MIDTOWN — The city plans to unveil a proposal for a series of crosstown bike lanes amid a renewed push for the long-awaited measure by transit advocates after a dump truck driver struck and seriously injured a Citi Bike rider in Midtown.
The woman was riding a Citi Bike at the intersection of West 30th and Seventh Avenue on Sept. 11 when the driver of a dump truck made a right turn and struck her.
Following the crash, Councilman Corey Johnson, whose district includes Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen, said the city Department of Transportation’s proposal for crosstown protected bike lanes was expected soon, adding that the city “need[s] to do more” to ensure safer streets.
I am in contact with NYPD DOT and there agencies regarding cyclist injury at 30th/7th. We need safer streets NOW. (1/2)
— Corey Johnson (@CoreyinNYC) September 11, 2017
Protected bike lane on 7th Ave coming soon. Proposal for crosstown protected bike lanes expected soon. We need to do more. (2/2) #VisionZero
— Corey Johnson (@CoreyinNYC) September 11, 2017
Advocates responding to the politician maintained the lanes need to be a “priority.”
If you, @NYC_DOT + @NYCMayorsOffice don't make protected crosstown lanes a priority, cyclist injury and death will continue. We're waiting!!
— Derek Magee (@sketchatlas) September 11, 2017
Crosstown protected bike lanes, asap! We don't need studies, we need paint and bollards before more people are killed.
— Jonathan Warner (@Jaxbot) September 11, 2017
Chana Widawski, a Hell's Kitchen resident who's on the board of local pedestrian-safety advocacy group CHEKPEDS, said she was “not at all surprised” by the crash.
Transit advocates have been calling for crosstown bike lanes and protections for cyclists crossing at intersections for years, she said.
In June — following a pair of cyclist fatalities in the neighborhood — members of Community Board 4’s Transportation Planning Committee said the board had requested the protected crosstown lanes on several occasions.
“Right now there really are not enough safe passages for cyclists on any of our Midtown streets getting crosstown," Widawski said. "We’re always kind of jockeying and trying to find our way."
A DOT spokeswoman on Wednesday said the department is “actively developing a series of crosstown bike route proposals and will be coming to the community with more details in the near future,” without providing an exact date.
Widawski warned that without an imminent plan, the city would continue to see cyclist-involved crashes.
“This is what we’ve been clamoring about forever now,” she said. “And it comes as no surprise, and there are going to be more and more [crashes].”
