Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Bicycling

Eyes on the Street: NBC’s Blacklist Gives Green Lane Riders the Blues

The Black List blocked off  Photo: Ben Fried
"The Blacklist" took over a block of Lower Manhattan's only crosstown protected bike lane yesterday. Photo: Ben Fried
The Black List blocked off Photo: Ben Fried

People bicycling east on Grand Street hit this bike lane blockage yesterday afternoon, the first spring-like day of the year, thanks to television drama "The Blacklist." The crew used the green lane as a staging area for its film shoot, compelling cyclists to detour into the car lane and moving traffic.

“Typically we keep bike lanes clear,” said a locations department employee at Woodridge Productions, which managed the one-day shoot. “I know that bike lanes are a touchy thing for the city.” (Messages for the location manager listed at yesterday's shoot have not been returned.)

Film shoots get permits from the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment. "Locations departments and Parking PAs should be sensitive to neighborhood needs," the agency tells production companies on its website. "Do not park production vehicles in bike lanes, bus stops, driveways, at fire hydrants, loading docks or in front of active theater marquees."

Asked about the permit for "The Blacklist," the office indicated that it may have given the film crew permission to set up camp in the crosstown bike route. "Generally, film permits prohibit productions from blocking access to pedestrian [zones], green spaces and bike lanes," the office said in a statement. Yesterday's shoot, however, was permitted for Grand Street between Mulberry and Broome Streets, using the traffic lane and a curb lane. In this case, the curb lane is the bike lane; the general traffic lane was unobstructed when Streetsblog's Ben Fried walked by the shoot at about 4 p.m.

"In addition to two officers from NYPD film unit, four traffic agents and one traffic supervisor were on site to oversee intermittent interruptions of traffic flow and redirect vehicular and bike traffic as necessary in the interest of public safety," said spokesperson Amanda Nguyen. "Our office did not receive any complaints regarding the shoot."

Complaints about film shoots can be addressed directly with the shoot's production manager or registered with the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment using 311.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

New Bill Would Block Apps From Deactivating Workers Without Cause

A Brooklyn Council member wants delivery app companies to be more human and less robot.

July 18, 2025

Friday Video: Is Berlin a Great Biking City?

Have recent moves by anti-bike, pro-car legislators ruined the experience in the capital of a unified Germany? Sort of!

July 18, 2025

Eyes on the Street: Meeker Avenue Bike Lane Is a Failure

The Department of Transportation still hasn't finished a critical bike lane under the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway that the agency has been stalling for over four years even after identifying the strip's danger and lack of proper signals.

July 18, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: Cuomo’s Road Rage Edition

Why does Andrew Cuomo drive so recklessly? Plus other news.

July 18, 2025

Fixing Third Ave. Was Once ‘Top of List’ For Eric Adams — But as Mayor He Backed Off

Mayor Adams has delayed a redesign of Brooklyn's Third Avenue despite once saying safety fixes there should be "at the top of our list."

July 17, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines: Jerry Nadler Edition

U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler faced off with Sean Duffy on Capitol Hill. Plus more news.

July 17, 2025
See all posts