Press Releases

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 5, 2025
Contact: (212) 839-4850, press@dot.nyc.gov

NYC DOT Celebrates Safer Street Designs, Wider Bike Lanes Across Manhattan Avenues

Work Culminates With a Ribbon Cutting on Sixth Avenue in Tribeca and Greenwich Village

In Addition to Safety Improvements, New, Wider Bike Lanes Along Five Manhattan Avenues Support the Historic Growth in Cycling and Safe, Legal E-Mobility Options

A new, wider-bike lane segment installed in 2024 along Manhattan's Sixth Avenue. Credit: NYC DOT

NEW YORK – New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez joined officials in Greenwich Village to cut the ribbon on Manhattan's recently completed redesign along the Avenue of the Americas. The project is one of several across Manhattan avenues to improve street safety and provide wider protected bike lanes to accommodate the record growth in cycling across the city. In addition to Sixth Avenue, NYC DOT has also completed projects on First, Second, Seventh, and Tenth Avenues.

In addition to the projects, safety benefits, new wider bike lanes, part of the Adams administration's Charge Safe, Ride Safe action plan, better accommodate cyclists and stand-up scooter riders traveling at different speeds, while also creating a more comfortable riding experience for people of all abilities. The designs also include intersection redesigns to enhance safety for pedestrians and travelers inside vehicles by shortening the distance it takes pedestrians to cross the street, improving visibility, and naturally slowing turning vehicles to safer speeds.

"With these new street designs, on Sixth Avenue and across Manhattan, we are making our streets safer for everyone – whether you're riding a bike, walking, or in a car. The wider bike lanes that are part of these projects will help support the historic growth in cycling that we have seen across the city," said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. "Improving our street designs are a key part of Mayor Adams' Charge Safe, Ride Safe plan to better accommodate the rapid growth in e-mobility while encouraging safe and orderly riding."

In 2024, a record high 28,000 cyclists entered Manhattan each day over the city's East River bridges. The new bike lanes vary in width, from six to 10 feet, depending on the location. Each project was included in administration's Connecting to the Core to make it easier to travel around Manhattan's Central Business District without a vehicle.

A new, wider-bike lane segment installed in 2024 along Manhattan's Seventh Avenue. Credit: NYC DOT

Protected bike lanes improve safety for everyone on the street. Protected bike lanes reduce total deaths and serious injuries by 18.1 percent, and pedestrian deaths and serious injuries by 29.1 percent. The safety benefits for senior-aged pedestrians are even greater, with a reduction in senior pedestrian injuries and deaths by 39 percent. Bike lanes deliver these universal safety improvements because they reduce the time it takes pedestrians to cross vehicle traffic, help curb illegal speeding, and naturally slow turns through intersection designs that also create safer angles for turning vehicles.

The new and improved Manhattan lanes include:

First Avenue, where NYC DOT completed a new ‘express' protected bike lane through the avenue's tunnel between East 40th Street to East 49th Street. Protected by jersey barriers, the new lanes make permanent changes the agency had instituted temporarily during the annual September United Nations General Assembly, when access to First Avenue above-ground is very limited. The agency also widened the existing lane from East 61st to 72nd streets on the Upper East Side, with upgraded intersection design to better protect cyclists from turning drivers.
Second Avenue, where bike lanes were widened between East 59th and 30th streets and from 14th Street to Houston Street. Work will continue on the corridor this year. The agency also upgraded bus lanes the entire length from East 59th to Houston streets. The redesign included new pedestrian islands and a widened concrete sidewalk between East 33rd and 30th streets. Work will continue on this corridor next year.
Sixth Avenue: In late 2024, NYC DOT closed the last remaining gap in the Sixth Avenue protected bike lane with a new wider lane (eight to 10 feet) from Lispenard Street in Tribeca to West 13th Street in the Village. The project brings much-needed safety benefits for everyone along one of the most dangerous corridors in Manhattan. There were 18 traffic deaths and serious injuries recorded between 2019 and 2023, this section of Sixth Avenue is one of NYC DOT's Vision Zero Priority Corridors for safety improvements. NYC DOT is planning to widen existing portions of Sixth Avenue in 2025.
Seventh Avenue: NYC DOT filled one of the last remaining gaps in the Seventh Avenue protected bike lane with a new, wide lane installed between West 42nd Street and 34th streets.
Tenth Avenue: Last year, DOT lengthened the Amsterdam Avenue protected lane on the Upper West Side south along 10th Avenue to West 38th Street in Hell's Kitchen. In 2024, NYC DOT returned to further extend the protected lane southward to West 14th Street. The eight-foot-wide lane now creates a continuous, protected bike route from Chelsea to Morningside Heights, an in 2024 received 11 pedestrian islands and one median extension.

"Expanding the protected bike lane program is essential to achieving our goal of a Vision Zero future," said U.S. Representative Jerrold Nadler. "Protected bike lanes make our streets safer by encouraging New Yorkers to get out of their cars and choose carbon-free modes of transit. I'm proud to support to have supported protected bike lines all over my district in Manhattan. This initiative will greatly benefit my constituents from the East to the West Side in our fight for safer streets."

"Protecting and increasing the quality of life for all New Yorkers is integral to the work we do, and I'm so thankful to the NYC Department of Transportation, and Commissioner Rodriguez, for their leadership in doing just that by ensuring protected access to bike lanes across our city," said State Senator Kristen Gonzalez. "Protected bike lanes are a win for riders, pedestrians, and drivers, and these recent projects will cultivate a safer street experience for all."

"I thank Commissioner Rodriguez and the Department of Transportation for their efforts to enhance bike lane protections throughout the city, and I am especially glad to see the improvements made on Sixth Avenue and Second Avenue in my district," said State Senator Brian Kavanagh. "These improvements not only promote a healthier and more sustainable mode of transportation but also significantly enhance safety for cyclists, pedestrians, and all road users. As we continue to invest in our city's infrastructure, it is vital that we create accessible and safe pathways for everyone to share."

"Biking is one of my favorite ways to get around the city," said Assemblymember Harvey Epstein. "That's why I'm happy that the Department of Transportation is announcing an expansion of protected bike lanes. These will make riding bikes safer and get us closer to our Vision Zero goals."

"Today is a huge milestone for cyclist safety along Sixth Avenue. Wide, protected bike lanes and connected bike corridors keep everyone from pedestrians to delivery workers to recreational cyclists safer," said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. "Thank you to NYC DOT for prioritizing closing the gap along this corridor, and I look forward to working with the community and DOT on additional efforts to make our streets safer."

"Today marks a significant step toward making our streets safer and more accessible for everyone," said Councilmember Erik Bottcher. "By completing the Sixth Avenue bike lane, we are not only improving the safety of cyclists but also enhancing the overall experience for pedestrians and drivers alike. This project is part of our broader vision to create a more sustainable, equitable, and safer city for all New Yorkers. With safer streets and better infrastructure, we're making it easier to get around Manhattan while helping reduce injuries and fatalities for everyone."

"The redesign of Sixth Avenue is a major step forward in making our streets safer for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike," said Councilmember Christopher Marte. "This corridor has long been one of the most dangerous in Manhattan, and by closing the final gap in the protected bike lane, we are creating a more connected, accessible, and livable city. I'm proud to see these long-overdue improvements come to fruition and will continue pushing for even more investments in pedestrian and cyclist safety."

"Bike lanes are critical infrastructure that keep everyone safer on our streets," said Councilmember Keith Powers. "With more miles of bike lanes available, New Yorkers feel more comfortable taking bikes where they need to go, instead of driving. That choice is not only better for our environment, but also reduces congestion on the roads and decreases the likelihood of crashes. I am glad to see the bike lane map expanding in Manhattan!"

"Expanding New York City's bike lane network is a critical step toward creating safer streets and a better quality of life for all New Yorkers," said Councilmember Carlina Rivera. "With more people cycling than ever before, protected lanes are not just infrastructure upgrades, they are life-saving investments. By redesigning our streets with safety at the forefront, we are ensuring that cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers alike can navigate our city more safely and efficiently."

"The completion of the Avenue of the Americas street redesign, along with the expansion of wider protected bike lanes across Manhattan, marks a significant step toward making our streets safer and more accessible for everyone—whether they're riding a bike, a stand-up scooter, or a variety of micromobility vehicles," said Bike New York CEO Ken Podziba. "These upgraded lanes provide the necessary space to accommodate the growing number of riders traveling at different speeds, reducing conflicts and creating a more predictable, comfortable experience for all. Additionally, the redesigned intersections will enhance safety for both pedestrians and motorists by shortening crossing distances, improving visibility, and slowing vehicle turning speeds. We commend NYC DOT and Commissioner Rodriguez for prioritizing these critical improvements, ensuring that all New Yorkers—regardless of their mode of transportation—can navigate the city safely and efficiently."

"Connecting Lower Manhattan to the Village with a northbound bike lane on Sixth Avenue adds an important link and closes a key gap between our two communities," said Community Board 1 (Manhattan) Chair Tammy Meltzer. "This lane enhances the greater transit network, improves quality of life for cyclists, and provides greater safety for everyone traveling along the corridor. In 2013, Community Board 1 supported the Church Avenue bike lane because we recognized then the importance of building up a network of safe, sustainable transportation options. We are proud to support this important transit milestone that helps create more connected and accessible communities."

"Community Board 2 welcomes the completion in our district of the Sixth Avenue parking-protected bike lane," said Community Board 2 (Manhattan) Chair Susan Kent and Traffic & Transportation Committee Chair Shirley Secunda. "As the Board noted in our April 19, 2024 resolution in support: '[parking protected bike lanes] have proven to make a street safer for cyclists and pedestrians by narrowing the roadbed, calming traffic, and creating shorter crossing distances.'"

"This new protected bike lane is an important addition to the infrastructure of our neighborhood and makes it safer for everyone here," said Hudson Square Business Improvement District CEO Samara Karasyk. "The workers and residents who call Hudson Square home have been navigating some of the worst congestion in New York City for years; our work with DOT to redesign Hudson Street - along with a protected bike lane - is proof that making investments like the Sixth Avenue bike lane can transform our neighborhoods into thriving, people-friendly spaces that simply work better for residents, workers, and businesses. This new connection also makes it easier for cyclists to travel between Hudson Square, Tribeca, and the West Village, further integrating our neighborhood into the city's growing bike network."

"The Sixth Avenue protected bike lane is just one example of the newer, wider, more robust cycle tracks that NYC DOT has implemented recently in Manhattan, making streets safer and upgrading the riding experience for everyone using micro-mobility devices," said StreetsPAC Executive Director Eric McClure. "Giving people riding at different speeds more room to pass, or for people traveling together to ride abreast, is a significant improvement, and helps accommodate the city's continuing boom in cycling and scootering. We're grateful to NYC DOT for prioritizing these new lane treatments, and look forward to 10-foot lanes becoming the standard across the city."

"We're excited to see DOT complete the redesign of Manhattan's Sixth Avenue, as well as critical improvements on First, Second, Seventh, and Tenth Avenues. These changes will make it both safer and more pleasant to travel throughout Manhattan," said Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Ben Furnas. "New Yorkers deserve a network of high-quality protected bike lanes, where people of all ages and abilities feel comfortable hopping on a bike to get around, and these projects move us closer to that goal. We hope these newly-improved avenues can also inspire even more visionary streetscape projects throughout New York City."

"We commend NYC DOT for completing this critical link in the Sixth Avenue protected bike lane," said Village Alliance Executive Director Scott Hobbs. "By providing a wider, dedicated space for cyclists, this project enhances safety for all street users—reducing conflicts between pedestrians and cyclists while calming traffic along one of Manhattan's busiest corridors. Investments like these make our streets more accessible, predictable, and secure, supporting a more sustainable and connected city."

"Congratulations to the NYC Department of Transportation on this milestone in delivering safer streets to New Yorkers -- including the city's 65,000 deliveristas, who rely on micromobility and protected bike lanes to perform their essential service," said Worker's Justice Project Executive Director Ligia Guallpa. "As our city embraces a revolution in transportation alternatives, WJP applauds the leadership of Commissioner Rodriguez in ensuring that our streets are adapted to meet the evolving needs and safety priorities of New York's workers and residents."

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