Harlem's New 5th Ave Bike Lanes In Place, DOT Says

HARLEM, NY — A long-awaited bike lane connecting Marcus Garvey and Central Parks along Fifth Avenue is finally in place, the Department of Transportation said Monday.

Green paint and other markers have been laid down on the 10-block, two-way lane, the DOT said. Vertical delineators to block off the lane and protect it from vehicles will be installed next.

Implementation is ongoing on the 5th Ave two-way #BikeNYC lane between Central Park and Marcus Garvey Park in #Manhattan. Markings and signal infrastructure are complete, installation of vertical elements to follow. #Biketober pic.twitter.com/tIOVexMNwZ
— NYC DOT (@NYC_DOT) October 19, 2020

The city's plan to redesign that stretch of Fifth Avenue between 110th and 120th streets also included a number of other traffic changes including pedestrian islands, curb extensions and dedicated left turn lanes.

The DOT announced on Sept. 8 that it had begun work on the project, which has been planned since 2017.

That announcement was received coolly by members of Community Board 11's transportation committee, who questioned a DOT representative days later about why they hadn't been consulted before work began.

Members also suggested that city should have widened its sights beyond that 10-block stretch — already relatively safe for bikers — and looked to extend lanes all the way down Fifth Avenue.

"Real vision would be continuing this down to 59th Street," District Manager Angel Mescain said in the Sept. 9 meeting.

Still, the new lanes are likely to be cheered by bicyclists and bike advocates, who have celebrated the installation of a number of new bike lanes around the city since the pandemic began.

Past coverage from Patch:

• Harlem Community Board Knocks City's 5th Avenue Redesign
  
• Work Underway On Bike Lane Between Marcus Garvey, Central Parks
• City Proposes Bike Lane Connecting Harlem's Marcus Garvey Park With Central Park