Seaman Avenue at Isham Street, looking north. New asphalt and markings, but no bike lanes. Photo: Brad AaronSeaman Avenue at Isham Street, looking north. Fresh asphalt and markings, but no bike lanes. Photo: Brad Aaron
DOT resurfaced most of Seaman over the summer, but several weeks after center lines and crosswalks were striped and speed humps marked, the street's bike lanes have not returned. Also, though DOT said Seaman would be repaired end to end, the southernmost blocks, where the road surface was probably in the worst shape and, therefore, the most hazardous for bike riding, were not repaved with the rest of the street.
Last month Streetsblog asked if DOT had considered protected bike lanes for Seaman. That wouldn't work, DOT said, because the street isn't wide enough for separated bike lanes and two lanes of parking. We also asked when the remainder of Seaman would be resurfaced, but did not get a response.
On Tuesday Streetsblog emailed DOT to ask if bike lanes on Seaman would be striped before the end of the year. We asked again Wednesday and to this point DOT hasn't told us. We've forwarded our unanswered questions to Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez in the hope that his office can get a reply from DOT.
Rough street surface and barely visible bike lanes on Seaman at Dyckman Street, where DOT has not yet repaved. Image: Google MapsRough street surface and barely visible bike lanes on the southern end of Seaman, which DOT has not repaved. Image: Google Maps
Brad Aaron began writing for Streetsblog in 2007, after years as a reporter, editor, and publisher in the alternative weekly business. Brad adopted New York's dysfunctional traffic justice system as his primary beat for Streetsblog. He lives in Manhattan.