Dyckman Street Bike Lane Expansion Meets Parking Pushback
The Department of Transportation (DOT) is adding a vital link in Manhattan’s greenways by extending a protected bike lane on Dyckman Street, but the project is facing familiar opposition from some residents who prioritize free parking over cyclists’ safety.
The new two-way bike path will stretch four blocks west from Quisqueya Plaza to the Hudson River, promising to improve safety for all road users. This welcome development comes at a time when the nationally-renowned Hudson River Greenway, the city’s busiest bike lane, is temporarily closed due to persistent sinkholes and ongoing repairs along the adjacent Cherry Walk.
Prioritizing Safety and Connectivity:
DOT Project Coordinator Preston Johnson emphasized the significant safety benefits. "We’re pretty excited about the proven safety record of projects like this…” he states, “connecting the greenways on either side of the river, but also providing transportation for people throughout the neighborhood, just getting around."
On the Upper East Side, the DOT recently secured a $96 million federal grant to complete another critical segment of the waterfront greenway along 10th Avenue, with construction slated for 2027.
Parking Concerns and Safety Solutions:
The Dyckman Street expansion will remove 40 parking spaces currently used for free private vehicle storage, a point of contention for some residents. Jim Berlin, voicing concerns common among some in the neighborhood, stated, "We need a greener world, and ideally, all these cars would magically become electric like mine. But the point is, at the moment, we have cars, and we can’t willy-nilly just take away 40 parking spaces."
The DOT argues that removing parking near corners (daylighting) is a crucial safety measure that enhances visibility for drivers and pedestrians.
“We’re happy to try to tighten things up where we can and add back 10 or 15 feet, you know, at the intersections,” said Shawn Macias, Deputy Director of the DOT’s Bicycle Unit. “But there is a lot of value in daylighting as well. So that’s where a lot of the parking loss comes, is at the intersections, so that motorists can see, you know, emerging pedestrians or motorists from the side streets.”
This conflict echoes disputes from 2018, when the city removed bike lanes on Dyckman Street east of Seaman Avenue due to pressure from then-Borough President Gale Brewer and Rep. Adriano Espaillat. The lanes were ultimately restored in 2019 following a surge in cyclist fatalities.
The Vision for a Safer City:
The Dyckman Street expansion, despite the parking debate, underlines the city’s ongoing commitment to improving cyclist safety and connectivity, linking crucial segments of Manhattan’s waterfront greenways.
