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

Streetfilms: Bike Count on Second Avenue Raises Question — Why So Much Space for Cars?

That’s a lot of space for cars. Photo: Google

It's time for some spacial equity.

Bike traffic on Second Avenue is soaring as we enter spring, with a random count taken on Tuesday afternoon revealing that there are roughly only two times the number of cars as two-wheelers, even though car drivers are allotted five lanes of space for the movement and storage of their vehicles, while cyclists get just half a lane.

Check out Clarence Eckerson's seminal video here:

Stick around to the end for the payoff of Eckerson's survey of three intersections:

There were 323 cars and 171 bikes — or 1.9 cars for every bike.

Yet, again, drivers have hegemony over roughly 12 times more space than cyclists.

We'll be asking elected officials if they plan to do anything about the inequity, which will only increase as efforts continue to promote cycling with new lanes and discourage driving with congestion pricing.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Budget or Budge It? Gov. Hochul Continues Dawdling on the MTA Capital Plan

Gov. Hochul kicked off the state's budget process on Tuesday by doing exactly the opposite of what you do when you make a budget.

January 22, 2025

Council Transportation Chair Tells DOT That She’s Sick of the Streets Plan Excuses

Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers criticizes DOT's Streets Plan failure.

January 22, 2025

Wednesday’s Headlines: Mayor Culpa Edition

"The party left me," Eric Adams told Tucker Carlson about the Democrats. Plus other news.

January 22, 2025

‘Progressives’ Turn Council’s Transportation Policy Over to Republicans

Roadway safety is simply not a priority, a Streetsblog analysis reveals.

January 21, 2025

Tuesday’s Headlines: Drill, Baby, Drill Edition

There were a few references to some cherished livable streets issues in the 47th president's inaugural speech.

January 21, 2025
See all posts