Dozens of local bicyclists celebrated Queens' new 20th Avenue bike lanes at a free breakfast for bike commuters on Thursday, November 9th. Transportation Alternatives (T.A.), a group that promotes biking, walking and sensible transportation, organized the breakfast at Woodtree Playground in Astoria/Steinway to thank the NYC Department of Transportation for recently installing the new bike lanes and to urge locals to consider commuting by bicycle.

"The DOT gets thanks for making 20th Avenue a safer and easier route for bike riding," says Noah Budnick, Deputy Director of Transportation Alternatives. "As bicyclists use these lanes every day, drivers will become more accustomed to making room and the safer bicycling will become in Queens."

The 20th Avenue bike lanes are among the first of 200 new miles of bicycling lanes, routes and paths which the DOT has committed to installing over the next four years.

Josh Benson, the new director of the DOT's Bicycle Program, was on hand to speak with bike commuters about what they have in store for Queens.

"Together these lanes and the planned 35th Avenue bicycle lane form a foundation of the northern Astoria/Steinway bicycle network and provide safe routes for both local and commuter bicyclists," says Benson.

Bicycle commuting across Queens is on the rise, fueled by new bike lanes and direct bike access to Manhattan across the Queensboro and Triboro Bridges.

Representatives of Borough President Helen Marshall, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation and civic groups like the Long Island City Community Boathouse also turned up out for the free coffee and bagels, donated from nearby shops.

"The new 20th Avenue bike lanes make biking to Ralph Demarco and Astoria Parks safe and fun," says Noah Budnick. "These new lanes are part of the growing East River-North Shore Greenway, which runs along the waterfront from Astoria to Long Island City."

Emilia Crotty, 25, works with the local Girl Scouts and savored a cup of coffee on her morning bike ride. "It's always good to start the day cycling comfortably on a freshly pained lane and by sharing nice conversation with our bike-minded neighbors in Astoria, Sunnyside and Long Island City." She beams, "Outer-borough cyclists and future cyclists are grateful!"