The missing link of protected bike lane connecting Lispenard Street to 13th Street along Sixth Avenue was completed months ago, but the official ribbon cutting took place Wednesday. 

“Cyclists can now ride from the Village to Central Park without leaving a parking-protected bike lane,” City Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said of the 4.1 mile route.

What You Need To Know

  • The last link of bike lane from Lispenard Street to 13th Street, completed last year, allows for a protected ride all the way to Central Park

  • That stretch of Sixth Avenue saw 18 severe injuries and 200 total injuries due to crashes from 2019 to 2023

  • The city Department of Transportation says that making bike lanes double-wide accommodates the growing use of e-bikes, as well as cargo bikes, and allows them to operate safely along with traditional cyclists
  • Rodriguez says traffic can handle the removal of a lane, saying more than 70% of people traveling in the area aren’t driving
  • Last year saw about 28,000 daily bike trips across the East River bridges, the DOT says

The bike lane is a little wider in most areas than older ones — 8 feet versus 6 feet. The stretch has been a particularly dangerous one, according to Rodriguez.

“With 18 severe injuries and 200 total injuries from 2019 to 2023,” Rodriguez said. “This project makes the street safer for everyone.”

The next phase for Sixth Avenue is to take the existing bike lane from 14th Street to 35th Street and make it double-wide, which means removing a lane of traffic. The city has already done that on a stretch from about 8th Street to 13th Street. The DOT says the traffic can handle the loss of the lane.

“To see these wider bike lanes, we’re hoping [this] is the new standard in protected bike lanes,” Kenneth Podziba, president and CEO of pro-cycling group Bike New York, said. “Because we’re seeing an increase in bicyclists, both standard bicyclists, e-bikes, all these micromobility vehicles — they travel at different speeds, so to ensure it’s safe for all, we need wider bike lanes.”

Cyclists agree.

“It feels safer for everybody, especially on Sixth Avenue, which is such a busy avenue,” cyclist Thomas Nickle said. “I find the e-bikes to be a problem. I feel they’re taking over the city and not in a healthy way.”

But some drivers don’t love the idea of fewer lanes to drive in, and even some pedestrians aren’t happy.

“I’m not crazy about it, the bikes are reckless,” Village resident Ken Goin said. “I’m surprised there are not more accidents than there are.”

“It’s bad,” driver Yaniv Iluz said, saying the traffic will get worse. “Everything shrinks.”

Rodriguez says more than 70% of people traveling in the area aren’t driving. In fact, last year saw about 28,000 daily bike trips across the East River bridges.

But safety is still an issue. The stretch between 14th and 35th streets saw 29 serious injuries, including four fatalities between 2019 and 2024.

“What I’m focused on is to continue making the city safer for pedestrians, for cyclists,” Rodriguez said.

The next phase to widen the lane above 14th Street is expected to get underway sometime this spring.