Brooklyn gained 9.1 miles of protected bike lanes in 2020

Lanes span areas from Greenpoint to Bay Ridge

December 29, 2020 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

A protected bike lane leading into Shirley Chisholm State Park. Eagle photo by Noah Goldberg

Share this:

The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) has constructed a record 28.6 lane miles of new protected bike lanes across all five boroughs in 2020, with 9.1 of these miles in Brooklyn, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Tuesday.

Combined with another 35.2 miles of conventional bike lanes, 83 miles of car-free Open Streets, more than 10,800 Open Restaurants on city streets and sidewalk, and 16.3 miles of new bus lanes – another one-year record – New York City’s streetscape was transformed more dramatically during 2020 than in any year in modern history.

“Our city has reimagined our streets as we’ve fought back the COVID-19 crisis. That means more space for restaurants and businesses, faster options for bus riders, and more ways than ever to accommodate the cycling boom with new protected bike lanes,” said Mayor de Blasio. “Record numbers of bike lanes and bus lanes will change our urban landscape forever.”

Brooklyn’s new bike lanes include: Tillary Street Phase II; Franklin Street, N 14th Street to Quay Street; Quay Street, Franklin Street to West Street; North 14th Street from Franklin Street to Berry Street; 7th Avenue Southbound from Bay Ridge Parkway to 79th Street; Flatbush Avenue from Grand Army Plaza to Ocean Avenue; Smith Street from State Street to Fulton Street: 4th Avenue from 15th Street to 60th Street; and 4th Avenue from Flatbush Avenue to 1st Street.

These paths span many areas of the borough, from Boerum Hill to Sunset Park, and from Greenpoint to Williamsburg to Bay Ridge.

Today’s announcement brings the city’s total bike lane network to 1,375 lane miles, 545 of which are protected miles, including nearly 170 miles on street. DOT is also on track to meet the Green Wave Plan goal of installing over 80 miles of protected bike lanes by the end of 2021, and adding 75 miles of bicycle infrastructure in Bicycle Priority Districts by 2022.

The agency also completed over 70 Street Improvement Projects in all five boroughs, targeting locations with the greatest safety need for pedestrians and cyclists.

“In a trying year, we should be proud of making real progress towards our goal of making our city’s streetscape more livable, safe, and enjoyable for all New Yorkers,” said City Council Speaker Corey Johnson (D-Manhattan). “We recommitted to improving our bus and bike lane networks and we know we must build on that in 2021. Most importantly, Open Streets and Open Restaurants have changed the way we experience our city forever.”

“Transportation Alternatives is proud to lead the Open Streets Coalition, composed of over 150 partners, that helped launch the transformative Open Streets program in the middle of the pandemic,” said Danny Harris, executive director of Transportation Alternatives. “During this challenging year, we also appreciate the de Blasio administration’s commitment to expanding the protected bike lane and bus lane network.

“There is much more to be done to support the bike boom, expand busways and Open Streets, and end traffic violence, and we will continue to work with our partners at NYC DOT as they make much needed investments that keep our communities vibrant and make our streets safe,” he said.