Skip to content

How Complete Streets Came to East Harlem

This is the story about how East Harlem residents and street safety advocates — with leadership from Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito — banded together to win complete streets on First and Second Avenues. After the city backtracked on a plan to build protected bike lanes and pedestrian refuges up to 125th Street on the East Side of Manhattan, this coalition mobilized to put the project back on the table. Later, when the safety improvements came under attack from a few business owners, public health professionals joined Mark-Viverito and NYC DOT to combat misinformation about the redesign and see it through to implementation.

Former Streetsblog Reporter Noah Kazis covered the campaign for protected bike lanes in East Harlem and helps recount the story in this video.

Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you'll need to reclaim your account by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org.

More from Streetsblog New York City

GAME ON: Mamdani Transport Plan For World Cup Is Gridlock Alert On Steroids

May 29, 2026

Mayor Mamdani Must Rein in Illegal E-Motos After Queensboro Bridge Tragedy: Experts

May 29, 2026

Mamdani Officially Buries The QueensLink

May 29, 2026

Friday’s Headlines: Canal St. Redesign Delayed Edition

May 29, 2026

Two Dead After Illegal Scooter Rider And Cyclist Crash On Queensboro Bridge

May 28, 2026
See all posts