CCNY By Bike: Bicycle Lane at 1 Ave, between 59 and 75 Street

I walked by the bicycle path on 1^st avenue, between 59^th and 75^th St, on November 4^th, just after Hurricane Sandy hit Northeast. The actual bicycle corridor starts at 60^th street but there is a sign at 1^st avenue and Greensboro Bridge that confuses people and it seems the path starts there. The first thing I noticed was a bicyclist going the wrong way on 60^th street towards 2^nd Ave. Also, I saw several cyclists going up on 1^st avenue, endangering their lives since there is no dedicated bicycle way on that section.

The bicycle passageway is highlighted in green and its purpose it’s clear. The path is just beside the sidewalk, then there is a zebra mark and at the right -next to traffic, there's car parking; this parallel parking acts as a barrier and protects the bicyclists from oncoming traffic. There are traffic signs at the intersections indicating there’s a bicycle road. Throughout the path there are not enough bicycle parking spaces and people chain their bikes everywhere, any place seems to be valid. I noticed the bicycle path is used by pedestrians, runners and cyclists. Cyclists, delivering guys and just regular riders go either way; this can be explained since 1^st avenue goes north and there is no bicycle path that goes south on the east side. I guess they don’t want to risk riding south on 2^nd ave where there is not devoted lane for bikes. Bicyclists don’t respect traffic rules and since there is no law enforcement and NYPD is nowhere to be found on that avenue, they can do whatever they want. The bicyclists even run red lights if there is not oncoming traffic, they seem not to be aware they need to respect the law and embrace the same rules as car drivers do. I noticed two delivery guys in the way of oncoming traffic and they were using the space to chat disregarding any potential harm to them or other people.

At 1^st Avenue and 72^nd St the bicycle path switches a few feet to the right, it’s not highlighted anymore and the traffic markings are faded. The path situates itself just beside the ongoing traffic, the parallel car parking switches just next to the sidewalk, which means when a car needs to park has to temporarily occupy the bicycle path. Taxicabs, delivery trucks, airport shuttles and others stop or park on the bicycle lane and cyclists need to pass them to the right endangering their lives with the oncoming traffic. There is also a bicycle traffic signal at 1^st avenue and 72^nd St but it is not clear and goes unnoticed; bicyclists don’t notice it and cross the street without waiting for their turn; that traffic signal is wasted.

The Upper East Side has the higher bicycle accidents rate in New York City; I can imagine during a regular weekday the path lane on 1^st Ave must be more unsafe and disorderly than ever. The intersection of 1^st Ave and 68^th St is the most dangerous since that’s the corner of Cornell-Columbia Presbyterian Hospital and it gets really crowded and convoluted during weekdays. On the other hand, at other less crowded and friendlier bicyclist cities there are enough parking spaces (like Chicago, IL) and bicyclists seem to respect traffic laws (see the pictures); I have experienced that first hand, there is more peaceful relationship among pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicles.