Eyes on the Street: Bike Corrals Protect Ninth Avenue Bike Lane

Bike parking corrals adjacent to a protected bike lane -- a first for New York City, and perhaps the nation -- have been installed along Ninth Avenue in Chelsea and Hell's Kitchen. Check out these pics from Clarence, snapped on Thursday.

First requested by Community Board 4 in fall 2011, and receiving a supportive 11-0 committee vote in February, the corrals provide 18 bike racks along the "floating" parking lane the between the bicycle lane and general traffic lanes.

At the request of the community board, sidewalk bike racks on blocks that are receiving bike corrals will be removed.

Casa di Isacco restaurant is maintaining a four-rack corral between 39th and 40th Streets, Pomodoro restaurant is maintaining a seven-rack corral between 38th and 39th Streets, and Ora Thai Cuisine is maintaining a seven-rack corral by a pedestrian island between 35th and 36th Streets.

In the words of Streetsblog reader Eric McClure: Is there a higher form of bike lane than the bike-parking-protected bike lane?

In addition to the new bike racks, new curb-and-concrete pedestrian refuge islands continue to be installed along Ninth Avenue, most notably for pedestrians at 34th Street.