New York still has a lot of work to do to create an all-ages, low-stress citywide bike network, but let's pause for a moment to appreciate how far the city has come.
Before he made Streetfilms, Clarence Eckerson Jr. made BikeTV, a cable access show. In this BikeTV clip that Clarence recently unearthed, you'll get a tour of the bike network in northwest Brooklyn and downtown Manhattan in the winter of 2002:
Contrary to popular belief, New York did have bike lanes 15 years ago, but the network was sparse and the city clearly didn't place a high priority on maintaining it. Five more years would pass before Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan arrived on the scene and put in the city's first protected bike lane.
Here are some before-and-after comparisons of the streets shown in the video.
Broadway:
Sixth Avenue:
Lafayette:
Of course, some problems haven't gone away:
Read More:
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog New York City
Trump Trial Street Closures Push Pedestrians, Cyclists into Busy Traffic
News vans have dangerously blocked the sidewalk and bike lane on Lafayette Street daily since Donald Trump's trial began nearby two weeks ago.
Eyes On The Street: Coastal Resiliency Causes Mess For Pedestrians and Cyclists
Unfortunately for cyclists and pedestrians, this situation won't be fixed until "at least 2026.”
State Pols Still Haven’t Spent Millions Alloted for Transit as Congestion Pricing Looms
There's like $45 million sitting there — unspent — for outer borough transit improvements. What are state pols waiting for?
Supporters, Mayor Rally for ‘City of Yes’ Zoning Change as it Enters Public Review Phase
The mayor's signature zoning plan is ready for review by all 59 community board, plus the city's five borough presidents and then each Council member. Advocates are worried it will be watered down.
