Bike lane on 1st ave., upper east side Manhattan

[vol]

The bike lane on 1st ave. on the upper east side starts at 72nd street. All the way it has a seam in the middle, about one third toward the left. It is annoying and can be dangerous. The bike lane is very narrow, and then you have to pay attention not to be riding on the seam. Wish the people who made the lane didn't mean to be making a joke at cyclists

[BridgeNotTunnel]

That bike lane is one of the worst bike lanes in the whole city IMO.

[richard4993]

What they really need to do is extend the protected path all the way to 125th Street. Usually the bike lane is blocked every block or two and the cars race by you and will have no issue running you off the road.

[sukram]

I like how the 1st Ave bike lane was extended up to 56th Street from further south. Just sharrows from 48th or so up to 56th. At 56th it ends, and you're in the far left lane. At 57th the 2 left lanes are left turn only. There is no extension to the bike lane at this point. They effectively direct bikes up the west side of the street in a bike lane (well, sharrows), then leave them to their own devices with 2 left turn lanes @ 57th, and at 59th the left turn to the Queensboro bridge outer roadway for cars - with construction under the bridge taking up the far left lane as well.

Any casual rider following the bike lane up 1st into that madness would wonder if the DOT was out to get them.

I take that route on my way to work - but frankly I'd rather block the select bus lane when traffic is really hairy. In fact, sometimes I block it out of spite for the idiot at the DOT who approved of truncating the bike lane at 56th. I see a few other bike commuters doing the same.

[Stacy]

I just rode the lower section today from Houston to the QBB and I'm fairly certain there's also two lanes of construction (that have probably been there since the Cold War ended) right under the bridge. The only advantage cyclists have is the left turn signal at E 57th Street that allows them to wiggle through turning traffic. I was lucky enough to have a traffic cop wave me through the confusion.

As for worst bike lane in the City my vote still goes for the Sixth Ave bike lane, AKA loading zone. It's barely 3 and a half feet wide, has no buffer, and it's often used by Baby Boomer Salmon hauling wares and pedestrian shoppers trying to hail a cab.

[BridgeNotTunnel]

I like how the 1st Ave bike lane was extended up to 56th Street from further south. Just sharrows from 48th or so up to 56th. At 56th it ends, and you're in the far left lane. At 57th the 2 left lanes are left turn only. There is no extension to the bike lane at this point. They effectively direct bikes up the west side of the street in a bike lane (well, sharrows), then leave them to their own devices with 2 left turn lanes @ 57th, and at 59th the left turn to the Queensboro bridge outer roadway for cars - with construction under the bridge taking up the far left lane as well.

Any casual rider following the bike lane up 1st into that madness would wonder if the DOT was out to get them.

I take that route on my way to work - but frankly I'd rather block the select bus lane when traffic is really hairy. In fact, sometimes I block it out of spite for the idiot at the DOT who approved of truncating the bike lane at 56th. I see a few other bike commuters doing the same.

from a red light i found myself doing a mad dash from 56th to 59th, basically in the middle of the road in such a way that everybody should see me. In most conditions I can reach the bridge along with the initial first cars in the traffic that follows behind me.

they recently reopened the path/sidewalk on the left side under the bridge which makes it so you dont have to try to ride between the construction and the lane with no shoulder.

[sukram]

from a red light i found myself doing a mad dash from 56th to 59th, basically in the middle of the road in such a way that everybody should see me. In most conditions I can reach the bridge along with the initial first cars in the traffic that follows behind me. [snip]

I find navigating the area easier during rush hour because the cars are backed up trying to get onto the bridge. The problem is when motor traffic is lighter and moving quickly and the traffic cops aren't around - it's a free-for-all. That's when traffic is hairy.

I'm positive the DOT is aware that the current design is brain-dead, they just lack the gumption to rectify it.

[vol]

Happened to ride on 1st ave. up to 116th st. today, and, indeed, all the way (from 72nd st.), the bike lane has that ugly bumpy seam in it. Maybe goes even further than 116 st. The road quality is bad, not recommended for delicate wheels.

[richard4993]

I can't wait for them to put the protected lane all the way up to 125th Street like they have been saying for a while.

[vol]

It's still dangerous riding on that kind of bike lane, though. If your wheels got right at the seam and a big truck is passing you... I tried to ride on the left border of the bike lane, sometimes even outside it, closer to the parked cars on the left.

[zacster]

And how about the 2nd Avenue lane between 34th and 42nd. It takes you right into the midtown tunnel traffic. This is a new lane too, just since last summer. Who was the genius that put that one in?

[Stacy]

I kinda like the Second Avenue bike lane.. it's the first time I felt relatively safe riding down Second Avenue in Midtown. However, trying to get past the Queenboro Bridge, or Midtown Tunnel is a nightmare. None of the cars are ever willing to yield.

[hotbike]

https://www.dot.ny.gov/modal/bike

https://www.dot.ny.gov/bicycle/maps?tab=map

Good News! NYDOT has unveiled a new interactive Bike Map, online.

Unfortunately, it only shows State Bike Lanes, and does NOT show any N.Y.C. Bike Lanes. And I am in Nassau, Long Island- there is a State Bike Route in Suffolk County, but Nassau Cyclists are left in the lurch. No Bike Lanes in Nassau.

https://www.dot.ny.gov/bicycle/maps?tab=map