Photo by Shinya Suzuki.
A Community Board committee reviewed the 39 CitiBike stations that the Department of Transportation proposed for the Upper West Side and has found about 10 that may have to be moved. The committee also is calling on the city to come up with plans to add a Northbound protected bike lane to the neighborhood to accommodate the influx of bicyclists. The neighborhood’s only protected lane, on Columbus Avenue, goes south.
Among the stations that Upper West Siders have expressed concerns about are:
- One at 81st street and Columbus Avenue that could be in direct conflict with bus lines.
- One on Riverside between 78th and 79th streets.
- One near the entrance to Central Park around 71st street.
- One on 100th between Columbus and Amsterdam.
We posted the full list of potential stations here. The Community Board plans to release a list of the stations that may need to be moved in the next few days and we’ll post it when they do. “These things are not permanent installations they can be moved. It is possible to make a change,” noted CB7 Transportation Committee Co-chair Andrew Albert.
Albert also said that the Community Board needs to the police precincts to increase enforcement of traffic laws. “We can;t have chaos.”
Board members also debated adding another protected bike lane so that people who ride CitiBikes have a safe place to ride and aren’t tempted to ride the wrong way on the Columbus lane, which has become common.
“There’s no safe northbound route” for cyclists, noted board member Ken Coughlin.
Coughlin wants a protected bike lane and other improvements on Amsterdam Avenue — the community board asked the DOT to study that idea in December 2013, but they haven’t heard back. So the board issued a resolution asking the city for a faster answer on whether it makes to add a lane there.
A DOT spokesperson said that the agency had been busy making many other changes to UWS streets, including a complete redesign of West End Avenue and major changes around 96th street and Broadway. DOT did not answer a question about whether they think they can install a protected lane before the CitiBikes arrive, which could happen as soon as August.
Why do we still have 2 (yes, 2!!!) bike locations on West 84th Street?
The proposed location just off of Columbus is already dangerous for pedestrians–between kids from the 3+ schools within a 1 block radius of 84th and Columbus on razor scooters and delivery bikes riding illegally–the sidewalks are already crowded.
Crossing the avenue on this corner unharmed is not easy as bikers ride up and down the avenue and on the sidewalks, too. Imagine 80 more of them added to that block!
Adding bike racks will make on-street parking even more of a nightmare as too many angry drivers chase too few spaces.
Furthermore, thanks to the bike lane on Columbus, the trucks that service the Columbus Ave restaurants now have to park on 84th St to make their deliveries.
Why not put the bikes slated for this block on a block without so many schools? (kids arent going to whip out their charge cards to ride these citi bikes to school,so why place them near these schools?)
These are an amenity! The public wants them. Many people on 84th street and all throughout the UWS are going to use them.
Bikes aren’t a danger to schools! This reasoning is absurd.
As a former resident of 84th between Columbus and CPW, I find this complaint to be utterly without merit. I lived for 8 years on that block and it is one of the quietest on the UWS. I am intensely jealous that a Citibike station is slated to be essentially right out my old front door.
I’m with you, Dave. 84th street is a ridiculous place for citibikes. Good to know I’m not the only one who wants them gone so hopefully the cb will take notice.
No one uses the current bike lanes. I don’t understand why people keep asking for something that no one uses. There are way more bikes outside the lanes than in them. Plus, people ride uptown on CPW, but really the best and safest place to ride a bike any distance north or south is long continuous bike lane that runs along the hudson from the Battery to the GWB. The ones on the busy streets are disruptive to pedestrians, prevent taxis from picking up passengers on that side of the street, and complicate intersections, particularly since the few cyclists who use them ignore red lights and crosswalks. Enough with the bike lanes.
I agree with Steven, no one uses the lanes and if you tell someone to use it they flip you off. What’s the point? Please do not ruin another street. How about paving Amsterdam first. Along with the intersection of 71st and Broadway, the exit ramp from 95th at the West Side Highway and ALL OF TENTH AVE!!!
Soul Man,
I use the bike lanes on a daily basis and like me, many others. Unfortunately the bike lanes are sometimes used as de facto parking lanes or garbage is piled high on them or there is construction or for whatever reason they are obstructed. In those cases riders choose to go on a regular travel lane. Which by the way is NOT illegal as per NYC DOT Title 34 Chapter 4 Traffic Rules. Bicyclists can also ride on either side of a one way street.
Bicyclists also ride in either direction on one way streets.
And, as one who crosses Columbus Avenue in the low 80’s very frequently I have observed that bicycle traffic in the Columbus Avenue bike lanes is very sparse even in spring and summer. Rare as hen’s teeth in winter. And about 20% in the wrong direction.
the reason for 20% in the wrong direction on Columbus Ave is that that is the only good bike lane on the UWS. There is a bike lane on CPW but it is treacherous having to maneuver around cars entering and leaving parking spots, keeping a wary eye for these thing happening, the buses stopping to pick up or drop off passengers forcing to either stop or to make risky moves into traffic. Once Citibike gets to the UWS, the amount of riders on Columbis Ave will increase greatly and the need for an uptown lane will be critical
Disagree. Many people ride up here, and would use bike lanes on Amst. or better yet, Broadway or WEA. Col. Ave is not convenient if you live on Bway WEA or Riverside. Not worth it to ride east 3 blocks to join up with it… because it ends at 68th St. what’s needed are continuous lengthy bike lanes.
Steven,
Your thoughts are just that, thoughts. The bike lanes are used plenty and once CitiBike reaches the UWS they will be used even more. The protected bike lane on Columbus in fact presents a lot of benefits to the none riding public. For one it shortens the crossing distance for pedestrians making it safer for older folks that may struggle to make it across four lanes of traffic. Second, it provides for calmer traffic w/o substantially increasing trip times. Third, calmer traffic makes for quieter streets which benefit local residents. Fourth, allows for safer passage to bicyclists that may not or are too scared to brave cars on trucks on crowded streets.
Drivers ignore lights too, and speed, and go around buses with deployed stop signs. By your logic…enough with the streets.
BTW, bike lanes do not interfere with taxis picking up passengers any more than cars parked on the street already do.
This. To the extent that bike lanes are lightly used, it’s probably because UWSers/Manhattanites do not have room for bikes in their shoebox abodes and cannot leave them outside lest they be stolen, hence the value of a service like Citi Bike.
As someone just said on Gothamist:
“When was the last time any of these people went below 59th St? I’m sure if they did, they’d find that Citi Bike has leveled most of Midtown, hollowed out the Village, and killed thousands of people in the Financial District. I would recommend these Upper West Siders continue doing what they’ve always done and never leave their apartments except to move their cars for alternate side parking.”
Ouch. They forgot to mention we also ocassionally go outside to buy giant bags of oranges at Fairway.
Bicycles instead of cars is a wonderful idea. However, I am extremely concerned about the cyclists who completely ignore traffic laws and who barrel down streets through red lights, across crosswalks, even with pedestrians like myself in them. They often go the wrong way on one-way streets, with no horns, bells, or lights, which can be such a menace, especially at night. In a collision, I’d be the one to end up in the hospital, or worse. Anyone have any suggestions?
I totally agree with you Cyclists have become an increasing menace as you outlined above.
Hi Babs,
Your fears are unfounded. NYC has a problem with traffic violence where drivers are the main offenders. It’s drivers that are a menace to pedestrians and other road users, not bicyclists. Drivers have become the number killer of children in the city (for deaths not linked to illness). Your perception is skewed and unrepresented by facts.
Zulu – you are quite prolific and activist about this topic on the WSR site!
Perhaps instead of telling everyone who is concerned about rogue cycling that they’re wrong, you might listen more closely to those of us who have been hit by cyclists, are concerned by the general lawlessness in NY bike culture, and try to understand our POV. I don’t think we can make any progress if you’re not willing to try to see this from the perspective of those who are either scared or frustrated with the cycling situation on the UWS.
Some people are afraid of the dark, as well. Doesn’t mean their fears are rational and should be treated as such.
Jeremy,
You say that I’m a prolific activist like it’s a bad thing.
The point I and others here are trying to make is that random and anecdotal evidence does not make a perceived issue a legitimate issue. I don’t deny the existence of scoff law cyclists. They’re out there and I cringe every time I see them, but nothing is perfect. I see cars go around school busses on CPW with the stop sign deployed. It happens EVERY DAY of the week and not a single time have I witnessed anybody get a ticket. But I don’t see people complaining about this behavior, not even those claiming to be concerned for the school kids near CitiBike stations. You tell me what’s worse? A slow citibike traveling near a school or a car ignoring a school bus loading or unloading school children?
For a reason that I fail to see, cyclists have been made out to be this “culture” of law breaking anarchists. The REALITY and the DATA does not support these claims. Needless to say (but people keep forgetting) drivers kill more New Yorkers than any other mode of transportation. Even more people get injured on the subway than people get injured by cyclists. Again, the data tells a much different story than what the critics of citibike claim.
Yes, I understand your POV, and I admit that getting clipped/hit/scratched/pushed/shoved or whatever by a bicyclist is terrible and when something like that ever happens all involved parties should be responsible for their actions. With that said we have to keep things in perspective. New Yorkers whether they walk, bike or drive are at one point or another breaking a DOT rule and we all have to admit that.
Going forward, I believe that once bicycling becomes a more main stream form of transportation it will normalize itself. Right now we have a mixed bag of different purposes. Those who ride for fitness, those who ride for recreation, those who ride for transportation, and those for whom riding is a job. Once transportation riding becomes more prevalent the perception will change and the stigma will slowly disappear. CitiBike is going to provide that for NYC.
Andrea,
I’m glad you asked for suggestions. Yes, I have a few. More infrastructure, in other words more bike lanes (the Class 1 protected type). By providing more bike lanes people that would normally not ride because of concerns with mixing it up with vehicular traffic will start riding. The more cyclists you have on the street the more mainstream and normal it becomes and the rules will be followed more closely.
There are without a doubt some inconsiderate cyclists out there, but they’re a minority. More importantly, Citi Bikes are not exactly designed for speed – I’ve never seen someone tearing about recklessly on one, which none of us can say for delivery guys or riders in spandex.
Editorial comment: There is a northbound bike lane on CPW.
Agree that most bicyclists bike outside the lanes.One reason is the number of double-parked cars/trucks/taxis that constantly block the lanes.
It’s hard to tell if the bike lane on Central Park West goes north or south, as bikers go both ways. The CPW lane is also not protected. When a protected northbound lane is added (presumably on Amsterdam) then the CPW lane could be elimimated. Or, CPW could be made one-way, northbound, and the bike lane could be reconstructed to be safe while preserving parking on both sides of the street.
Funny, no one has a problem when it comes to lining every single street with motor vehicles that frequently kill or maim children, seniors and other living things, and that are an unsightly presence in front of our beautiful brownstones and parks. In fact, some of the objectors to bike share locations, likely including the one at 81st and Columbus, are simply NIMPS – Not In My Parking Space.
Once again a very vocal minority will be subjecting the majority to more intrusions that will hurt business, tourism and tax revenue. And they do it under cover of concern for children and the “environment”.
Madness….pure madness.
If the public really wanted these ridiculous bicycles and the imposing bike racks, a private entrepreneur would have done it by now. But no…..they know what we need.
Actually, a private entrepreneur IS investing in this. Related and Equinox have a jv. The incredibly popular Citibike program doesn’t have city subsidies.
You could have found this info in about 10 seconds online. Get your facts straight, please.
Actually its a private LLC., which is not required to make all its documents public. But by far the largest amount of its $$$ come from government grants. This gov grant program that gave them the $$ to even exist ended last year and has not been renewed. The LLC thought that would be the case and that they would not be able to make a go it, just like the previous owners of CitiBike. That’s why the new owners built into the deal a “walk away” clause that they have the option to exercise at six month intervals.
Plus there workers are going to now be unionized which will greatly increase their costs. Something they did not count on when they started, their financials that were submitted to the bankruptcy judge and/or city break the employee pay out at aprox 8.50 an hour. If de Balzio’s $15 min goes through the employee costs will be 100% more than they budgeted for in the business plan/model.
Since almost no one uses the CitiBike system in the winter watch for a quite press release in the late fall saying the investor are taking a powder and dissolving the LLC.
Source?
You’re making this up. For what reason, I don’t know.
Agreed – Robert, can you provide the source for your government grant line?
For the seasonality, by my rough calc 85% of the membership revenue is from annual members. There’s seasonality to the incoming money from weekly and daily passes THAT TOURISTS BUY (ahem Off Duty) and to the sales tax that is collected on the purchases – but it’s not going to break them, come wintertime.
And it’s really amazing how popular the program is. I looked at daily ridership from January 1, 2014 to present. The lowest single day for trips was on February 13, 2014 – when the city got 10 inches of snow, and there were 978 trips. Even on some of the single-digit temperature days this winter, like Feb 15, there were 2837 Citibike rides.
At the busiest end, the most trips in a single day was on May 14 this year: 44,429. I smoothed out with trailing 7-day and 30-day counts: the lowest weekly average for rides per day is 4503. The lowest 30-day average is 7104 per day. People love this program.
Just in comparison, the city was subsidizing the ferry from Wall Street to the Rockaways at about $60 per round trip per person, and it averaged 415 round trips per day in its last subsidized month.
@ DMH Apparently you think that everyone is easily deceived by your utter nonsense. Since when do banks involve themselves in non-banking enterprises like this, which depend on city council resolutions and SPECIAL cooperation, for which “bike lanes” and bike stations are being provided? WHAT private enterprise gets such accommodation without licensing fees and then gets tax-payer money to carry out it’s operations, (in the form of bike lanes and station space?)
This citibike program is a boondoggle that the tax-payers will end up footing the bill for, and for what? A bunch of big-mouthed loons who want to impose their preposterous designs on a complacent public.
Just your misinformed opinion bud.
Off Duty, it’s a beautiful Sunday and I hope you get a chance to go for a bike ride. I have a feeling you’d enjoy it. Warm weather actually feels cool when you’re biking at a comfortable pace. It’s a great way to enjoy a nice warm day – with a nice route, it’s such a mood lifter. Just watch out for crowds! The city’s nice bike routes are incredibly popular.
Total BS. My apartment overlooks Columbus. NO ONE uses the bike lane, lone exception delivery men going the wrong way. It only causes congestion with essentially triple parking
I call your BS, I use it every day!
As a pedestrian, I like the idea that there is only one bike lane, and that it *leaves* the Upper West Side.
I’ve almost never seen a cyclist stop at red lights or otherwise obey traffic rules. They just arrogantly do what they want. Not sure I’ll like having more of them on the UWS.
I have to agree with the posters about the use of the bike lanes – I hardly see anyone using the one on columbus. I just don’t see the citibikes being used by many people in this neighborhood except for an occasional ride in which case they will go to the park or over to the far west side. We don’t need mork bike lanes. And we certainly don’t need citibikes parked all over the place and no one using them.
You UWS liberals are such hypocrites. You scream about “global warming” and green this and that, but at the end of the day, all you care about is your car and where you are going to park it. If you were really green, you would get rid of the car and start walking, taking public transportation or get on a bike. You guys want to copy Europe on everything? Well, the Europeans bike everywhere. I know that many of you hate Citibank for political reasons, but get over it. The bikes are great for the environment and our health.
– UWS / We need safe bike lanes
support for city bike
Less cars