The New York City Council is likely to vote on a bill on Thursday that could make life a lot easier for the estimated 550,000 cyclists who take to the Big Apple’s streets each day.
The bill, Intro 289, would require the Department of Transportation to create a searchable, real-time map showing all of the city’s bike lanes.
The map would include key information about obstacles created by street construction, and would show riders where to follow temporary bike routes. It would also display the location of open streets, bike parking, micromobility share programs and stations, and provide tips on how to report bike lane issues.
The measure, which is expected to move out of the Council’s transportation and infrastructure committee Thursday morning, is sponsored by Councilmember Carlina Rivera, and has 18 co-sponsors.
Rivera told The Daily News in 2021 that the transportation department has the technology and data to put the map together, but just needs to compile it in a user-friendly format.
“This would inform both cyclists on their daily rides and provide a new way for communities to rally and advocate for safety improvements,” she said at the time. “I think one of the best ways to get agencies to address problems is public feedback and, frankly, to shame them.”
The legislation comes at a time of renewed debate over the safety of bike lanes and the prevalence of e-bikes and motorized scooters. A serious accident on the Manhattan Bridge involving motorized scooters in a bike lane has shaken the cycling community and spawned calls for greater safety measures.
Mopeds are not allowed in bike lanes, but e-bikes are, if they meet the city’s regulations.