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

Pedestrians and Cyclists Get Room to Breathe on South Street

The completion of the boardwalk to the left has opened up room for pedestrians and cyclists… Photo: David Meyer

The pace is slow, but the city is making progress on the East River greenway in Lower Manhattan.

The South Street section of the greenway, a project of NYC EDC, has been under construction for the better part of the last decade. Phase one wrapped up between Wall Street and Maiden Lane in 2011, followed by subsequent projects between Wall Street and Broad Street and between Pike Street and Pier 35 that opened in 2013 and 2014, respectively.

For at least the past few years, crews have been working on an esplanade just north of the old Fulton Fish Market, and during construction people walking and biking had to squeeze into a narrow, poorly paved shared path. Now that work has wrapped up, giving people on foot direct access to the waterfront and giving cyclists a smooth, dedicated two-way path.

...while the boardwalk was under construction, people walking and biking had to share this narrow path. Photo: Jon Orcutt
...while the boardwalk was under construction, people walking and biking had to share this narrow path. Photo: Jon Orcutt
...while the boardwalk was under construction, people walking and biking had to share this narrow path. Photo: Jon Orcutt

South of the new promenade, cyclists and pedestrians still share a makeshift path around the old Fulton Fish Market, known as the Tin Building, which is being redeveloped by the Howard Hughes Corp.

Cyclists and pedestrians must share this narrow, unpaved path shoved between construction to the east and a massive parking lot to the west. Photo: David Meyer
Cyclists and pedestrians must share this narrow, unpaved path shoved between construction to the east and a massive parking lot to the west. Photo: David Meyer
Cyclists and pedestrians must share this narrow, unpaved path shoved between construction to the east and a massive parking lot to the west. Photo: David Meyer

Here are some more photos of the new esplanade and unencumbered bike path, courtesy of Streetsblog reader William Farrell:

will-south-street-1
will-south-st-2-1024x768

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Mamdani Pledges to Finish Adams’s Abandoned Bike and Bus Lanes Amid City Hall Bribery Scandal

Mamdani vowed to complete street redesigns that Mayor Adams killed due to political pressure and, in at least one case, alleged bribes.

August 25, 2025

Monday’s Headlines: Summer Streets Post Mortem Edition

One last halcyonic look at Summer Streets. Plus a veritable encyclopedia of news from the weekend.

August 25, 2025

STREETSBLOG ABROAD: We’ll Never Have Paris … Unless We Start Rebuilding Our City Like The French Did

Où es-tu allée, Anne Hidalgo? Notre ville tourne vers vous ses yeux solitaires.

August 25, 2025

INVASION OF THE BODY-SNATCHERS: Self-Driving Taxis Have Come for Your Roads, Jobs

What could possibly go wrong? Perhaps we get safer streets. Perhaps every taxi driver loses his or her job.

August 25, 2025

Talking Headways Podcast: The Powerless Brokers

Let's talk about why California can't build transit.

August 25, 2025

‘Just Absurd’: Adams Calls Unsafe McGuinness Blvd. Compromise a ‘Win’ Despite Lewis-Martin Bribery Indictment

The mayor sees no reason to revisit McGuinness even though the safety redesign was tainted by what the Manhattan DA calls a "classic bribery" scheme.

August 22, 2025
See all posts