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

SEE IT: Cops Violently Arrest Teen Riding Citi Bike in Alphabet City

Four cops slammed a teenager to the ground, pulled his hair and knelt on his head — for allegedly riding a Citi Bike "in a reckless manner."

August 29, 2025

‘Pedestrianize’ the Financial District, Lower Manhattan Council Member Says

Downtown Council Member Chris Marte says the city refuses to launch a $500K downtown pedestrianization study funded by his predecessor.

August 29, 2025

Friday Video: The Problem With … ‘Friday Video’?!

The urbanism YouTube sphere is thriving — but who's getting the views?

August 29, 2025

Talking Headways Podcast: The Menace of Prosperity

Daniel Wortel-London on his new book, "The Menace of Prosperity: New York City and the Struggle for Economic Development, 1875–1981."

August 28, 2025

MONEY TALKS: Business Interests Call the Shots in Eric Adams’s New York

Forget the bribery charges — you don't have to break the law to buy influence in the Big Apple.

August 28, 2025
See all posts