New York City is experimenting with segregated bikes lanes. This is what happens when the city's transportation commissioner, Janette Sadik-Khan, is herself a cyclist.
The trial sees a seven-block lane running down Ninth Avenue: The carriageway is separated from the main road by a concrete divider and sits between the sidewalk and a row of parked cars, shielding cyclists from the NYC traffic. The section even has its own set of bike-sized traffic lights, although we expect these will be as widely ignored as all other traffic signals.
I have used these kinds of lanes in both Barcelona and in Berlin, and they make a huge difference to the comfort of cycling, and also benefit drivers. Cyclist no longer weave in and out of traffic, and cars cannot park or otherwise block the bike lane. Losing one lane of traffic on every road would also a pretty positive statement that New York is serious about reducing traffic and encouraging cycling.
Sadik-Khan is also overseeing new, covered bike racks and plans to extend the Ninth Avenue scheme to another lane on Eighth Avenue. This is great news. Compact, human-scale cities like New York are perfect for cyclists, and would be even better if you didn't have to risk your life every time you hit the pavement.
N.Y. Hopes to Ensure Smooth Pedaling for Bike Commuters [Washington Post via Bike Hugger]
Photo [Charlie Sorrel]
