 +0000

This is such good news, not because I live in Brooklyn (which I don't) but because it gives hope to us on The Upper West Side of Manhattan where a protected bike lane on Broadway is desired and would be a boon to the neighborhood. It would heighten safety for everyone by calming traffic while giving a needed incentive for more people to get on their bikes to go to work, school or the movies.

By: pat

pat — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:38:42 +0000

this is awesome, my only concern is that if it's just a painted buffer, and not a raised curb, that people will end up parking in the bike lane. like particularly if you're moving in and need a great 14' wide lane to park your uhaul in.

By: Moocow

Moocow — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 01:06:05 +0000

Lauren I totally agree,

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29453408@N07/2903171885/

I took that last fall. Now is the time for a separated lane on that heavily biked speedway. I live off 5th on 13th and there is plenty of bike traffic out to Sunset Park to justify it. There is no other N/S way to get there, Going around is miles and hills out of the way and -4th Ave? ha!

By: Barnard

Barnard — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 17:08:26 +0000

Note: Tillary Street in Downtown Brooklyn and the entrance to the Harlem River Speedway Greenway in northern Manhattan also have on-street, two-way, physically separated bike lanes (though for much shorter distances). It's very good to see the DOT making good on these successes and going for more ambitious projects, and it's equally great (if not even better) to see the community and Community Board support the changes.

As ambitious as the DOT gets, changes to NYC streets aren't going to appear without strong community support. Thank you everyone!

By: Jeff Prant

Jeff Prant — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 05:35:44 +0000

Another positive aspect of this plan is the narrowing of car travel lanes from 11.5 feet to 10 feet, which should have the effect of slowing traffic.

By: Clarence Eckerson Jr.

Clarence Eckerson Jr. — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 23:36:48 +0000

Congrats Eric and the gang. I have seen this design in many places, especially in Montreal which has bike lanes along the perimeters of just about all of their parks.

I guess this means I need to get that before footage since this is ANOTHER groundbreaking achievement by NYC DOT. If this timetable changes, someone give me a shout out please!

By: lauren

lauren — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 14:44:11 +0000

I wrote to the DOT requesting something similar for the stretch of 5th Ave. that runs along the cemetary, but got a letter back saying something about lack of integration to existing bike lanes north and south of that section? Can't remember exactly. But I would love to see a two-lane, protected bike path around Greenwood Cemetary.

By: Cap'n Transit

Cap'n Transit — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 02:45:55 +0000

I vote for Queens too: 111th and 112th Streets and Peartree Avenue on the west side of Flushing Meadows. Park Drive East currently has bike lanes on either side, but they'd probably be better as a two-way protected cycle track.

By: Greg

Greg — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 19:40:24 +0000

Anyone see this travesty of an article in the Villager?

http://thevillager.com/villager_311/chelseabusinesses.html

Jesus Christ.

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 18:45:51 +0000

J-Uptown, First Ave would be a great one too, because it has few intersections to its east between 14th and 50th. Also, Park Lane/Jamaica Ave could provide a ~4 mile dedicated facility. And Broadway next to Van Cortlandt Park could use some calming and a bike facility.

By: J-Uptown

J-Uptown — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 18:24:11 +0000

This should be standard policy for streets surrounding all large parks. Few vehicles crossings make protected bike path relatively easy to install. Additionally, the streets are calmed to allow easier ped access to the park. I vote for Central Park West, Fifth Ave, 59th, and 110th Street.

By: ddartley

ddartley — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 17:45:42 +0000

This reminds me of how one of the only truly good buffers I've ever noticed in NYC was the OLD lane buffer on 2nd Ave. between 14th St. and Houston BEFORE that stretch was repaved a year or year and a half ago. That buffer was, wonderfully, about 100% as wide as the bike lane itself.

After the repaving, there were a few random small improvements, but more significant than them was one negative: that once healthy, truly protective buffer shrunk down to half the width of the bike lane it protected.

That change unfortunately made that lane into one of the not-very-effective bike lanes: before, if a car double parked in the lane, the buffer provided more than enough safe room to pass the double parker without weaving into traffic.

Now, with the skinnier buffer, it's just like a typical crappy bike lane--if a car double parks in there, you're screwed and have to weave into a car lane.

Anyone (DOT readers??!!) know why this change for the worse--amid so many changes for the better--happened?

By: Larry Littlefield

Larry Littlefield — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 17:42:43 +0000

That is certainly good news. Once installed, I'll use that path northbound almost every weekday.

By: oscarfrye

oscarfrye — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 17:11:20 +0000

would love to see this continue around the perimeter of the park

By: J-Uptown

J-Uptown — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 17:09:44 +0000

This is phenomenal news. It heartening to see the combination of community desire for bike lanes ans traffic calming and DOT planning for and installing them. Hopefully, this type of planning will spread to nearby neighborhoods.

By: gecko

gecko — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:46:36 +0000

Great news! Serious consideration should be given to putting protected bike lanes or cycle tracks down the center of most major two-way streets in all five boroughs.