UPPE WEST SIDE, Manhattan (WABC) — A two-way protected bike lane across 72nd Street was proposed to Community Board 7 on Tuesday night as part of a larger plan to bike across the Upper West and East sides, from river to river.
The bike lane, protected by a lane of parked cars, would reduce the total number of motor-vehicle lanes on West 72nd Street from four to two.
A related proposal, which has not yet been finalized, would create a similar bike lane along East 72nd Street from between Fifth and York avenues. That will be presented to Commute Board 8 this fall.
A proposed configuration of West 72nd Street, at Amsterdam Avenue, in Manhattan.
NYC DOT
Protected bike lanes run north and south on multiple avenues on the Upper West Side, but do not connect the rest of the neighborhood to Riverside or Central parks.
Officials with the Department of Transportation say this proposal will connect Central Park to both the Hudson River Greenway and the East Side Greenway.
The proposal would also improve safety for all road users and shorted pedestrian crossing distances at intersections across Manhattan, the DOT says.
DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn said in a statement, “Creating a protected, two-way bike lane on 72nd St. 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. 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.”
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