We will pursue strategies to encourage the growth of cycling across the city
Cycling also offers an environmentally-friendly and space-efficient way to travel around the city. Other cities have embraced cycling as emission-free, low-cost travel mode that promotes a healthy lifestyle-and one that New Yorkers are increasingly embracing. Cycling in the city is estimated to have increased 75% from 2000 to 2006. But there is still plenty of room to grow; less than 1% of New Yorkers commute to work by bicycle. (See case study: Cycling Emerges Around U.S.)

We will complete the city's 1,800-mile bike master plan
In order to reduce traffic and reach our clean air and greenhouse gas reduction goals, New Yorkers should be given the option of reaching their jobs and major city destinations through cycling. That is why we will dramatically accelerate the implementation of the City's 1,800-mile bike lane master plan, to ensure that the entire system is in place before 2030. (See chart above: Bike Lane Construction)

The plan includes 504 miles of separated bike paths (Class 1 facilities) and 1,296 miles of striped bicycle lanes or markings reminding drivers and cyclists to share the road (Class 2 and 3). To date, only 420 miles have been constructed.

We will complete Phase 1 of the plan in 2009, which will add 200 lane miles in targeted areas across the city-with the first 40 finished by June 2007.

We will prioritize areas with high demand, building connections between existing portions of the network, and strengthening access to parks through special bike paths known as greenways. These greenways not only offer their own recreational benefits such as biking, skating, and walking throughout our city's park system; they can also open up new areas of parkland.

Phase 2 and beyond will complete the remaining bike lanes, resulting in 1,800 total lane miles of bicycle facilities in New York City.

Progress (as of 4/22/08):
In 2007, DOT designed and installed approximately 60 lane miles of bicycle lanes, significantly exceeding the PlaNYC annual installation target rate. In addition, innovative design was incorporated into projects, most notably the 9th Avenue protected bike lane. In 2008, 80 lane miles of new bicycle lanes are planned for installation, including expanded pilots of both the protected bicycle path design and green bicycle lane and intersection markings.

We will facilitate cycling
In addition to implementing the master plan, we must provide support for city cyclists and encourage New Yorkers to explore this form of transportation. That means improving public education on the benefits of cycling and on safety issues, increasing necessary bicycling infrastructure such as bike racks and lockers, and improving observation of traffic and bicycling laws.

Cyclists often point out that their main concern is having safe places to store their bikes. To solve this problem, the City's Department of Transportation (DOT) will continue the CITYRACKS program by installing 1,200 additional on-street bicycle racks throughout the City by 2009, and commit to that level of installation until every neighborhood has adequate bike parking. We will also pursue legislation to require that large commercial buildings make provision for bicycle storage either on site or reasonably nearby.

Progress (as of 4/22/08):
In 2007, DOT installed roughly 800 new bicycle parking racks, significantly exceeding the PlaNYC installation target rate. In 2008, DOT installed the first covered bicycle rack, and plans to install 400 additional bicycle parking racks. The Department of City Planning's (DCP) proposed Bicycle Parking Text Amendment, expected to begin public review (ULURP) in 2008, would require bike parking in new buildings.