Wed. Mar. 1 -- 8th Ave. Bike Lane

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Anonymous's picture
Anonymous

"[From T.A.]

Help Win a Buffered Bike Lane on 8th Avenue!

On Wednesday, March 1st, the Department of Transportation will present their plan for an 8th Avenue bike lane at the Manhattan Community Board 5 Transportation Committee meeting. Come to the meeting to call for a new, buffered bike lane on 8th Avenue from 14th Street to Columbus Circle. Your voice will help win safer cycling!

Manhattan Community Board 5
Transportation Committee meeting
Wednesday, March 1, 6:00 PM

FIT, A Building, 8th fl., Rm. A802 227 West 27th Street

Community groups, elected officials, the general public and T.A. all want the DOT to stripe a buffered bike lane. On wide and heavily trafficked 8th Avenue, a buffered bike lane -- a five-foot bike lane separated from moving traffic by a two- to three-foot striped buffer zone -- will be far safer and encourage more people to ride than a standard five-foot lane.

A buffer zone is a stronger visual separation between bike lanes and moving car traffic than standard bike lane striping. It keeps drivers from encroaching into the bike lane and endangering cyclists by forcing them into the ""door"" zone. Opening car doors are the number one cause of bike crashes in New York City. A buffer zone also provides safe space for cyclists to ride around other common hazards like cars in the bike lane, potholes and debris.

The 8th Avenue bike lane would connect to Central Park and fill the gap between the popular Hudson Street bike lane to the south and the well-used Central Park West, Frederick Douglass and St. Nicholas bike lanes to the north. In Midtown, it would offer a much needed alternative to the sub-standard 6th Avenue lane. The new bike lane would also help tame traffic, make 8th Avenue safer for everyone and reduce sidewalk cycling.

If you can't make the meeting, email or call Community Board 5 to express your support for a buffered bike lane on 8th Avenue:

Manhattan Community Board 5 Phone: 212-465-0907

Fax: 212-465-1628 Email: [email protected]


"

Anonymous's picture
Carol Wood (not verified)
Update

"I just spoke with very pleasant district manager Gary Parker. He said that the CB supported the buffered bike lane and voted for it in 2003; this meeting is to discuss implementation, which will take place ""within the next few months.""

(maybe this has already been posted...?)

Anyways, Mr. Parker said that people should still attend the meeting. One unknown is whether the DOT will announce some obstacle or another--so your presence is still needed just in case.

If you can't attend (I have class), send an email to [email protected] and you will receive a copy of the plan.
"

Anonymous's picture
Carol Wood (not verified)
PLEASE WRITE THE DOT

[From Naomi of XUP/NYCBC/etc.]

Here's a little update on the CB 5 meeting. Please get the word out that this bike lane's only going to be a foot wider than the 6th Ave lane and without a buffer unless we all TAKE ACTION.

The car lanes are wider than on 6th Ave, which'll make the lane marginally less cramped, but still.... A sample letter is attached and some notes on the meeting are below.

It's gonna be letter writing weather tomorrow, so let's get to it! (Note that hard copies are most effective, but anything's better than nothing.)


=============
[notes]

Representatives from DOT presented very disappointing details about their proposed bike lane on 8th Avenue to the Transportation Committee of Community Board 5. DOT is currently planning an UNBUFFERED bike lane from 14th Street to 57th Streets. Between 39th and 42nd Streets and between 57th and 62nd Streets, there will NOT be a bike lane at all. Instead, in these places, there will be bike route signage.

Among the few attendees were a representative from Transportation Alternatives, myself (and I identified myself as being from the NYC Bicycle Coalition), along with a woman who'd been active on the CB 2 Transportation Committee and played a big role in getting the 2nd Avenue bike lane installed. We all spoke out in favor of a buffered lane and indicated that better solutions were needed at Columbus Circle and around the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Otherwise, the bike lane won't encourage cycling on the busy route to Central Park.

Members of the CB 5 Transportation Committee indicated that they will write a letter asking DOT to:

=include a buffer in the lane, that DOT
=look into changing signalization at Columbus Circle to allow bikes to move around the rotary safely
=make better accommodations around PABT

However, the letter from the Community Board could very well be ignored, unless a lot of people write to Manhattan Borough Commissioner Forgione, (with copies to Iris Weinshall and Dan Doctoroff).

It would also be helpful to contact Speaker Quinn, who represents much of CB5 and whose letter would get the attention of Borough Commissioner Forgione.

Margaret Forgione, Manhattan Borough Commissioner
Iris Weinshall, Commissioner
NYC Department of Transportation
40 Worth Street
New York, NY 10013
Fax: 212/442-7007

Deputy Mayor Daniel Doctoroff
City Hall
New York, NY 10007
Fax (212) 788-2460

Hon. Christine Quinn
City Hall New York 10007
Phone: (212) 788-7210
Fax: (212) 788-7207
[email protected]


---------------------------
[Sample letter]

Your name, etc.

Date

Margaret Forgione
Manhattan Borough Commissioner
NYC Department of Transportation
40 Worth Street
New York, NY 10013
Fax: (212) 442-7007

Re: Eighth Avenue Bike Lane

Dear Borough Commissioner Forgione:

I'm very pleased to hear the Department of Transportation (DOT) plans to install a bike lane on Eighth Avenue between 14th and 57th Streets.

I am writing to urge you to install a striped buffer along with the bike lane. The buffer will increase safety by providing space for cyclists to maneuver around double-parked vehicles, taxis, pot holes, refuse, and other obstacles. By increasing comfort, a buffered lane will encourage cycling, particularly for people new to urban cycling.

In addition, the visual separation a buffered lane will provide between vehicular traffic and the bike lane will slow traffic and help keep motorists from encroaching on the bike lane, improving safety for bike lane users.

I also urge you to continue the bike lane around the Port Authority Bus Terminal between 39th and 42nd Streets, the most congested section of Eight Avenue.

Finally, it is very important that cyclists be provided with a safe route from Eighth Avenue to Central Park, a maj

Anonymous's picture
Carol Wood (not verified)
Reminder

I didn't get around to doing this last week, so this is a reminder to myself and anyone else who cares to do it THIS WEEK!

Thanks,

Carol

cycling trips