Last night, Community Board 7 passed a resolution for Class 1 protected bike lanes on Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues by a vote of 28 to 7. The resolution stated that the CB asks the DOT to study the area to better understand how protected bike lanes will impact business, parking, traffic, and safety and to report back with a plan to build such lanes.
For those of you who know that I am a big cycling advocate, this represents a huge victory in creating a safer, more livable city for everyone as well as reducing the impact on the environment.I attended the CB7 meeting last week when when the DOT presented an overview of the various Class bike lanes (or “facilities” as they ridiculously call them) (the photos are from that meeting). Advocates for cycling and safer streets turned out en masse wearing green stickers of support, to testify before Community Board 7 about the need for protected bike lanes on New York’s Upper West Side. Inspired testimony by the audience helped the board to see the need and benefits of the protected bike lanes.
Haies Lord of the New York City Department of Transportation gives a presentation showing the various classifications of bike lanes in New York City and features of each and takes questions from the board about balancing the needs of businesses and car parking as part of the street use.
The DOT also answered questions about the idea of repurposing existing parking meter posts to be used for bike parking. Since the meters are being replaced with MUNI meters, this is the perfect solution for creating very needed bike parking. Let’s hope that the board acts wisely in addressing this issue as well.
