The bike lane will run the length of West 72nd Street between Central Park West and Riverside Boulevard — connecting the Central Park Loop with the Hudson
Cyclists traveling on Manhattan’s 72nd Street could soon have a far easier time getting across town under a new city proposal.by removing two lanes of car traffic and adding a two-way protected bike lane. The plan, which DOT presented to Manhattan Community Board 7 on Tuesday night, is the first part of a broader proposal to redesign 72nd Street on both sides of Central Park. The bike lane will run the length of West 72nd Street between Central Park West and Riverside Boulevard — connecting the Central Park Loop with the Hudson River Greenway. It will also link to the bike lanes that go north and south on Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues, respectively.
“Creating a protected, two-way bike lane on 72nd Street will finally deliver a safe, seamless crosstown connection between the Hudson River Greenway, Central Park, and the East Side Greenway—filling a major gap in Manhattan’s cycling network,” said DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn.biking, walking, or driving,” Flynn added. “This proposal reflects our commitment to safer streets and meets the growing demand for cycling, making it easier for New Yorkers of all ages and abilities to get across Manhattan safely.”
The redesign is aimed at making cycling far safer along the corridor, as DOT says protected bike lanes reduce injury risks for cyclists by 34%. It comes as cycling has exploded in popularity over the past several years, with 620,000 daily cycling trips recorded by DOT in 2023, marking a 64% increase over a decade. The DOT will install turn restrictions to accommodate the bike lane and separate pedestrian and cyclist signals. Additionally, the agency plans to construct concrete bus boarding islands, which will both accommodate bus riders and shorten the distance pedestrians have to cross the street. It will also paint a center-running turning bay down 72nd Street and remove 10 parking spaces to add intersection treatments.
The plan also includes redesigning four blocks of Riverside Boulevard between West 72nd and West 68th Streets, eliminating a parking lane and extending the two-way bike lane along the street’s southbound lane. Moreover, DOT will shorten pedestrian crossings by painting areas at intersections. Ken Podziba, CEO of the organization Bike New York, commended the proposal as a way to provide cyclists with safer and speedier passage across 72nd Street. “For years, riders have been forced to navigate busy, high-risk streets without a direct, protected way to travel connecting the Hudson River Greenway, Central Park, and both the Upper West Side and Upper East Side,” Podziba said. “A two-way protected bike lane on 72nd Street will change that—creating a dedicated, predictable space for cyclists that reduces conflicts with cars and makes the corridor safer for everyone: cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers alike.”
The proposal is just the latest in a slew of recent street redesigns announced under Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s DOT. Others include plans toEthan Stark-Miller is amNewYork’s Transit Editor. He covers the MTA , the city Department of Transportation, and all other forms of getting around in the Big Apple. He previously covered politics for amNY.Queens woman pleads guilty to defrauding elderly Long Island couple out of nearly $10 million: FedsMets’ Juan Soto has begun running program in work back from calf injuryHappy little trees to see : Genuine Bob Ross paintings now on exhibit in Manhattan ahead of next week’s auctionBrooklyn Museum hosts sold-out Red Bull Dance Your Style qualifier, crowns Queens dancerBig Ocean returns to NYC, amplifying voices beyond the stage and meets NYPD’s deaf and CODA community
Protected Bike Lanes 72Nd Street Upper West Side
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