BRONX TIMES R 22 REPORTER, DEC. 25-31, 2020
Bill de Blasio
Mayor
Dave A. Chokshi, MD, MSc
Commissioner
BY JASON COHEN
As cyclist injuries have increased
in the Bronx by 30%,
many advocates and elected
offi cials are clamoring for
more protected bike lanes.
According to Streetsblog,
“in areas of the city with good
bike infrastructure, injuries
are down by far greater percentages.
In Manhattan below
59th Street, for example,
cyclist injuries are down 35%
so far this year. In Brooklyn
North, they’re down 15%.”
Marian Jones, of Bronx
organizer or the advocacy
group Transportation Alternatives,
noted these injuries
might be preventable if there
were more bike lanes. Jones
told the Bronx Times there is
a is a huge disparity between
Manhattan and the Bronx as
the Bronx has only 3 percent
of protected bike lanes, while
about 50% are in the city.
“We actively advocate increasing
cyclist safety in the
Bronx, which means fi ghting
for more and better, protected
bike lanes,” Jones said.
“It is the city’s job to make
sure everyone can get around
safely, and when it comes to
the Bronx, they are failing on
that.”
Former Bronx Chairperson
of Transportation Alternatives
Kevin Daloia also
spoke about the need for safe
bike lanes.
There have been three
bike riders killed in traffi c in
Mott Haven in 2020. All along
Bruckner Blvd., within a half
mile of Manhattan.
“There an untold number
of car and tractor crashes and
injuries,” Daloia said. “That
should say something to our
elected offi cials and DOT representatives
about pedestrian
and bicycle safety.”
He feels the Bronxdale
Ave. road improvement needs
to be completed from Tremont
Ave. all the way to White
Plains Rd. This includes a
bike lane and would connect
Clason Point/Castle Hill to
the Greenway network along
the Bronx River.
“Again, a bike lane offers
no physical protection or barrier
between a person on a
bike and the one to 12 ton vehicles
on the road,” Ranells
said. “So it’s not just a matter
of a bike lane, it’s a matter of
a protected bike lane,” said
Daloia.
Councilman Fernando Cabrera
is not only on the transportation
committee, but is
also a bike rider. The lawmaker
stressed that as much
as he enjoys cycling, it can be
dangerous in the Bronx.
Bike lanes, like most
things in the city, the Bronx
is given the short end of the
stick, he said.
“The city always gives priority
to Manhattan,” he said.
“The Bronx gets left for last.
You don’t have enough bike
lanes in the Bronx.”
Often the creation of bike
lanes causes the removal of
parking spots, so he understands
why drivers can get
upset. He hopes there is a way
that this can be avoided.
“The city is not in the business
of building more public
parking,” he commented.
Here is a list of its Bronx
based bike projects:
Protected bike lane and
bus lane at Edward L. Grant
Highway is completed
A protected bike lane and
bus lane University northbound
to Tremont is almost
completed and southbound
will begin in spring 2021.
Bike lane markings have
been installed on Macombs
and some concrete work is
wrapping up shortly.
Conventional bike lanes
were also added to Harding
Ave, East Tremont, Bergen
Ave, 147th St, and 148th Street
A protected greenway connection
was added at Bronx
Park East and White Plain
Road.
Cabrera and advocates want
more bike lanes in the Bronx
Councilman Fernando Cabrera wants more bike lanes in the Bronx.
Courtesy of Facebook