First Renderings For 72nd Street Bike Lane Redesign Revealed

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — The New York City Department of Transportation has released its first renderings of a proposed redesign of 72nd Street that would add protected bike lanes and reconfigure the crosstown corridor from Riverside Drive to York Avenue.

Presented at Upper West Side's Community Board 7 transportation committee meeting on Tuesday night, the plan calls for protected bike lanes in both directions, a center turning lane and parking.

The renderings also include painted safety islands to shorten crossing distances and bus boarding islands at bus stops, where applicable.

The proposal would remove one travel lane in each direction to make space for the redesigned street layout, taking traffic from four lanes to two lanes.

"Creating a protected, two-way bike lane on 72nd Street will finally deliver a safe, seamless crosstown connection between the Hudson River Greenway, Central Park, and the East Side Greenway—filling a major gap in Manhattan’s cycling network," NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn said.

The design for the Upper East Side has not been finalized yet, but DOT said it plans to finalize and present the Upper East Side's portion of the redesign and present it to the community this fall.

DOT officials say the changes are intended to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians while maintaining traffic flow through one of Manhattan’s key east-west routes.

"Designs like this make our streets safer for everyone, whether you’re biking, walking, or driving," Flynn said.

"This proposal reflects our commitment to safer streets and meets the growing demand for cycling, making it easier for New Yorkers of all ages and abilities to get across Manhattan safely."

See the full public hearing, along with DOT's presentation, here.

For questions, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.