One tiny semantic note on your title: I try to avoid the word “amenity” for bike/ped facilities. There’s a double standard – car parking/lanes/etc. is/are generally assumed to be a necessary component of the transportation system… bike parking/lanes/etc. is/are often called an “amenity” ie: something nice, but not really needed. We need to make sure that our language asserts bike/ped mobility, convenience and safety as things that are necessary… not merely nice to have.

There is probably some way to compute how much space is needed for true cyclist + pedestrian comfort vs. pedestrian + pedestrian comfort. I would think a lot more with the former, and on this bridge there is an absolute limit on space flexibility, unless you want to jump over the side (propose it as a location in a future James Bond movie, for a high price, then you can watch him cycleparaglide off the bridge).

Think about sunset coinciding with bicycle rush hour.

Jass & Todd – those issues are all part of the on-going dialogue with the community and the design process which begins soon, so if you have input you should get involved at the start.

I am sure the bridge will be wheelchair-accessible since you can get there right now without using stairs (though it is a long detour) Unlike the High Line this bridge will have bike use, though through the design there may be a way to manage speeds. If you think about the options of riding your bike between Bronx and Upper Manhattan, I’d be thankful for being able to ride across at 5 mph.

My opinion (and that is all it is): I would have a seating area with benches in the middle at the ends of both sides, leave the rest open. This bridge will not be as busy as the High Line, though there might be more tourist activity on weekends. Weekdays, I’ll bet you’ll see alot of bike and pedestrian commuters at rush hour.

Consider all the users (cyclists, peds, people in wheelchairs, children, dog). Is the goal to create a new part of the two parks on either side OR a link between the two parks which is focused on movement? Would it be possible to attach a bike way (or fast path) to one or both sides or use the walkway of some sort which is under the main area we see for fast users?