Build safe infrastructure and people on bikes will come, according to New York City officials.
The number of people on bikes has never been higher in New York City, according to an announcement by the city’s department of transportation on April 24.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement that New York’s rising bike mode share is a sign of “true progress” for the city. Mayor Adams and other city officials are taking credit for helping spur the bike renaissance with ongoing investments in bike infrastructure improvements.
“The proof is in the data: more safe cycling infrastructure means more cyclists on our streets. As we’ve built more and more bike lanes, we’ve seen bicycle ridership reach historic levels,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez in an April 24 press release. “We will be installing a record number of high-quality, protected bike lanes this year to save lives and continue encouraging this growth. We're focusing on thoughtfully expanding our existing bike network with new lanes in underserved communities; new connections across bridges; and comprehensive neighborhood networks—all while developing innovative new bike boulevard designs that reduce vehicle volumes and prioritize cycling safety.”
More specifically, “NYC DOT is on track to install a record number of protected bike lanes in 2023, to harden more than 10 miles of existing bike lanes, and to use sturdier materials in new bike lanes,” according to the press release,” according to the press release.
The press release, linked below, includes the full schedule of bike infrastructure projects planned for this year.
While the exact figures on bike ridership are still unavailable, the press release promises to share the data on the NYC DOT website as soon it’s available. Rodriguez also penned an opinion piece for the New York Daily News touting the administration’s accomplishments in bike ridership and infrastructure that offers one teaser of data: “Last year, on our East River Bridges alone, we saw 24,000 daily trips on weekdays during peak riding season.”
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