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February 29 , 2008 |  |
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 This is the NYC.gov News You Requested for: "Bicycle Updates" |
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 NYCycles - The Official Newsletter of NYC DOT's Bike Program In this February edition of NYCycles, you'll find:
New Bike Routes And tools to make your ride safer and easier: |
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Quick Bit:
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Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner Sadik-Khan accepted the Bicycle Friendly Community Award from the League of American Bicyclists this month. As he accepted the award Mayor Bloomberg said, “We're trying to make it easier for people to use their bikes as a viable means of transportation and we appreciate this recognition. Whether through increasing and improving bicycle lanes or building bike shelters near transit hubs, by making New York more bike friendly, we're taking steps to prepare for the future." |
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This winter NYCDOT improved the bicycle connection between the burgeoning commercial and residential neighborhood of DUMBO and the Brooklyn side of the Manhattan Bridge. NYCDOT installed a new off-street concrete bikeway along Jay Street from Prospect Avenue to Sands Street, creating a safer, more pleasant connection under the bridge. Previously cyclists headed between the bridge and DUMBO had to choose between navigating a complicated intersection or braving Belgian Block pavers which are never fun on bike tires and the joints. The new path is also better marked to separate pedestrian and cyclist traffic and signs clearly point cyclists to the ramped side of the Manhattan Bridge. NYCDOT also added new way-finding signs which guide cyclists towards the Brooklyn Waterfront. Finally, NYCDOT added new bike lanes on Jay Street going to the waterfront and on Pearl and Prospect Streets headed from the waterfront towards the Manhattan Bridge.
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As we race to complete 200 new lane-miles of on-street bike facilities by 2009 you’d think we’d be out there installing them every day. But if you haven’t seen our crews around in a few months, it’s not due to lack of motivation, it’s just the weather has given us pause. Most of the markings that you see on the streets, from crosswalks to lane dividers to bike lanes, can only be installed when it is at least 45°F outside. With warmer weather (hopefully) on the horizon, DOT’s contractor will begin in March or April installing 25 new miles of bike lanes this spring. Where will these new lanes go?
Our bicycle lane installation is guided generally by the City’s 1,800 mile Bicycle Master Plan, an extensive network of on- and off-street facilities. We’ve already helped create nearly 300 miles of lanes, routes and paths (and Parks and NYSDOT have created approximately 200 miles of car-free paths and greenways). How do we choose where to go next? We use a set of criteria including population, employment and bicycle density and connectivity to parks and existing paths, creating neighborhood level subnetworks, improving safety, supporting economic development, and creating a backbone network of unbroken routes through all five boroughs. In prioritizing certain routes over other, we consider community requests and look to incorporate bike lanes with existing projects, especially traffic calming, to create complete streets that serve cyclists, pedestrians and drivers safely. With over forty-seven miles added to the bike network from July to November 2007, New York cyclists can see that plan in action. Two and a half miles of lanes on streets in Greenpoint have provided a connection to the Pulaski Bridge and a solid neighborhood network. In the Bronx, a complete crosstown facility now runs along 167th, 168th and 169th Streets. In Manhattan, a river to river connection has been forged on 90th, 91st and 92nd Streets, connecting Central Park to the East and West side Greenways. And in Queens, a path was created connecting the Brooklyn-Queens Greenway to existing paths on 73rd Avenue and Jewel Avenue, also part of a school safety and traffic calming project. We can’t wait till the mercury breaks 45°F and we can get out there and start installing again. We’ll post our spring installation schedule soon at http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/bicyclists/installsched.shtml.
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Host an Event for Bike Month NYC
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The DOT Bicycle Program has installed over 60 new lane miles of bicycle routes in 2007. Check out the list of lanes we’ve installed here and stay tuned for our schedule for 2008.
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Get your copy of the Departments of Transportation, City Planning and Parks' 2007 NYC Cycling Map while supplies last; however, if you can wait we hope to release the 2008 edition in less than two months. The map includes bike lanes, routes, greenways, parks, bike shops and subway stations in all five boroughs. And new for 2007, the map also shows bike rental locations. Download a copy front, back both in pdf) online, pick up one at a local bike shop or order one for FREE by calling 311.
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For information about street closures, sign up for weekly traffic advisories: http://www.nyc.gov/dotnews
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The DOT recently distributed over 10,000 official NYC bicycle helmets for free to New York City residents. The helmet distribution is part of GET FIT-TED, a new campaign to raise consumer awareness and promote safety and bicycling in all five boroughs. Sponsored by Target and designed by NYC & Company, the official NYC helmets offer riders safety and a unique urban style. You can schedule a time to get fitted for an NYC helmet at one of the DOT's Safety Cities by calling 311.
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Do you live or work somewhere that could benefit from secure bike parking? Request a CityRack, free sidewalk bicycle parking rack, from DOT. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/bicyclists/bikerack.shtml
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Potholes: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/motorist/pothole.shtml Street Construction Hazards: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/permits/hiqaform.shtml Missing or Broken Street Signs: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/signs/trafsign.shtml Report a faded or damaged bike lane: Call 311 Other Complaints and Compliments: http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/maildot.html or call 311
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Street Smart Cycling: Keep both hands ready to brake. You may not stop in time if you brake one-handed. Allow extra distance for stopping in the rain, since brakes are less efficient when wet.
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| Quick Tip: Help a friend start cycling this spring! Gain a cycling buddy and do your part for the environment by encouraging someone you know to start riding to work or to take short trips around town. The League of American Bicyclists has great tips for beginner cyclists. Share these tips with that would-be cyclist in your life and then take them out for a spin!
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