Citi Bike, Amsterdam Avenue Bike Lane on Tuesday CB 7 Agenda

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — On Tuesday the Transportation Committee of Community Board 7 and representatives from the Department of Transportation will meet to discuss the Citi Bike in the Upper West Side and the progress of the Amsterdam Avenue bike lane project, according to the committee agenda.

The Amsterdam Avenue bike lane project was first proposed in 2009, but wasn't approved by the community board until February of this year, Streetsblog reported.

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This spring the Department of Transportation began to implement the plan to install a northbound protected bike lane from 72nd Street to 110th Street on Amsterdam Avenue, according to a Department of Transportation presentation. The bike lane would be a compliment to the existing southbound protected bike lane on Columbus Avenue already exists.

Northbound car traffic on Amsterdam Avenue will be reduced from four lanes to three as a result of the plan.

Streetsblog reported in May that protected lanes have already been installed from 72nd to 96th streets. Once the lanes are installed from 72nd to 110th street, the DOT will gather feedback for its phase 2 of the plan — to install bike lanes below 72nd Street.

The plan also includes installation of pedestrian crossing islands and left turn bays on 79th, 86th and 96th streets. The goal of the plan is to make Amsterdam Avenue a safer street for pedestrians, cyclists and cars.

During the meeting both members of the board committee and the public will be able to provide criticism — constructive or not — on the implementation of the bike lane project.

The committee agenda did not provide information as to what the DOT representatives will discuss regarding Citi Bike. Last week DOT representatives presented a plan at Community Board 8 to install new Citi Bike stations in the Upper East Side. Many residents criticized the plan.

The meeting is open to the public and will be held at 7 p.m. at the Community Board 7 offices at 250 West 87th Street.

[Photos: NYC Department of Transportation]