Cyclists to be Diverted From Portion of Riverside Park Greenway: Community Board

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — A measure proposed by the Parks Department in order to reduce conflict between pedestrians and cyclists on the Riverside Park Esplanade cleared a preliminary hurdle Monday.

Members of the Community Board 7 parks and environment committee voted to send a resolution to the full board approving a special bike path design to diver cyclists from the Esplanade from West 72nd to West 83rd streets, Streetsblog reported.

Four members of the committee voted in favor of the detour and one voted against it, according to the report.

The detour was originally proposed by the Parks Department in the Riverside Park Master Plan. The master plan identified park circulation, specifically conflicts between cyclists and pedestrians, as a major challenge facing the park.

"Bicycle and pedestrian conflict occurs frequently, especially on the waterfront esplanade," reads an excerpt from the plan. "It is important to create a dedicated route for bikes whenever feasible."

The proposed detour has some cyclists worried due to the steep slope near the 79th Street Rotunda and falling branches from the wooded bike path, according to the Streestblog report. In order to alleviate some concerns the Parks Department will install LED lights along the path and, and trim some surrounding trees, according to the report.

The full Community Board will vote on the resolution when it meets on Nov. 1.

>>> Read the full Streetsblog report here.

Photo: Courtesy of New York City Department of Parks and Recreation