Protected Bike Lanes Coming to East Harlem, Tweets Mark-Viverito

Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito rallies for the completion of the First and Second Avenue bike lanes in November, with Sen. José Serrano to her left and Assm. Brian Kavanagh to her right. The lanes will only extend to 57th Street this year, not 125th Street, but Mark-Viverito suggested today that East Harlem might get safer streets next year. Photo: Noah Kazis.

Could complete streets finally be coming to East Harlem?

The neighborhood has been calling out for the city to keep its promise and build protected bike lanes along First and Second Avenues, bringing safer cycling and traffic calming to an area badly in need of both. Even at the peak of the bikelash last year, City Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito and State Senator José Serrano rallied for the completion of the lanes while community board members pressed DOT’s representatives to put their neighborhood first for a change.

Now, it seems that the city could bring safer designs to First and Second Avenue in East Harlem next year. Mark-Viverito tweeted out the news this morning in response to a conversation between frequent Streetsblog commenter BicyclesOnly and Deputy Mayor Howard Wolfson about transportation equity and bike planning.

Wrote Mark-Viverito: “Ext. of 1st/2nd Ave. #bikenyc paths 2 #EastHarlem are well on their way as confirmed by DOT. Very excited!”

Mark-Viverito may have broken the news ahead of schedule. A DOT spokesperson would say only: “We continue to discuss this with the community but no determination has been made at this time.” Mark-Viverito’s office did not respond to a Streetsblog request for more information.

ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

Tomorrow: Celebrate a Safer East Side With TA and Melissa Mark-Viverito

By Brad Aaron |
Tomorrow, Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito and Transportation Alternatives will take a well-deserved victory lap on the First and Second Avenue protected bike lanes. Streetsblog readers know how difficult it was to overcome the misinformation campaign waged by a small number of business owners who didn’t want to see street improvements come to East Harlem. But […]

Community Board 11 Approves East Harlem Protected Bike Lanes

By Noah Kazis |
The full board of Community Board 11 voted to approve protected bike lanes on First and Second Avenues last night. The news was first reported by Deputy Mayor Howard Wolfson over Twitter this morning. When complete, the bike lanes and pedestrian refuge islands will run from 96th Street to 125th Street on both avenues. Construction […]

Mark-Viverito: Misinformation Won’t Stop East Harlem Bike Lanes

By Noah Kazis |
After a misinformation campaign by two local business owners, East Harlem’s Community Board 11 rescinded its vote in support of plans for protected bike lanes along First and Second Avenue Tuesday night. The board will soon vote again on the project, which has the backing of local Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito. Community Board 11 has […]