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Mayor de Blasio Adds 12 More Miles of Open Streets and Nine Miles of New Temporary Protected Bike Lanes

May 13, 2020

Combined 21 New Miles Brings City Total to 30 Miles of Open Streets Since End of April

NEW YORK—Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today the City will open 12 more miles of streets and an additional nine new miles of temporary protected bike lanes to pedestrians and cyclists starting tomorrow, May 14th. The new Open Streets and bike lanes will bring New York City's total to 30 miles of streets since the program was announced on April 27th.

Nearly eight miles of the new open streets will be placed in neighborhoods in every borough and managed by local precincts; 1.35 miles, in three boroughs, will be managed by Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and community organizations; and another 2.83 miles will be adjacent to parks.

The nine new miles of bike corridors will be phased in over several weeks using barrels, signage, and other barriers, with a goal of creating critical connectors from already-established protected lanes.

"Now that warmer weather has arrived, New Yorkers will need more options to enjoy the outdoors at a safe, social distance," said Mayor de Blasio. "We're grateful to all our local partners, and we believe new bike lanes will lay the groundwork for a cycling surge in the months and years to come."

Local Partner Management

Partner Boro Street From To Mileage Notes

Sunnyside Shines

QN

46th Street

Queens Blvd

Greenpoint Ave

0.05

8a-8p Sat-Sun

Park Slope 5th Ave BID

BK

4th St

5th Ave

4th Ave

0.07

10a-6p all days

Flatbush Development Corporation

BK

Newkirk Ave

Coney Island Ave

E 17th St

0.34

3p-7p Tues and Thurs

Pine Box Rock Shop/Bushwick

BK

Grattan St

Morgan Ave

Bogart St

0.08

10a-8p Weds-Sun

Concrete Safaris/Harlem

MN

115th Street

Park Ave

3rd Ave

0.18

2pm-5:30 weekdays

Meatpacking BID

MN

13th Street

9th Ave

Washington St

0.13

8a-8p all days

Meatpacking BID

MN

17th St

10th Ave

8th Ave

0.33

8a-8p all days

Meatpacking BID

MN

Little W 12

9th Ave

Washington St

0.09

8a-8p all days

Hudson Yards/HK Alliance

MN

Hudson Blvd East

35th St

36th

0.04

8a-8p all days

Hudson Yards/HK Alliance

MN

Hudson Blvd West

35th St

36th

0.04

8a-8p all days

Total mileage

       

1.35

 

Local Precinct Management

Neighborhood Boro Street From To Mileage

Kingsbridge

BX

W 238th Street

Tibbett Ave

Irwin Ave

0.05

Mott Haven

BX

140th Street

Brook Ave

Willis Ave

0.02

Jackson Heights

QN

34th Ave

78th Street

Junction Blvd

0.89

Sunnyside

QN

Skillman Ave

39th Pl

43rd St

0.19

Sunnyside

Qn

39th Ave

Woodside Ave

Barnett Ave

0.43

LIC

QN

5th Street

46th Ave

49th Ave

0.28

LIC

QN

27th St

Hunter St

Queens Plaza S

0.16

Flushing

QN

Roosevelt Ave

155th St

Northern Blvd

0.09

Flushing

QN

Peck Ave

137th St

Main

0.10

Crown Heights

BK

Prospect Pl

New York Ave

Brooklyn Ave

0.14

Sunset Park

BK

6th Ave

44th St

51st St

0.34

Carroll Gardens

BK

1st Pl

Smith St

Henry St

0.30

Carroll Gardens

BK

2nd Pl

Smith St

Henry St

0.30

Carroll Gardens

BK

4th Pl

Smith St

Henry St

0.30

Williamsburg

BK

Berry St

N 12th

Broadway

0.90

Brooklyn Heights

BK

Joralemon Street

Hicks Street

Furman Street

0.14

Boerum Hill

BK

St. Marks Place

3rd Ave

4th Ave

0.13

Kensington

BK

East 7th St

Caton Ave

Ditmas Ave

0.78

Clinton Hill

BK

Hall St

Park Ave

Myrtle Ave

0.15

Fort Greene

BK

S Portland Ave

S Elliot St

Dekalb Ave

0.41

Upper West Side

MN

West End Ave

87th St

96th St

0.44

Upper West Side

MN

75th St

Broadway

Riverside Dr

0.20

Harlem

MN

114th St

Manhattan Ave

Frederick Douglass Blvd

0.08

Morris Park

BX

Rhinelander Ave

Williamsbridge Rd

Bronxdale Ave

0.50

Fordham Heights

BX

Creston Ave

Fordham Road

Kingsbridge Rd

0.31

Total mileage

     

7.63

Adjacent Park Roads

Park/Neighborhood Boro Street From To Mileage

Quarry Ballfields/Belmont

BX

Oak Tree Place

Hughes Ave

Quarry Pl

0.14

River Park/West Farms

BX

Boston Road

180th Street

Bronx Park S

0.10

Bronx Park S

Boston Road

Bryant Ave

0.05

St. Mary's Park/South Bronx

BX

Jackson Ave

143rd St

147th St

0.21

McCarren Park/Greenpoint

BK

Nassau

Banker St

Lorimer St

0.14

Maria Hernandez Park/Bushwick

BK

Suydam St

Knickerbocker Ave

Irving Ave

0.13

Cooper Park/E Williamsburg

BK

Sharon St

Morgan Ave

Olive St

0.16

Sternberg Park/Bushwick

BK

Leonard St

Montrose Ave

Boerum St

0.10

Korean War Veterans Plaza/Bk Heights

BK

Cadman Plaza East

Johnson St

Tillary St

0.07

Dome Playground/Kensington

BK

38th Street

Dahill Road

15th Ave

0.37

Cobble Hill Park/Cobble Hill

BK

Congress St

Clinton St

Henry St

0.10

Jackie Robinson Park/Hamilton Heights

MN

Edgecombe Ave

St. Nicholas Pl

145th St

0.51

Claremont Park/Claremont

BX

Clay Ave

173rd St

Claremont Parkway

0.25

North Shore Esplande Park/St. George

SI

Bank Street

Jersey St

Parking Garage Driveway

0.50

Total mileage

       

2.83

In April, the Mayor and Council Speaker Corey Johnson announced that 40 miles of streets citywide would be opened by the end of May to allow greater social distancing, with a plan to expand to a total of 100 miles in the weeks and months ahead.

Pedestrians and cyclists can use the roadbed of each open street. No through traffic is permitted, with remaining vehicle traffic limited to local deliveries, pick-ups/drop-offs, necessary city service, utility, and emergency vehicles only. Such drivers are alerted to be hyper-vigilant and to drive at 5 MPH along these routes. Open streets hours will be from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM but may vary slightly depending on staff availability.

The City will use barrels, signage, and other barriers to create temporary dedicated cycling space that builds on this March's addition of lanes on a section of Manhattan's 2nd Avenue and on Smith Street in Brooklyn. Crews will begin Thursday on lower Broadway in Manhattan from Barclay Street to Morris Street. The lanes announced today may be phased into permanent lanes as city resources come back online and as DOT gathers additional feedback from affected community boards and elected officials.

Other protected bike lanes, to be installed on a rolling basis over the next two weeks, include:

Boro Street From To Mileage
Queens Crescent St Queens Plaza N Hoyt Ave N .98
Manhattan Broadway Barclay St Morris St .50
Manhattan 38th Street/39th Street 1st Ave 11th Ave 3.9
Brooklyn 4th Ave 1st St Flatbush Ave 1.4
Brooklyn Ashland Pl/Navy St Hanson Pl Sands St 1.1
Brooklyn Flatbush Ave Grand Army Plaza Ocean Ave 1.3
Total mileage       9.18

"As we continue our efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19, we are also working to help New Yorkers travel more safely by bringing new temporary bike lanes and open streets to more neighborhoods, including the South Bronx, Upper Manhattan, Bushwick and Kensington," said NYC DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. "We thank the NYPD and all the BIDs and other community organizations that are stepping up to help us expand this important initiative. As we continue to announce more of these projects in the coming weeks, we especially want to hear from residents of neighborhoods around the five boroughs who want open streets but may not have formal community partners to help with implementation."
"New York City residents have adjusted their lives in order to protect their health and safety during COVID19. Open streets is a public health issue that is desperately needed now more than ever during COVID19. This measure will help residents in North Brooklyn get the exercise and mental health recharge they need while doing so at a social distance. I applaud Mayor de Blasio for taking swift action to implement open streets in my district which will go a long way to promote the health and welfare of North Brooklyn residents," said Assembly Member Joseph R. Lentol.

"The success of the open streets program is growing, not only as an opportunity for New Yorkers to safely and responsibly enjoy the warmer weather, but also as a lifeline for those who don't have the adequate space to social distance at home. With more people reimagining transportation and shared streets, I commend the City for introducing more protected bike lanes in Lower Manhattan. I look forward to this program growing and reaching even more communities in District 1," said Council Member Margaret Chin.

"As we look towards a thoughtful recovery, open streets and spaces to facilitate safe social distancing continue to be critically important. I thank the Mayor for dedicating open streets in the Northwest Bronx and commend community organizations and BIDs for their work to support this initiative. I look forward to the continued expansion of this program prioritizing our hardest-hit communities and focusing on equitable implementation throughout the City," said Council Member Andrew Cohen.

"These temporary open streets are a great opportunity to provide additional open space for pedestrians and bicyclists so they can maintain social distance while enjoying the outdoors," said Council Member Peter Koo.

"As the weather gets warmer and the weeks of social distancing stretch longer, more open space and more commuting options are critical to helping New Yorkers stay healthy. Already I've seen how thrilled children in our neighborhoods have been to have a little extra space to play, and commuters and recreational cyclists will be glad for additional routes with protection from nearby traffic. I'm grateful to the Administration and the DOT for working to get these programs running across our city, and hope to continue working with you to ensure equitable citywide implementation that creates more open space and safer transit options in all neighborhoods, especially those that have been hardest hit by the health and economic impacts of the pandemic," said Council Member Brad Lander.

"I am heartened to see the open streets project expanding throughout the city and here in the 33rd District. These open streets and bike lanes will provide much needed pedestrian space and travel options as the city moves into the summer months while continuing to stay at home. We must continue to expand this initiative with the help of our community partners. We are asking so much of New Yorkers. Safe spaces for travel and recreation are a necessary accommodation," said Council Member Stephen Levin.

"With warmer weather on the horizon, more of our New Yorkers will be bound for recreation in our parks and green spaces. Creating a temporary Open Street on Roosevelt Avenue between Northern Boulevard and 155th Street will enable residents to safely enjoy sunnier days while allowing for greater social distancing, a critical component to the City's COVID-19 response," said Council Member Paul A. Vallone.

"As the weather gets warmer and more people seek the outdoors, appropriate social distancing is literally a matter of life or death," said Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer. "Creating more open spaces and closing these streets for pedestrians enables a healthy environment for people to get exercise while also keeping their distance from others. I am pleased to see so many sites chosen in the district. I am also thrilled with the Mayor's announcement of a protected bike lane on Crescent Street, which I believe will save lives and go a long way towards making our environment more sustainable by creating more transportation options."

"We're pleased to see more progress toward the mayor's ambitious goal of 100 miles of open streets," said Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Danny Harris. "Repurposing street space once set aside for cars will make it possible for New Yorkers to make essential trips, abide by physical distancing guidelines, and travel safely by bicycle."

"It's fantastic to see New York's Open Streets program shift into high gear with today's announcement. Bike New York is especially excited about the new bike lane connections. Key links like Crescent Street to the Queensboro Bridge and connection of Brooklyn's 4th Avenue to Sands Street and the Manhattan Bridge will show the promise of a broad network of protected bike routes. Congratulations and thanks to Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner Trottenberg and their teams for rolling out such an extensive program so quickly," said Jon Orcutt, Bike New York advocacy director.

"We're very pleased to see the city's Open Streets effort expanding quickly, and we're hopeful that the pace will continue in the coming weeks. Giving New Yorkers space to breathe will be critical to the recovery effort. These newly announced bike lane segments will help expand and close gaps in the bike network that will be enormously important as the city gradually reopens, and as people begin commuting again. We'd urge that all of these temporary lanes be made permanent as soon as that's possible. Kudos to Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner Trottenberg and her team for putting this plan into action," said Eric McClure, Executive Director, StreetsPAC.

"We applaud the Mayor for increasing the number of open streets to thirty miles! We are just under one-third of the one hundred miles of open space the Mayor promised New Yorkers. We hope communities embrace the expanse and magic of streets prioritized for our children, seniors, families, and individuals. We look forward to working with city agencies, community organizations, and advocacy groups to bring streets prioritized for people to low-income neighborhoods, areas that are transportation deserts, and to areas where a neighborhood park is beyond a walkable distance. Everyone deserves an open public space outside their front door to stretch, stride, breathe, and perhaps even to ride!" said Angela Azzolino, Executive Director, Get Women Cycling.

"We are grateful to the mayor, DOT, Speaker Johnson and the NYPD for the continued expansion of the protected bike lane network, and open streets throughout the city. This is a proactive step not only to protect pedestrians, but also to prioritize healthy choices. When our kids inevitable remember this time, they will be able to remember this remarkable transformation which for many, will be their first trips out of their homes in more than 2 months. We look forward to supporting these measures as they grow and expand to meet the critical need for space in all neighborhoods. This epic expansion of public space will become engrained in the very fabric of the city our children inherit," said Cristina Furlong, Co-Founder, Make Queens Safer.

Organizations wishing to have other New York City streets considered for the Open Streets program should reach out to fill out an online survey. More information is available at nyc.gov/openstreets.

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