New York City’s extra-wide 10th Avenue bike lanes are great but city needs more

New York City has a plush, extra-wide bike lane with the unveiling of the new 10th Avenue safety upgrades in the Hell’s Kitchen neighbourhood.

Mayor Eric Adams and DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez marked the completion of the first phase of safety upgrades that span from West 38th Street to West 52nd Street. The 10-foot-wide northbound bicycle lane is one of Manhattan’s widest bike lanes. The hope is that the new project will create a safer environment for cyclists, e-bike riders, and others.

Of course, New York City is also well-known for videos of cars using bike lanes to skirt traffic jams, and an extra-wide lane might be too attractive for some to ignore. Not to mention, the city is also notorious for not enforcing cars parked in bike lanes, despite ideas of bike lane bounty programs being bandied about.

The 10th Avenue safety overhaul includes the installation of concrete pedestrian islands, redesigned intersections to mitigate turning vehicle risks, and the introduction of new bicycle corrals. These enhancements are expected to improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike. The Adams administration is set to achieve a record number of new protected bike lane miles for New York City in 2023.

“As New Yorkers change how they use our streets, we need to change our streets with them — and on 10th Avenue and across the city, we’re doing just that,” Mayor Adams said. “The upgrades we have completed will make 10th Avenue safer for everyone, and the extra-wide bike lane will make it easier for cyclists to feel comfortable riding through the neighborhood.”

The 10-foot-wide bike lane aligns with Mayor Adams’ Charge Safe, Ride Safe: New York City’s Electric Micromobility Action Plan, which was released in March 2023. The plan emphasizes adapting street designs to accommodate the growth of e-bikes and micromobility devices on city streets.

10th Avenue in Hell’s Kitchen

Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi highlighted the significance of the widened bike lane in fostering coexistence between e-bikes and traditional bikes. “A 10-foot lane on 10th Avenue will enable e-bikes and traditional bikes to coexist, creating room for faster vehicles to pass and promoting safe behavior on the road, while supporting our growing cargo bike delivery industry,” she noted.

The upgraded 10th Avenue includes 10 bicycle corrals, left-turn lanes with dedicated signal timing at key intersections, and protected intersections known as “offset crossings” at several locations. These measures aim to enhance visibility, reduce vehicle speeds, and provide a safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists.

New York advocacy group Transportation Alternatives explains that under the NYC Streets Plan, the City of New York is required to install “at least 50 miles of protected bike lanes in 2023 and 250 miles in the five years from 2022 to 2026. The administration installed 20 of out of 30 required miles in 2022.”

So far this year, Adams’ administration has built 30 miles. So, yes, wide bike lanes are great, but this city, amidst one of its deadliest years for cyclists on record, needs more and fast.

New York City has the highest rate of cycling growth in America.

“As bike ridership continues to set records, creating more protected spaces for New Yorkers to bike is vital. We’re glad to see DOT cut the ribbon on new, wider protected bike lanes and redesigned intersections on 10th Avenue. Projects like this make our streets safer for not only bike riders but pedestrians and drivers, too,” said Danny Harris, executive director, Transportation Alternatives. “We look forward to working with DOT to replicate this project across New York City to meet the requirements of the New York City Streets Plan.”