Apartment Therapy Re-Nest | Look! New York Grand Street Bike Lane

Look! New York Grand Street Bike Lane

Anything look different about this to the bicycle riders (or drivers) out there?

We’d heard about bike lanes in Denmark like this, but were totally surprised when we spotted one here in New York yesterday.The bike lane is on the right, between parked cars and the sidewalk, so riders don’t have to worry about traffic coming from behind them, plus there’s less of a possibly of getting doored. Also, bicyclists don’t have to worry about double-parked cars hanging out in what’s supposed to be the bike lane.

We did a little research, and it seems like there’s some concern about trucks and tour buses having trouble making a turn, and a possible decrease in tour groups for business there.

We usually only ride our bike in Brooklyn and don’t commute into the city, but this path is set up near the bridges, making it easier and hopefully, safer for us to ride.

What do you think?

photos: jen derose

Comments (7)

I love the 4 SUV's parked in a row. Two extremes living side by side.

posted by Maffei on December 5th 2008 at 11:33am
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I use this bike lane daily. Placing the bike lane between the parked cars and the curb is a significant improvement. The cars manage right turns well. The biggest challenge is shoppers using the lane as an extension of the sidewalk.

posted by bklyn green on December 5th 2008 at 12:17pm
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I take this bike lane home to Brooklyn every day (that I bike) from the AT offices. It's fantastic. There've been many complaints from Little Italy merchants about it:

Gothamist on the Grand bike lane

posted by Scott T. on December 5th 2008 at 5:13pm
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These have been around for a while. There's a good stretch of bike lane on Broadway in the times square area... not that i've seen more than 2 bikers using it in the past 6 months, but still.

posted by mh330 on December 5th 2008 at 6:59pm
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Seattle has a few bike lanes painted through Downtown intersections now to remind drivers that there are bicycles around too.

posted by wesaturtle on December 5th 2008 at 11:05pm
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I really wish Richmond, VA would do this. I go to VCU, and commute in my car, so having to watch for pedestrians and bicyclists in difficult when there aren't specific lanes for all of us!

posted by unseeneclipse on December 6th 2008 at 10:22am
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I wish Chicago would do this, too. We have bike lanes, but cars drive and park in them, and I've almost been 'doored' more times than I can count :(

posted by fade on violet on December 8th 2008 at 7:53pm
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