Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Bicycling

Behold the Worst-Plowed Bike Lane in New York

1:25 PM EDT on March 17, 2017

Somewhere under all that snow and ice is a bike lane.

It's been three days since Stella dropped its wintry precipitation on the city, but the protected bike lane on Grand Street in Manhattan remains unusable beneath three-foot mounds of snow.

The Department of Sanitation identifies Grand Street as a "critical" corridor for snow removal, but that doesn't extend to the bike lane. While DSNY crews cleared snow from other bike lanes, Grand Street is entirely untouched except for where Citi Bike crews have shoveled out bike-share stations. Most other protected bike lanes are wider than Grand Street, but the city does have vehicles to clear snow from narrower paths.

Streetsblog asked DSNY about the strategy for clearing snow from Grand Street and other bike lanes. This was their response:

Bike lanes are generally cleared after snow and ice has been removed from streets and roads.

When the temperatures drop as they have with this current storm, the Department takes additional steps to remove snow and ice from City streets by piling and hauling it away. As we receive warmer temperatures, Sanitation deploys smaller vehicles such as haulsters and skid steers to attempt to clear bike lanes. This has been made much more difficult by the icy nature of the mounds.

For now, the Grand Street bike lane remains snowbound, hardening into an icy mess that's impossible to bike on.

grand street1
Looking west from Crosby Street. Photo: David Meyer

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

We Have the ‘End of Days’ Flooding Pics You Need Right Now

It's bad out there. How bad? Here is a citywide roundup from our staff ... and our friends on social media.

September 29, 2023

Labor Gains: Judge Tosses App Giants’ Suit to Stop Deliverista Minimum Wage

Justice Nicholas Moyne cleared the way for a long-delayed wage hike for workers who brave dangerous roads to bring food directly to New Yorkers.

September 29, 2023

Fed Up Bronxites Tell Mayor To Forget About Bus Ride Invitation After Fordham Road ‘Betrayal’

"I really would think that our mayor would be a little bit more active and speak with us, because he hasn't really made any time with riders. We're not the enemy. We just want better bus service."

September 29, 2023

City Pays $150K to Settle Suit Over Cops Who Harassed Man Who Reported Police Parking Misconduct

Justin Sherwood and his lawyer will pocket $152,000 to settle his federal civil rights suit against the city and several officers who harassed him following his 311 calls.

September 28, 2023
See all posts