For streets to be safe and welcoming to cyclists, the addition of bike lanes is essential. Dedicated space for cyclists educates all street users about a bicyclist's right to the road, and creates a safer roadway by calming traffic. T.A. advocates for bike lanes as part if its "complete streets" vision, where all users are taken into account when designing streets.

New York City has doubled its bike lane networks since 2006, bringing the total mileage to more than 400. Most bike lanes are selected for installation based on the Department of Transportation's 1997 Bicycle Master Plan. New York has some of the most innovative bike lane designs in the country, including physically-separated cycle-tracks (8th Avenue, 9th Avenue and Broadway in Manhattan), parking-protected bike lanes (Grand Street in Manhattan) and two-way separated lanes (Prospect Park West and Kent Avenue in Brooklyn). For information on the different types of bike lanes on New York City streets, check out the Biking Rules primer on bike lanes: http://bikingrules.org/biking/laneprimer

T.A. works at the grassroots level to stoke demand for neighborhood bike lane networks and also at the City level to bring innovative designs and practices here to New York City. In addition to citywide advocacy on the developing bike network, T.A. is currently working to bring protected bike lanes to two specific corridors. Join the campaigns to make these critical links in the bike network a reality.

If you are interested in bringing a bike lane to a street in your neighborhood, see T.A.'s Adopt a Bike Lane resource on how to use direct action and lobbying to make it happen.

"Zero on Queens Boulevard"

Queens Boulevard is a critical, yet dangerous part of many bike commutes in Queens. In 2008, T.A. launched Zero on Queens Boulevard, a campaign to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries on Queens Boulevard to zero through aggressive traffic calming and a physically protected bicycle lane. The campaign calls on the City to choose saving lives ahead of traffic flow and to make the boulevard safe to cross by integrating it more with the neighborhoods it traverses. To date, Council Members Gennaro, Gioia, Liu and Avella have indicated their support for a protected bike lane on Queens Boulevard. With backing from a growing list of community groups, the campaign is building the political support necessary to bring DOT action.

On the second Friday of every month, T.A.'s Queens Committee meets at the foot of the Queensboro Bridge bike path in Long Island City for a "bike pool" along the length of Queens Boulevard. By riding together in a group each month, we'll give the borough's bike commuters a safe, escorted ride home while making a statement about the need for a physically-protected bike lane on the essential artery.

To connect with efforts for a safer Queens Boulevard, contact T.A.'s Queens Committee.

"BIKE deLANcEy"

BIKE deLANcEy is a summer-long street action with bi-monthly commuter rides along Delancey Street on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month. Its goal is to connect with the local LES community and make a powerful statement to the City that we want safer access for both pedestrians and cyclists along Delancey Street. The commuter rides start at 6 pm with groups of 20 cyclists reclaiming the inner lane of traffic for safe passage to and from the Williamsburg Bridge. After the bike rides, the campaign hosts different themed events that include outreach and meetings with local community groups, petitioning with local businesses, senior center visits, historical bicycle tours and much more.

Join the mailing list by emailing marin.tockman[at]gmail[dot]com