NYC
M
N
N
B
M
M
bicycle survey
bicycle survey
the new york city
bicycle survey
bicycle survey
NYC
Month
NYC
NYC
Bike
MthMth
6
k
k
City of New York
City of New York
Department of City Planning
Department of City Planning
Transportation Division
Transportation Division
May 2007
May 2007
City of New York
Department of City Planning
Transportation Division
May 2007
The New York City
Bicycle Survey
A Report Based on the Online Public Opinion Questionnaire
Conducted for Bike Month 2006
Michael Bloomberg, Mayor
City of New York
Amanda M. Burden, AICP, Director
City of New York Department of City Planning
May 2007
The New York City Bicycle Survey was initiated by the Department of City Planning (DCP) to generate data and
solicit feedback from the public on bicycling issues in the city. The views documented in this report are not neces-
sarily those of the DCP or the City of New York.
The preparation of this report was financed in part through funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation PIN
#X500.57.121. This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation
in the interest of information exchange. The contents of this report reflect the views of the author, who is
responsible for the facts and accuracy of the data presented within. The contents do not necessarily reflect
the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Transportation. This report does not constitute a standard,
specification, or regulation.
fi ndings 1
introduction 3
general information 4
the nyc cycling map 8
bicycle facilities and riding preferences 9
parking 13
commuting 15
bridges 25
appendix 1: the nyc bike survey 29
appendix 2: response rates 41
appendix 3: cyclists comments 42
appendix 4: zip code origin and destination 53
credits 57
table of contents
the new york city bicycle survey
Transportation Division
1. Most cyclists ride for recreation and exercise.
2. Commuter cyclists ride the most frequently.
3. e majority of respondents use the NYC Cycling Map (78%).
4. When riding on-street, the majority of riders prefer streets with bike lanes and
signs (93%).
5. e majority of cyclists prefer riding on off -street bike facilities to on-street (76%).
6. Cyclists categorized more bike lanes with buff ers and greenways as the most important
designs to be implemented.
7. e majority of cyclists want more on-street bike racks (95%).
8. Cyclists park and lock at sign posts 82% of the time and CityRacks 64%.
9. e most common reason that non-commuting cyclists do not commute by bike
is because of driver behavior/traffi c and lack of safe storage at work.
10. e most common reason commuter cyclists do commute by bike is because it is
healthy/good exercise and because it is environmentally friendly.
11. Bicycle commuters have been commuting by bike on average for 5.7 years.
the new york city bicycle survey
Transportation Division
1
fi ndings
The Centre Street bike lane leading to the Brooklyn Bridge in Lower Manhattan.
the new york city bicycle survey
12. Commuters: 44% start in Manhattan and 41% start in Brooklyn.
Commuters: 81% end in Manhattan and 10% end in Brooklyn.
13. e highest number of commuter originations is in the Park Slope area of Brooklyn.
14. At the work place, 52% park their bikes outdoor and 48% park indoor.
15. Commuting cyclists most often encouter problems with vehicles not sharing the
roadway and vehicles parked in bike lanes.
16. e average commute time for cyclists is 35 minutes.
17. Distance between home and work, and having a longer commute by bike does not
keep non-commuting cyclists from commuting by bike.
18. Access to the Manhattan Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge are problematic.
19. e Manhattan side of the Queensboro Bridge and the Williamsburg Bridge were also
cited for having access problems.
20. e majority of commuter cyclists ride round-trip 5 or more times per week (54%).
21. Twenty-nine percent of commuting cyclists connect to other modes of transportation
to reach their destination.
Department of City Planning
2
fi ndings:
continued
Secure bicycle parking at New York University.
The Department of City Planning’s (DCP) Transportation Division created and implemented The
New York City Bicycle Survey for BikeMonthNYC 2006. This report presents the major fi ndings
of the online survey and their implications for transportation and bicycle planning in the city. The
purpose of the survey was twofold: to promote bicycling as a viable, healthy, and affordable form of
transportation in the city in conjunction with Bike Month; and to collect data and public feedback
from New York City cyclists. The New York City Bicycle Survey builds upon previous research and
data collected for Bike Month. In 2005, DCP hosted The State of Cycling in New York City which
was an interactive event that was designed to evaluate what is working well in the city cycling envi-
ronment and what needs improvement. This report, in addition to many others, can be found on the
DCP website at www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/transportation/main.shtml. For BikeMonth2006, DCP
focused on continuing the dialogue with cyclists but expanding the number of participants. The re-
sults of the survey will assist the DCP Transportation Division to better plan for bicycle facilities in
the city.
BikeMonthNYC celebrated its fi fteenth year in 2006. The annual event held in May continues to
grow and expand while attracting more featured events, organizations, and participants. Some of the
featured activities include the Five Boro Bike Tour that takes thousands of cyclists around each of
the boroughs on a 42-mile ride, Bike to Shea to watch a Mets baseball game, Tour de Bronx, Tour
de Brooklyn, and various rides and events sponsored by groups like the Five Borough Bicycle Club,
Time’s Up!, Fast & Fabulous, Transportation Alternatives, Recycle-A-Bicycle, and the New York Bi-
cycle Messenger Association. City agencies such as the DCP, Parks & Recreation (DPR), and Trans-
portation (DOT), as well as all fi ve Borough President’s Offi ces participate in BikeMonthNYC.
The New York City Bicycle Survey was posted online starting May 1, 2006. Initially, the survey was
scheduled to be online for three months, but due to the overwhelming success and continued re-
sponses, the survey was extended for an additional three months. A total of 1,086 people took the sur-
vey. The survey was designed to ask a broad array of questions in order to gather information from
cyclists about their age, gender, skill level, reasons for riding, riding preferences, commutation, etc.
(the complete survey is available in the Appendix). The responses were analyzed and are graphically
represented in this document with descriptive analysis. The survey is not intended to be a rigorous
mathematical or scientifi c study but instead to suggest general trends and an overall profi le of the
cycling community, as well as key issues for future planning.
the new york city bicycle survey
Transportation Division
3
introduction:
overview and purpose of research
FEMALEMALE
63%
37%
MODERATE
EXPERIENCED
BEGINNER
4%
33%
62%
2%
71%
27%
MODERATE
EXPERIENCED
BEGINNER
MODERATE
EXPERIENCED
BEGINNER
8%
49%
44%
the new york city bicycle survey
General Information
e survey was completed by 674 men and 400 women (Figure 1). ey were given three choices to
classify their riding level and ability; experienced, moderate and beginner. ey self-identifi ed as 62%
experienced and 33% moderate (Figure 2). at a relatively small percentage of respondents identifi ed
themselves as beginners (4%) suggests some level of cycling skill predominates among ridership.
• 96% classifi ed themselves as being an experienced or moderately skilled bicycle rider.
• Male responses identifi ed as 71% experienced and 27% moderately skilled.
• Female responses identifi ed as 49% experienced and 44% as moderately skilled.
Department of City Planning
4
Figure 1 - What is your gender? Figure 2 - How would you classify yourself as a biker?
Figure 4 - Male: How would you classify yourself
as a biker?
Figure 3 - Female: How would you classify
yourself as a biker?
YES NO
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
Recreation Exercise Errands/Shopping Commuting
(Work/School)
91%
9%
83%
17%
21%
24%
79%
76%
Under
21 Years
21-40
Years
41-62
Years
Over
62 Years
61%
32%
3%
4%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
e majority of people who took the survey (96%) are New York
City residents. e other 4% of respondents are from New Jersey
and other New York counties around the city. When asked if they
were a member of a cycling club or advocacy organization, 55%
responded positively.
e age breakdown of respondents show 61% are between the
ages of 21-40 years and 32% between the ages of 41-62 years
(Figure 5).
People were asked the question, Why do you ride a bicycle in New
York City? Four broad options were given to choose from: recre-
ation, exercise, errands/shopping and commuting (work/school)
with the option to check more than one category. Recreation re-
ceived the highest positive response at 91% followed by exercise at
83%, errands/shopping at 79% and commuting at 76% (Figure
6). All four categories rated very high and 373 people responded
positively to all four categories. Commuting received the most
negative responses with 232 people or 24%. Of those 232 people,
87% said they ride for both exercise and recreational purposes and 45% ride for errands/shopping. e
data suggests that while commuting rated very highly with over three out of four respondents identifying
as commuters, more cyclists ride to enjoy the healthy recreational and exercise aspects of cycling.
the new york city bicycle survey
Transportation Division
5
Figure 5 - What is your age?
Figure 6 - Why do you ride a bicycle in New York City?
the new york city bicycle survey
People were asked how many miles a week (Figure 7) and how many times a week (Figure 8) they ride
their bikes. ey were given the same four categories to choose from: commuting, exercise, recreation,
errands/shopping and, again, they could choose multiple categories. e relationships between activity
and riding distance suggest that various functions of cycling have diff erent catchment areas. ose who
ride in order to do errands/shopping are riding fewer total miles per week (45% are riding 1-5 miles per
week). Cyclists who ride long distances for errands are clearly in the minority (only 5% are riding over 25
miles per week). is most likely refl ects a preference for completing errands within local neighborhoods,
with cyclists riding shorter distances to pick up items like groceries and other sundries.
For the other three activities—commuting, exercise, and recreation—riders show a willingness to travel
longer distances. A signifi cant number of respondents in each of these three categories ride over 25 miles
per week. Exercise cyclists claim the greatest percentage of long distance riding (45% are riding more that
25 miles per week), surpassing the commuters (39% are riding more than 25 miles per week). Overall,
most respondents are willing to travel long distances around the city for commuting, exercise, and recre-
ational purposes.
Figure 8 charts the responses to the question How many times a week do you ride? e results indicate that
the majority of people who ride for recreation, exercise, and errands/shopping generally ride one to three
times per week. Most recreation users (60%) cycle one or two times per week, which suggests that these
riders might be focusing on weekend trips.
Department of City Planning
6
50%
45%
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
Recreation
Exercise
Errands/Shopping
Commuting
(Work/School)
1-5 Miles 6-10 Miles 11-15 Miles 16-25 Miles Over 25 Miles
Figure 7 - How many miles a week do you ride?
Not surprising, a substantial number of commuters (30%) ride fi ve times per week. Among commut-
ers and errand/shopping riders, 10% of each group riders very frequently (over seven times per week).
Drawing from the data in both Figure 7 and Figure 8, we see a distinct profi le for cyclists focused on
exercise. A combined 62% of exercise riders cycle one to three times per week. As noted above, 45% of
these respondents ride for exercise over 25 miles per week. is suggests that many of these cyclists ride
longer distances per week with fewer rides.
e following summarizes some key fi ndings about general riding habits:
• 45% who bike for exercise ride over 25 miles per week
• 60% who bike for recreation ride 1 to 2 times per week
• 45% who bike for shopping/errands ride 1 to 5 miles per week
• 59% who bike for shopping/errands ride 1 to 3 times per week
• 39% who commute ride over 25 miles per week
• 30% who commute ride 5 times per week
• 58% who commute ride 3 to 5 times per week
the new york city bicycle survey
Transportation Division
7
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
1X 2X 3X 4X 5X 6X 7X Over 7X
Recreation
Exercise
Errands/Shopping
Commuting
(Work/School)
Figure 8 - How many times a week do you ride?
the new york city bicycle survey
e New York City Cycling Map
One set of questions in the survey addresses the New York City Cycling Map. Each year at the beginning of
May, DCP and the New York City Department of Transportation produce and release a new and updated
version of the NYC Cycling Map. e map shows all the city cycling facilities including greenways and
bike lanes. Last year, 200,000 free maps were distributed throughout the city and were available by going
to the DCP website, calling 311 the city’s phone number for government information and non-emergency
services, or going to the DCP bookstore at 22 Reade Street in Manhattan. e NYC Cycling Map contin-
ues to get very high approval ratings from users. When asked to rate the usefulness of the map on a scale
from 1 to 5 (5 being the most useful
and 1 the least useful), 85% gave the
map a rating of 5, 4, or 3 (Figure 9).
When asked if they use the map to
plan their bike routes, 78% respond-
ed positively (Figure 10). Even among
people who do do use the cycling map,
the majority found it to be relatively
useful. Of the 22% who responded
that they did not use the cycling map
(Figure 10), 54% rated its usefulness
at 5, 4, or 3 (Figure 9). Having such
a large percentage of respondents
(78%) use the cycling map to plan
their routes suggests that users are
looking for Class 1 (greenways, off -
street) and Class 2 (on-street, striped,
bike lanes) bicycle facilities, both of
which are clearly shown in the map.
In 2006, DCP expanded the Trans-
portation Division’s website for Bike
Month by adding more documents
and information. When queried in
the bike survey on how to further
enhance the website with regards to
bicycle and greenway planning, and given four specifi c options, 74% percent said they would like to com-
ment on particular projects, 72% said they would like more information on current studies, 66% said they
would like more studies and reports to be available, and 15% checked the Other category and added a
comment. ese Other comments generally fell into two categories: people who did not know of the DCP
website and therefore could not comment on its content (24%) and those who wanted more information
on cycling in the city (65%). e latter group included comments on lane and greenway conditions, lane
closures, bike parking locations, routing information on how to get from one location to another, and gen-
eral suggestions. Overall, these comments and questions suggest the value of an interactive web interface
for generating public feedback.
Department of City Planning
8
5
(most useful)
4321
(least useful)
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
22%
36%
27%
10%
5%
Figure 9 - How would you rate the usefulness of the NYC Cycling
Map on a scale of 1 to 5?
Better access to work place
Encourage cycling in general as a
more active form of exercise
Better access to regional parks
and waterfront
Better access to neighborhood
destinations (shopping, etc.)
Better access to neighborhood
parks & playgrounds
Better access to transit
Better access to schools
10% 90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20% 100%
3619
4419
25
23
12
9
9
5
7215
4427
4825
28
69
55
3.62
3.88
4.54
4.05
4.11
4.47
4.34
16
10
19
17
13
10
62
6
3
3
1
2
3
1
2
Average
(most useful)(least useful)
3
2
1
4
5
Figure 11 - Why should bike facilities be improved and expanded? Rank your answers on a scale of 1 (least useful) to 5
(most useful).
Some key fi ndings on the NYC Cycling Map:
• 85% of respondents rated the NYC
Cycling Map a 3, 4 or 5 in usefulness
• 54% of respondents use the NYC
Cycling Map often or sometimes
• 78% of respondents use the NYC
Cycling Map
Bicycle Facilities & Riding Preferences
Survey respondents were asked a series of questions
about bicycle facilities and their riding preferences.
e fi rst question was Why should bike facilities be im-
proved and expanded? Seven categories were listed and
people were asked to rank them from the least useful (1) to the most useful (5). e results are below in
Figure 11. e category with the highest ranking Encourage cycling in general as a more active form of exercise
received a ranking of most useful (5) by 72% of respondents. Better access to work place followed closely with
69% of respondents ranking it most useful (5). ese two categories also had the highest average rankings.
the new york city bicycle survey
Transportation Division
9
YES - SOMETIMES
YES - OFTEN NO
YES - RARELY
18%
22%
24%
36%
78%
Figure 10 - Do you use the NYC Cycling Map to plan
your routes?
10% 90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20% 100%
Do you plan your
route based on the
availability of Class
1 or Class 2 facilities?
Will you take a detour
to a longer route if it
is off-street (Class 1)?
When riding on-street,
do you prefer to ride on
streets with bike lanes
(Class 2) & bike route
signs (Class 3)?
Do you prefer to ride
off-street (on Class 1
greenways or park
paths) compared to
on-street?
Experienced
Moderate
Beginner
Experienced
Moderate
Beginner
Experienced
Moderate
Beginner
Experienced
Moderate
Beginner
77
68
65
86
70
63
95
9
96
91
86
81
72
5
4
28
19
14
37
30
14
35
32
23
YES NO
the new york city bicycle survey
Looking across all seven categories shows that averages in each category rated very highly suggesting that
riders want better bike facilities in general. e lowest ranking category Better access to schools, still had
55% of respondents ranking it as a 4 or 5 in usefulness with an average of 3.62. Each of the categories
refl ects a specifi c need for cyclists in the city.
Riders were then
asked four ques-
tions about riding
preferences (Figure
12). Two-thirds of
respondents said
that they plan
their rides around
both existing Class
1 (off -street green-
ways) and Class 2
(on-street, striped
bike lanes) facili-
ties and would take a longer route in order to ride on a Class 1 bike facility. Just over three-fourths of
respondents (76%) prefer to ride off -street on greenways while 93% overwhelmingly responded affi r-
matively to a preference for riding in marked and signed bike lanes while riding on-street. While direct
routes are always important in transportation, a majority of respondents would ride a longer route if it
was off -street and away from motor vehicle traffi c. ough, if riding on-street, riders want a defi ned space
Department of City Planning
10
Will you take a detour to a longer
route if it is off-street (Class 1)?
Do you plan your route based on the
availability of Class 1 or Class 2 facilities
When riding on-street, do you prefer to
ride on streets with bike lanes (Class 2)
and bike route signs (Class 3)?
Do you prefer to ride off-street (on
Class 1 greenways or park paths)
compared to on-streeet?
YES NO
66%
66%
93%
76%
7%
24%
34%
34%
Figure 12 - Please tell us about your riding preferences.
Figure 13 - Please tell us about your riding preferences (by level of experience).
(most useful)(least useful)
3
2
1
4
5
10% 90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20% 100%
Peg-a-tracking (dashed lines)
bike lanes through intersections
Two-way bikeways with barriers
Colored asphalt in bike lanes
Greenways
Bike lanes with buffers
Enhanced crosswalk designs
for bikes & pedestrians
Bike boxes at intersections
More street signs
Traffic signals for bikers
Shared-use sidewalks
2.75
3.06
3.49
3.52
3.64
3.76
3.83
3.99
4.39
4.54
Average
1415262123
2118241818
292226158
302225149
342522119
362719116
43202197
44271775
61231231
7314832
of bike lanes and signs. e survey shows this is predominantly because cyclists feel that motorists do not
share the road (see Figure 21 and Figure 31). As seen in Figure 13, riding preferences are aff ected by the
riders’ experience levels with riders who identify as beginners and moderates more often planning their
routes around existing facilities—especially Class 1 facilities.
People were then asked about bicycle facility design features that they would like to see implemented in
the city. Ten design options were listed and participants were asked to rank their usefulness on a scale
from 1 to 5 (Figure 14). Bike lanes with buff ers and Greenways were overwhelmingly the most popular
choices.
1
Almost three-fourths (73%) of respondents ranked Bike lanes with buff ers most useful (5). A
combined 87% gave a usefulness rating of 4 or 5. Greenways were also ranked as most useful by 61% of
riders (5) with 84% ranking its usefulness a 4 or 5. Colored asphalt on bike lanes and Two-way bikeways
with barriers both received high average usefulness ratings as well. Taken together, the high rankings of
these four features suggest that riders are most interested in demarcated, diff erentiated, or otherwise
dedicated bicycle lanes and greenways. All of the categories received high average scores, suggesting that
cyclists feel a general need for all of these types of bicycle facilities.
1 Class 2 bike facilities are on-street bike lanes that are fi ve feet wide. A buffer is usually two to fi ve feet wide
and are located between the bike lane and vehicle lane. A buffer gives the rider additional space away from the
moving (or parked) vehicle. A bike lane with a buffer requires more available road space to be implemented.
the new york city bicycle survey
Transportation Division
11
Figure 14 - What design features would you like to see implemented? Rank your answers on a scale of 1 (least important)
to 5 (most important).
the new york city bicycle survey
is page is intentionally left blank.
Department of City Planning
12
Traffic
Signals
Street
Lamps
Sign
Posts
Parking
Meters
Street
Furniture
Subway Sta.
Railings
Other
10%10% 20%20% 30%30% 40%40% 50%50% 60%60% 70%70% 80%80% 90%90% 100%100% 0%0%
31%
56%
35%
17%
20%
11%
56%
63%
95%
60%
44%
33%
22%
31%
Bicycle Parking
Riders were asked a series of questions about bicycle parking. e CityRacks program provides free bi-
cycle racks on sidewalks throughout the city and is administered by the Department of Transportation.
e survey indicates that 64% (674) of riders use CityRacks (Figure 16). Following from that question,
the survey divided those who did and did not use CityRacks and asked them where they park their bikes
(Figure 17 and Figure 18). e results in Figure 18 show that people who use CityRacks are also using the
full range of non-bicycle rack facilities (parking meters, posts, etc.) for bike parking throughout the city.
An overwhelming majority of riders who do use CityRacks park and lock at sign posts (95%), followed by
parking meters (63%) and street lamps (60%). Most riders who do not use CityRacks park at sign posts
(56%) or in Other locations (56%). Of the 180 people who chose Other, 78% typed in comments that
they never park their bikes on the street and that they only park inside or in a secure and safe area.
Some aggregate data is listed below (not graphically represented) to give an overall sense of bicycle park-
ing habits.
• 82% of riders park and lock their bikes at sign posts
• 64% of riders park and lock their bikes at CityRacks
• 53% of riders park and lock their bikes at parking meters
• 52% of riders park and lock their bikes at street lamps
the new york city bicycle survey
Transportation Division
13
Figure 17 - ose who do not use CityRacks:
Where do you park your bike?
Figure 18 - ose who do use CityRacks:
Where else do you park your bike?
Figure 16 - Do you park your bike at racks provided by the City?
Total # of
Responses
100100 200200 300300 400400 500500 600600 700700 800800 00
372 NO YES
674
Subway
Stations
Work
Place
Curbside
Parking
Garages
Park &
Ride Lots
Other
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%
80%
72
67
50
37
23
the new york city bicycle survey
e vast majority of respondents (985 or 95%)
wanted more bike racks located throughout the
city (Figure 19). e follow-up question asked
Where would you like more bike racks? (Figure 20)
and then off ered fi ve options. A sixth option, Oth-
er, off ered room to add a comment. Curbside was
the most popular answer (80%) with Work Place
and Subway Stations following close behind at 72%
and 67% respectively.
e Other category generated 228 comments.
Within these comments, the two locations most
frequently mentioned were “everywhere” (20%)
and “parks” (16%). Most of the other comments
listed specifi c places such as Times Square and
Penn Station or general locations like in offi ce
buildings or business areas. e need for secure
parking areas was also mentioned in 12% of the
other responses.
Department of City Planning
14
Figure 20 - Where would you like more bike racks?
YES - 95%
NO
5%
Figure 19 - Would you like more bike racks?
Commuting
Questions about commuting comprised a major area of interest in the survey. e fi rst question was If you
do not commute by bicycle to work, why not? Seven options were available to be ranked on a scale of 1 to 5
(5 being the most important and 1 being the least important). e two categories that most infl uenced
non-commuters were Too much traffi c/driver behavior and No safe storage facility for my bike with each
rated by approximately 50% of respondents as most important (5). At the other end of the scale, the two
options that non-commuters rated the least important were Longer commute by bike (62%) and I work too
far from home (57%) with respondents rating them a 1. Considering this data together with the data in
Figure 7, one might infer that riding long distance is not a disincentive for bicycle commuters, nor is it
viewed as one of the important reasons why non-commuters choose not to ride to work.
e next question in the survey asked respondents who do commute by bicycle to rank their reasons for
commuting from a list of eight categories (Figure 22). e two categories deemed the most important
to riders (rated a 5) were It is healthy and good exercise (63%) and It is environmentally friendly (64%).
the new york city bicycle survey
Transportation Division
15
(most important)(least important)
3
2
1
4
5
Roadway surface conditions
are poor
No safe storage facility for my bike
No bike facilities (lanes/routes)
from home to work location
Longer commute by bike
10%0% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
62 15 10 6 7
21 14 18 18 30
23
15
20 22 20
14
910
16
51
1.82
3.23
2.99
3.81
Average
I work too far from home
57 11 11 6 15
2.10
20
15 18 17
31
12
813 19
48
3.83
3.24
No change/shower facility at work
Too much traffic/driver behavior
Figure 21 - If you do not commute by bicycle to work, why not? Rank each reason on a scale of
1 (least important) to 5 (most important).
the new york city bicycle survey
For commuters interested in exercise, cycling to work/school can also be about achieving health benefi ts.
A near majority of commuters also ranked ranked two other reasons for commuting as most important:
It is faster than other modes car/bus/mass transit and It is economically benefi cial.
Overall, two of the categories were seen as least important by a larger percentage of respondents: I have a
change/shower facility at work with 55% ranking it a 1 and I work close to home with 38% ranking it a 1.
is mirrored earlier fi ndings that the distance between home and work is not as important a factor to
bicycle commuters (see Figure 7).
Respondents were asked for how many months and years they have been commuting by bicycle (Figure
23) and how many round trips by bicycle per week they make (Figure 24). e bulk of riders (69%) have
been commuting for six years or less. e preponderance of riders at the shorter side of the spectrum
suggests that the public is making good use of improvements to their bicycle network and infrastructure
completed within the last fi ve years. As the city continues to expand the bicycle and greenway networ, we
can expect that more people will encouraged to commute by bike.
Department of City Planning
16
(most important)(least important)
3
2
1
4
5
Bike facilities provide direct
routes to work/home
It is faster than other modes
car/bus/mass transit
I can park my bike indoors
I have a change/shower
facility at work
10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
I work close to home
It is economically beneficial
It is environmentally friendly
It is healthy & good exercise
Average
2.38
1.95
3.98
3.07
2.88
4.46
4.45
4.04
55 17 13 6 8
38 18 24 9 12
27 16 20 17 20
32 10 10 15 33
8 6 16 21 49
6 7 15 20 51
2 2 10 22 64
22 9 25 63
Figure 22 - If you do commute by bicycle to work, why (rank each reason on a scale of 1 to 5)?
Figure 24 shows the number of times
commuters ride per week. Well over
half of the responses refl ect com-
muters traveling fi ve or more times
per week (54%). is suggests that
commuter cyclists are dedicated to
their mode of transportation.
is was reiterated when respon-
dents were asked if they commute
year-round (including the winter)
or seasonally. e majority (62%)
said they commute year-around
while 38% commute seasonally (not
graphically represented).
the new york city bicycle survey
Transportation Division
17
<1 1 2 3 4
5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 30 31 32 33 353427 28 29
YEARS
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
# of RESPONSES
Average number of years commuting is 5.7
Figure 23 - How long have you been commuting to work by bicycle?
17%
5%
9%
14%
30%
24%
1 per week
2 per week
3 per week
4 per week
5 per week
Over 5 per week
Figure 24 - How many round trips per week do you
commute by bike?
the new york city bicycle survey
e next two questions focused on
whether bicycle commuters use mul-
tiple modes of transportation to get
to their destinations. e results in
Figure 25 indicate that over 70% of
respondents do not connect to other
transportation modes. However, 19%
or 166 people said they do connect
to the New York City subway sys-
tem. While connections to all modes
of transportation are important, the
subway system is the most used transit
connection for these cyclists.
Among the positive responses to us-
ing additional transportation modes,
riders who also utilized bus connec-
tions numbered the fewest. is may
be partially or even largely because
New York City Transit does not al-
low bikes on buses. While many cities
have a bikes-on-bus program, in 2005
New York City discontinued their
only bikes-on-bus service (the QBX1)
which provided bike access over the
Bronx-Whitestone Bridge connecting
Queens and the Bronx.
One hundred and eight people (19%)
responded affi rmatively to the follow-
up question Is this transit connection
essential to your ability to commute by
bicycle? (Figure 26). Figure 26A shows
the breakdown of their responses to the
question Do you bicycle to other trans-
portation modes to reach your destina-
tion? We might infer that among those
who said a transit connection is essen-
tial to their ability to commute by bi-
cycle, reliance on Ferry 20% and Train
15% service is greater than among the
larger pool of respondents who use ad-
ditional transportation modes.
Department of City Planning
18
YES
19%
NO
81%
No
Yes
71%
19%
3%
4%
1%
2%
No
Yes, Subway
Yes, Ferr y
Yes, Train
Yes, Bus
Yes, Other
Figure 25 - Do you bicycle to other transportation
modes (subway, commuter rail, bus, ferry) to reach
your destination?
Figure 26 - Is this transit connection essential to
your ability to commute by bicycle?
No
Yes, Subway
Yes, Ferry
Yes, Train
Yes, Bus
Yes, Other
50%
20%
15%
6%
2%
7%
Figure 26A - Of the 19% above in Figure 26 who
responded affi rmatively, Do you bicycle to other
transportation modes to reach your destination?
Additional commuting questions identifi ed transit patterns between boroughs. Where does your commu-
tation trip begin? found bicycle commuters divided fairly evenly between Manhattan (44% or 355) and
Brooklyn (41% or 330) as a starting point (combined 85% of all responses) (Figure 27). e response
to Where does your commuta-
tion trip end? was overwhelm-
ingly focused on Manhattan
as the major destination for
commuters with 81% (652)
of responses. Brooklyn was
the second most common
destination, at 10% (84)
of respondents. is infor-
mation highlights broader
commuting patterns where
Manhattan is the most com-
mom destination due its high
concentration of business
districts, schools, and job
centers. Manhattan also has
the most complete and con-
nected bicycle and greenway
network of all the boroughs.
For intra-Manhattan bicycle
commuters, improved wa-
terfront greenways around
the perimeter of the island
and better Class 2 bike lanes
running north-south may
refl ect high rates of bicycle
commuting. Brooklyn has
the second most complete bi-
cycle network. For Brooklyn
bicycle commuters, having
three bridge crossings into
Manhattan with bike paths
may increase and encourage
ridership. Queens, with a
about the same population as
Brooklyn, has over fi ve times
fewer commuter originations
than Brooklyn. Perhaps what
Figure 27 and Figure 28 highlight the most is the need for more bicycle and greenway facilities in the
other boroughs; especially Queens and the Bronx.
the new york city bicycle survey
Transportation Division
19
Bronx
Brooklyn
Manhattan
Queens
Staten Island
New Jersey
Other NY County
10%
81%
1%
3%
2%
1%
2%
Figure 28 - Where does your commutation trip end?
41%
44%
3%
7%
2%
1%
2%
Bronx
Brooklyn
Manhattan
Queens
Staten Island
New Jersey
Other NY County
Figure 27 - Where does your commutation trip begin?
the new york city bicycle survey
DCP asked respondents to give their commute origins and destinations by zip code. Map 1, above, shows
the 797 responses to cyclists origins (see Appendix 4 for complete data). e most originations are from
zip code 11215 in Park Slope, Brooklyn (52); zip code 10025 in Manhattan Valley, Manhattan (41); and
zip code 10009 in the East Village, Manhattan (31). e zip codes along the western edges of Brooklyn
that are close to Manhattan and the East River bridges have a substantial number of commuter origina-
tions. Brooklyn also has a number of commuters cycling from closer to the center of the borough and
Prospect Park.
Not included in this map are 19 originations from New Jersey, eight from other New York counties, and
one from Pennsylvania.
Department of City Planning
41 to 55 Cyclists
31 to 40 Cyclists
21 to 30 Cyclists
11 to 20 Cyclists
4 to 10 Cyclists
1 to 3 Cyclists
Map 1 - Origins by Zip Code
Commuter Cyclists
20
N
Map 2, above, shows the destinations of commuter cyclists by zip code. Clearly, Manhattan is the destina-
tion for most commuter cyclists. e most destinations are to zip code 10001 in the Penn Station/Mid-
town South area (52); zip code 10019 in Midtown (50); zip code 10003 at Union Square (45); and zip
code 10013 in Tribeca/Civic Center (42). Other zip codes that received many destinations are: zip code
10012 in Soho/NYU (40); 10017 in United Nations/Grand Central (36); 10010 in the Flatiron (35);
10011 in Chelsea (35); 10016 in Kips Bay/Murray Hill (35). e Brooklyn zip code of 11201 is the only
area outside of Manhattan that received more than ten mentions with 23.
Not included in this map are 10 destinations to New Jersey and nine to other New York counties.
the new york city bicycle survey
Transportation Division
41 to 55 Cyclists
31 to 40 Cyclists
21 to 30 Cyclists
11 to 20 Cyclists
4 to 10 Cyclists
1 to 3 Cyclists
Map 2 - Destinations by Zip Code
Commuter Cyclists
21
N
Outdoor
In Any Common Space
Outdoor
In Garden
Indoor
In Garage
Indoor
In Basement
Indoor
In House/Apartment
10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
5%
2%
6%
12%
74%
8%
92%
Outdoor
Indoor
Outdoor
Street Furniture
Outdoor
Railing Near Subway
Outdoor
Street Lamp
Outdoor
Parking Meter
Outdoor
Sign Post
Outdoor
Bike Rack
Indoor
Inside Building
Indoor
Garage
Indoor
In Office
35%30%25%20%15%10%5%
2%
2%
3%
1%
22%
22%
12%
5%
30%
52%
48%
Outdoor
Indoor
the new york city bicycle survey
Questions about bicycle parking in the Commuting section of the survey echo fi ndings above in the sec-
tion focused on Bicycle Parking (Figure 21). Respondents were asked where they park their bikes at their
homes and at their commuting destinations and given a few general categories to choose from. e results
are represented in Figure 29 and Figure 30. e overwhelming majority of bicycle commuters park their
bikes inside their homes (92%). e data on bicycle parking at work refl ects a fairly even distribution
between those who park indoors (48%) and those who park outdoors (52%). Together with the data
from Figure 21 that showed over half of non-commuting cyclists (234) do not commute by bike because
there is no safe storage/parking facility at their destination, this information suggests the need to address
concerns about bicycle parking within the larger picture of bicycle commuting.
Department of City Planning
22
Figure 29 - At your residence where do you park your bike?
Figure 30 - At your work place where do you park your bike?
e fi nal set of questions on bicycle commuting focused on problems riders come across en route. Re-
spondents were asked to rank the importance of eight potential problems they may encounter during
their bicycle commute on a scale from 1 to 5 (with 5 being the most important and 1 being the least).
Almost all of the responses averaged high scores; especially those dealing with motor vehicle traffi c and
behavior. Vehicles not sharing the roadway and Vehicles parked in bike lanes received the most ratings of 5
(62% for both) and the highest average scores of 4.38 and 4.32, respectively. Vehicles driving in bike lanes
and Dooring, both car-related issues, were next with averages of 3.99 and 3.86.
ese fi ndings are consistent with the data represented in Figure 21 regarding the reasons why respon-
dents do not commute by bicycle. Figure 21 showed that the category with the highest response average
at 3.83 was Too much traffi c/driver behavior. For both commuter cyclists and cyclists who choose not to
commute by bike, cooperation and coordination with motor vehicle drivers and the roadway system is
crucial to fostering increased city cycling.
the new york city bicycle survey
Transportation Division
23
(most important)(least important)
3
2
1
4
5
2.96
3.86
3.70
4.03
Average
3.23
4.32
4.38
3.99
10%0% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Worn-out bike lane markings
Difficulty in crossing intersections
Other unauthorized use of bike lanes
Dooring
Vehicles driving in bike lanes
Poor road surface conditions
Vehicles parked in bike lanes
Vehicles not sharing the roadway
16
22
29 17 16
11
17
28 23 20
8
13
18 22 39
4
11
20 25 40
5
8
15 26 46
2
8
19 28 43
3
6
9 20 62
2
4
12 20 62
Figure 31 - While commuting, what particular problems do you regularly encounter on your route?
Rank your answers on a scale of 1 to 5
the new york city bicycle survey
e fi nal question on commuting addressed the length of time it takes to ride to work (one way and not
round trip) and answers are represented in Figure 32 below. Out of 779 responses, the average commute
time is 35 minutes with the majority of responses peaking at 30 minutes. e graph also shows that the
overall majority (93%) of bicycle commuters ride 60 minutes or less. Four-fi fths of commuters (80) ride
45 minutes or less where as just over half (53%) ride 30 minutes of less. Data on length of commute cor-
roborates the above mentioned conclusion that, on balance, longer distances do not act as a disincentive
for cyclists in deciding whether to ride to work or school.
Department of City Planning
24
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
# of RESPONSES
51015202530
35
40 45 50 55 60 65 70 85 90 90+75 80
MINUTES
Average commute time is 35 minutes
Figure 32 - How much time does it take you to commute to work (round to the nearest fi ve-minute period)?
BRIDGE
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
# of RESPONSES
Manhattan
Brooklyn
Williamsburg
Queensboro
George Washington
Triborough
Pulaski
Willis Avenue
Third Avenue
Henry Hudson
Broadway
Macombs Dam
University Heights
Marine Parkway
Bayonne
Veterans Memorial
Bridges
A fi nal set of questions about bridges off ers detailed data on where problems in the bridge infrastructure
in the bicycle network exist (Figure 33 and Figure 34). Respondents were asked if they encounter prob-
lems entering or exiting bridge pathways. Riders were asked to identify from a list of 16 bridges which
ones presented problems. e four bridges crossing the East River (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Williamsburg
and Queensboro) received the most mentions followed by the George Washington Bridge and the Tribor-
ough Bridge. Riders were also asked to check which side of the bridge had problems.
e Manhattan Bridge received the most mentions overall at 309, with 230 on the Brooklyn side and
229 on the Manhattan side of the bridge. e Brooklyn Bridge was almost as frequently cited with 303
mentions, 222 on the Manhattan side and 205 on the Brooklyn side. Given that data from the survey
(Figure 27 and Figure 28) already indicate that 41% of bicycle commuters start their trips in Brooklyn
and 81% of commuters end their trips in Manhattan, it is not surprising that the Manhattan, Brooklyn
and Williamsburg Bridges factor in the largest number of bridge crossings and therefore are most fre-
quently cited. On the positive side, such frequent references to these bridges confi rms their integral roles
within the bicycle network. It is also notable that the George Washington Bridge, the only bicycle access
between Manhattan and New Jersey, was frequently cited though only 2% of commuters start and end
their bicycle trips in New Jersey.
the new york city bicycle survey
Transportation Division
25
Figure 33 - Do you encounter problems entering or exiting bridge paths? Please check the bridge and location/s.
Response indicates total number of responses.
250
200
150
100
50
# of RESPONSES
Manhattan
Bridge
Brooklyn
Bridge
Williamsburg
Bridge
Queensboro
Bridge
Triborough
Bridge
MN
side
BK
side
MN
side
BK
side
MN
side
BK
side
MN
side
QNS
side
MN
side
QNS
side
BNX
side
229
230
222
205
188
85
145
95
70
69
31
the new york city bicycle survey
Looking more closely at the data on problems entering and exiting bridge paths on each side of the bridge
(Figure 34), the Manhattan Bridge garnered fairly even responses for accessing either the Manhattan side
or Brooklyn side of the bridge, as did the Brooklyn Bridge. However, the Manhattan sides of the Wil-
liamsburg Bridge and the Queensboro Bridge are clearly more problematic for cyclists. is is refl ected in
the 38% diff erential in the Williamsburg Bridge responses and the 20% diff erential in the Queensboro
Bridge responses disfavoring the Manhattan sides.
While the survey did not ascertain what exactly the problems are at these locations, a few people added in
the open comment section of the survey that the Manhattan side of the Williamsburg Bridge is particu-
larly diffi cult to access from Delancey Street.
Department of City Planning
26
Figure 34 - Do you encounter problems entering or exiting bridge paths? Please check the bridge and location/s.
Results indicate responses to each side of the bridge.
the new york city bicycle survey
Transportation Division
27
A number of cyclists mentioned confl icts with
pedestrians while riding on the bridges. e
photos on the right are of the Brooklyn Bridge
bicycle and pedestrian pathway. Pedestrians are
designated to walk on the south side (on the left
in the top two photos) while bicycles are on the
north side (on the right in the top two photos).
e cyclist in the middle photo alerted the pe-
destrians in the bike path by blowing a whistle.
e bottom photo shows some of the faded
markings on the Brooklyn Bridge.
the new york city bicycle survey
is page is intentionally left blank.
Department of City Planning
28
e following pages contain the bicycle survey as it appeared on the website.
the new york city bicycle survey
Transportation Division
29
appendix 1:
bicycle survey
Exit this survey >>
¬¬Bicycle User Survey 2006, NYC Department of City Planning¬
¬¬1.¬PURPOSE
¬¬The NYC Department of City Planning conducts numerous pedestrian, bicycle, and greenway
development projects in the City, including the Greenway and Bicycle Master Plans, the annual NYC
Cycling Map, the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, the Staten Island South and West Shore Greenway
Master Plan, the Bicycle Parking Needs Study, and many more.
The Bike User Survey is being conducted as part of Bike Month 2006 to follow up on information
gathered at the interactive session "State of Bicycling in
NYC" (http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/transportation/stateofcycle.shtml) hosted by the NYC
Department of City Planning in May 2005.
Through this survey, we hope to obtain feedback from a wide spectrum of bike riders in the city with the
aim of addressing their concerns. The survey will provide us with detailed information and valuable input
as we plan current and future projects.
Next >>
the new york city bicycle survey
Department of City Planning
30
Exit this survey >>
¬¬Bicycle User Survey 2006, NYC Department of City Planning¬
¬¬2.¬INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING THE SURVEY
¬¬PLEASE COMPLETE THIS SURVEY IF AND ONLY IF YOU RIDE A BICYCLE IN NEW YORK
CITY.
THE SURVEY CONSISTS OF 29 QUESTIONS OVER FOUR PAGES AND WILL TAKE YOU
A
PPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES TO COMPLETE. PLEASE RESPOND TO ALL THE
QUESTIONS. COMPLETING THE ENTIRE SURVEY WILL HELP US BETTER UNDERSTAND
Y
OUR NEEDS AND CONCERNS AND ASSIST US IN OUR CURRENT AND FUTURE
PLANNING PROJECTS.
Please follow these instructions when filling out the survey.
1) Provide as much detail as possible (up to a limit of 200 characters) when you answer open-ended
questions.
2) Use abbreviations to denote boroughs, as follows: BX for the Bronx, BK for Brooklyn, MN for
Manhattan, QN for Queens and SI for Staten Island.
<< Prev Next >>
the new york city bicycle survey
Transportation Division
31
Exit this survey >>
¬¬Bicycle User Survey 2006, NYC Department of City Planning¬
¬¬3.¬SURVEY PAGE 1
IMPORTANT: IF YOU HAVE REACHED THIS PAGE DIRECTLY FROM THE
W
EBLINK, PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE AND CLICK
"PREVIOUS" TO READ THE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH THE
A
CTUAL SURVEY.
¬¬1.¬Why do you ride a bicycle in New York City?
Y
es/No
How many
miles/week?
How many
times/week?
Commuting (Work/School)
Errands/Shoppin
g
Exercise
Recreation
¬¬2.¬Please tell us a bit about yourself.
Are you
a NYC
resident?
What is your
age?
What is
your
gender?
How would you
classify yourself
as a biker?
Please choose one from each category on the right.
¬¬3.¬Are you a member of a cycling club or advocacy organization?
Yes No
¬¬4.¬Do you use the NYC Cycling map to plan your routes?
the new york city bicycle survey
Department of City Planning
32
I'd like the ability to comment on particular projects.
I'd like studies and reports to be more available.
I'd like more information on current studies and upcoming meetings.
Other (please specify)
<< Prev Next >>
¬¬5.¬How would you rate the usefulness of the NYC Cycling Map on a scale of 1 to 5?
1 (least useful) 2 3 4 5 (most useful)
¬¬6.¬How would you like to see NYC Department of City Planning’s Transportation Planning website
enhanced with respect to bicycle and greenway planning?
the new york city bicycle survey
Transportation Division
33
¬¬Bicycle User Survey 2006, NYC Department of City Planning¬
¬¬4.¬SURVEY PAGE 2
¬¬7.¬Please tell us a bit about your riding preferences.
Yes No
Do you prefer to ride off-street (on Class 1 greenways or park paths) compared to
on-street?
W
hen riding on-street, do you prefer to ride on streets with bike lanes (Class 2) and
bike route signs (Class 3)?
Do you plan your route based on the availability of Class 1 or Class 2 facilities?
W
ill you take a detour to a longer route if it is off-street?
¬¬8.¬Why should bike facilities be improved and expanded? Rank your answer on a scale of 1 to 5.
1 (least
useful)
234
5 (most
useful)
Better access to work place
Better access to neighborhood destinations like
shopping areas/banks/post office
Better access to neighborhood parks and
playgrounds
Better access to regional parks/the waterfront
Better access to transit
Better access to schools
Encouraging cycling in general as a more active
form of exercise
¬¬9.¬What design features would you like to see implemented? Rank your answers on a scale of 1 to 5.
1 (least
important)
234
5 (most
important)
Bike lanes with buffers
Colored asphalt for designated bike lanes
Two-way bikeways with barriers
Shared-use sidewalks
Greenways
the new york city bicycle survey
Department of City Planning
34
More street signs
Bike boxes at intersections
Traffic signals dedicated to bikers
Enhanced crosswalk designs to accommodate
bikers and pedestrians
Peg-a-tracking (dashed lines) to mark bike lanes
through intersections
¬¬10.¬Do you park your bike at racks provided by the City?
Yes No
¬¬11.¬Where else do you lock your bike?
Parking meters
Sign posts
Street lamps
Traffic signals
Street furniture, such as benches
Subway station staircase railings
Other (please specify)
¬¬12.¬Would you like more bike racks?
Yes No
¬¬13.¬If yes, where?
Curbside
W
ork place
Parking garages
Subway stations
Park-and-ride lots
Other (please specify)
<< Prev Next >>
the new york city bicycle survey
Transportation Division
35
¬¬Bicycle User Survey 2006, NYC Department of City Planning¬
¬¬5.¬SURVEY PAGE 3
¬¬14.¬If you do not commute by bicycle to work, why not? Rank each reason on a scale of 1 to 5.
1 (least
important)
234
5 (most
important)
I work too far from home
Roadway surface conditions are poor
No safe storage facility for my bike
Too much traffic/Driver behavior
No shower/change facility at work
No bike lanes/routes from my residence to
w
ork location
It is a longer commute by bicycle
¬¬15.¬If you do commute by bicycle to work, why? Rank each reason on a scale of 1 to 5.
1 (least
important)
234
5 (most
important)
I work close to home
It is healthy and good exercise
It is environmentally-friendly
It is faster than a car or mass transit (subway/
bus etc)
I have a shower/change facility at work
I can park my bike indoors
Bike facilities provide direct routes between
w
ork/home
It is economically beneficial
¬¬16.¬Please tell us about your commutation patterns.
Time of the
year
Frequency (in
round
trips/week)
I commute
the new york city bicycle survey
Department of City Planning
36
¬¬17.¬How long have you been commuting to work by bicycle?
Years Months
Please round to the closest quarter.
¬¬18.¬How much time does it take you to commute to work?
Hours Minutes
Please round your answer to the nearest five-minute period.
¬¬19.¬Do you bicycle to other transportation modes (subway, commuter rail, bus, ferry) to reach your
destination?
¬¬20.¬Is this transit connection essential to your ability to commute by bicycle?
¬¬21.¬Where do you park your bicycle?
At your residence At your work place
Please select the one that you use most often
<< Prev Next >>
the new york city bicycle survey
Transportation Division
37
¬¬Bicycle User Survey 2006, NYC Department of City Planning¬
¬¬6.¬SURVEY PAGE 4
¬¬22.¬Where does your commutation trip begin and end?
Borough/County/State
From
To
¬¬23.¬Please provide us with your origination and destination ZIP CODE. If you have multiple destinations,
type in more than one zip code separated by commas.
Origin
Destination
¬¬24.¬Please list the major streets you use to commute to work by bike. (LIMIT YOUR ANSWER TO A
MAXIMUM COMBINED TOTAL OF SIX STREETS WITHIN NEW YORK CITY.)
Example 1: You list two streets in BK (Bergen Street and Clinton Street) and four streets in MN (Lafayette
Street, Fourth Avenue, Park Avenue, East 20th Street) for a total of six streets listed.
Example 2: You list one street in QNS (Greenpoint Avenue), three streets in BK (Greenpoint Avenue,
Lorimer Street, Berry Street) and two streets in MN (Allen Street and the Bowery) for a total of six streets
listed.
The Bronx
Brooklyn
Manhattan
Queens
Staten Island
¬¬25.¬While commuting, what particular problems do you regularly encounter on your route? Rank your
answers on a scale of 1 to 5.
1 (least
impact)
234
5 (most
impact)
V
ehicles parked in bike lanes
V
ehicles driving in bike lanes
V
ehicles not sharing the roadwa
y
Other unauthorized use of bike lanes
Poor road surface conditions
the new york city bicycle survey
Department of City Planning
38
W
orn-out bike lane markings
Dooring
Difficulty in crossing intersections
¬¬26.¬Where do you consistently encounter the problems listed below? (IMPORTANT: PLEASE LIST
THE BOROUGH)
Example 1: High Traffic Volumes- BK, Third Avenue between Dean Street and Union Street
Example 2: Difficulty in crossing intersections-MN, Sixth Avenue and West 23rd Street
Poor road surface conditions
Worn-out bike lane markings
Lack of connectivity between bike facilities
Difficulty in crossing intersections
Vehicles in bike lanes
Doorin
g
High traffic volumes
Speeding traffic
Presence of heavy vehicles like trucks
¬¬27.¬Do you encounter problems entering or exiting bridge paths? PLEASE CHECK THE BRIDGE AND
LOCATION/S.
The
Bronx
Brooklyn Manhattan Queens
Staten
Island
Brooklyn Bridge
Manhattan Bridge
W
illiamsburg Bridge
Queensboro Bridge
Triborough Bridge
W
illis Avenue Bridge
Third Avenue Bridge
Macombs Dam Bridge
University Heights Bridge
Broadway Bridge
Henry Hudson Bridge
George Washington Bridge
Pulaski Bridge
Marine Parkway Bridge
V
eterans Memorial Bridge
Bayonne Bridge
the new york city bicycle survey
Transportation Division
39
¬¬29.¬Please provide us with your e-mail address if you would like to be contacted regarding current or
future planning projects or other bike-related activities.
<< Prev Next >>
¬¬28.¬Please provide additional comments if any.
Exit this survey >>
¬¬Bicycle User Survey 2006, NYC Department of City Planning¬
¬¬7.¬THANK YOU
W
e would like to take this opportunity to thank you for taking the time to complete the survey.
The information you have provided will enhance our planning efforts for current and future
projects.
<< Prev Done >>
the new york city bicycle survey
Department of City Planning
40
e number of responses to each question are listed in the chart below.
the new york city bicycle survey
Transportation Division
Question 1 1082 Question 16 798
Question 2 1080 Question 17 724
Question 3 1079 Question 18 779
Question 4 1077 Question 19 852
Question 5 993 Question 20 581
Question 6 997 Question 21 937
Question 7 1049 Question 22 811
Question 8 1046 Question 23 797
Question 9 1046 Question 24 728
Question 10 1046 Question 25 823
Question 11 992 Question 26 740
Question 12 1034 Question 27 570
Question 13 998 Question 28 405
Question 14 510 Question 29 654
Question 15 743
41
appendix 2:
response rates
the new york city bicycle survey
A useful component of the survey was the inclusion of an open-ended question to gather respondents’
feedback beyond the purview of the predefi ned questions and allow riders the an opportunity to off er
comments on anything related to cycling in the city. e 405 responses are listed in the following pages.
e three topics most frequently mentioned were bridges, motor vehicles and bicycle facilities. Cyclists
off ered comments about bridges 114 times. ese remarks mainly referred to problems with exiting and
entering the four bridges spanning the East River (Brooklyn, Manhattan, Williamsburg and Queensboro)
and lane confl icts with pedestrians while riding on bridges. e preponderance of comments related to
bicycling on and around the bridges may be slightly infl ated since the fi nal question in the survey (#27)
addressed riding on bridges and was fresh in the minds of respondents.
Confi rming the emergence of car traffi c as a key source of tension for cyclists elsewhere in the survey,
motor vehicles were mentioned 95 times in the open-ended comments. Commonly cited issues included
vehicles parking in bike lanes, driver behavior, taxis, and concerns around sharing the road. Also in line
with the survey’s structured questions, bicycle facilities were mentioned 65 times. ese comments usu-
ally included calls for more bike lanes, more buff ered bike lanes, more greenways, and suggestions for
a facility at a specifi c location. Overall, the free-form comments corroborated the major fi ndings of the
survey questions, and allowed for more detailed elaboration and input.
Department of City Planning
42
appendix 3:
question 28 comments
the new york city bicycle survey
Transportation Division
1 Please provide new infrastructure on Delancey! We have a superb bridge path but it dumps you in the middle of a deadly street. Give us an on-street median greenway.
2 I actually longboard on bike lanes. Longboarding is nearly as fast as biking in the city and more portable but requires better pavement conditions, so that is a priority.
3 The turn at the MN side of the manhattan bridge is too sharp, and there is not a good way to get into the street easily.
4 Complete/expand the dedicated bike paths along the Hudson and East Rivers -- and add a bike pathway along the East River in Brooklyn -- should be the highest priority.
5 thanks for caring!!
6 Cars are having no respect for bikers.
7 Crossing heavy traffic intersections at bridges is always hairy. Enforcing speed limits on residential sts & higher fines for cars that block bike lanes would help.
8 Biking in NYC is dangerous - we need more greenways to protect us from CARS and drivers with ROAD RAGE, they are out of control especially during rush hours
9 Why can't I bike across the Broadway Bride, between the Bronx and Manhattan Island?
10 poor road conditions are a dreadful hindrance to bicycling in Manhattan.
11 Call me to discuss in detail
12 my biggest problem in the city is that cars refuse to share the road with bikers. they tail us, beep, speed by at very close distances, and often cut me off.
13 Real, segregated bike lanes with buffers; enforcement against cars & peds that use bike lanes; adequate, safe sheltered street parking are the top three needs.
14 providing bike access or a FUNCTIONAL bus / bike rack connection on the Whitestone Bridge would make a very useful connection
15 double parking & honking at cyclists is the major problem i have encountered.
16 I frequently bike on the greenway that runs next to the Belt Parkway and in many places the conditions are HORRIBLE. The bridges are terrifying--there is no guard rail!
17 If bike lanes are not enforced, they are worse than useless, because the law says we must use them. This includes the presence of pedestrians in bike lanes.
18 Taxis drive like maniacs, pedestrians need to be sensitized to the presence of bicycles.
19 Top problems for cyclists: delivery cyclists going wrong way on street, taxi drivers that do not signal or obey traffic laws (sweeping lane changes, sudden stops, etc)
20 Would love to have a bike path along the queens waterfront
21 The lack of traffic law enforcement by the NYPD is appalling.
22 We NEED more bike lanes, please!
23 It is extremely difficult to find a legal route onto the Manhattan bridge when approaching from the west. The Queensboro Manhattan side entrance is very out of the way
24 MORE BIKE LANE BUFFERS PLS ESPECIALLY ON BUSY MN CROSSTOWN STREETS LIKE 34 ST
25 DELANCEY is a nightmare. I feel the least safe I have ever felt in my life riding on that street. I always get harassed by motorists, almost run over, unhelped by the NYPD.
26 NYC Bike Map: adjust grey/white border segments to conform to either miles or kilometers.
27 If I had a safe place to store my bike at work I would bike every day. Would like to see something done to encourage safe bike storage at the workplace.
28 On-street bike lanes as currently laid out are a joke -- no one pays any attention to them. Colored pavement might help.
29 1. Mounted Police should clean up after their horses or put diapers on the horses 2. Place bike paths between sidewalk & parked cars 3. More designated bike ways
30 in general difficult approach to bridge access ramps
31 There are no bike lanes on Jay sty or Adams st when getting onto the MN bridge or continuing into BK when getting off the bridge
32 signage drops off for MN Bridge at point of BK Bridge crossing.
33 JJ Byrne Bridge (QN,BK) is difficult also
34 Q.7 should ask about the degree of influence. Q.8 does not provide options for the best answers - encourage cycling as transportation; alert motorists to share the road.
35 NYCDOT just cut off my path from the Queensboro in Queens by converting a piece of 23rd St. under the Bridge to one way.
36 I used to commute by bike when I worked in midtown and lived in Chinatown so I answered those questions from that time. My commute now is a 45-second walk.
37 Please create safe bike lanes and greenways on the east side of Manhattan
38 The City must improve infrastructure for cycling and enforce existing laws to protect cyclists or cycling will continue to be dangerous, discouraging potential cyclists.
39 Need legal bridge sidewalk use on all Harlem River Br crossings, need southbound connector from Willis Br to Paladino Av
40 Drivers need to educated that they must share the road with cyclists.
41 I hope you finish the Citywide Greenway soon -- with no compromises against bicyclists!
42 I think the best possible improvement that DOT could make would be to have bike lanes that are separated from the rest of traffic - ie adding a barrier b/n cars & bikes.
43
the new york city bicycle survey
Department of City Planning
43 1. Most current bike lanes are too close to parked cars and the dangers of opening doors 2. I would go out of my way to ride in wide, well-designed bike lanes
44 Thank You for the survey
45 Cars out of Central Park at all times - they don't need to be there and they speed!!!!!
46 Riding around the pillars on the GW Bridge is very dangerous. Visibility is very poor and it's virtually impossible to see oncoming riders/runners/walkers.
47 NYPD cease open hostility toward cyclists and work to protect cyclists from dangerous drivers. ticket bladers, runners, and walkers that use greenway bike lanes.
48 need dedicated left turn signal from GWB exit ramp onto Ft Washington Ave north
49 Prosecute dangerous drivers
50 I work from home & do not commute
51 Cars should be ticketed more than bikes for traffic infringements.
52 Access to the MN sides of the Queensboro and Williamsburg Bridge bike lines is ridiculously dangerous
53 Cars parked in bike lanes is the single biggest problem I encounter. It happens consistently in every route and every bike lane I use.
54 People who designed these paths on the bridges probably never rode a bike on the bridge.
55 There is no proper and legal way to get from downtown MN onto the Brooklyn Bridge without going 6 blocks out of the way.
56 I would greatly appreciate more bike lanes. I am a young biker and would go out of my way to use them. There are not nearly enough for this size of a city.
57 I like the questions you asked--I can see the thought that went into the questionnaire and I get the sense it was written by people who ride!
58 more bike lanes, leading to flatbush and around flatbush
59 Path betw wmsburg & park slope sorely needed. Better signs on brooklyn side of bridges. Dooring needs bigger penalties/awareness (recent taxi stickers appreciated).
60 Verrazano Bridge needs bike access somehow
61 I wish there was a 2-way bike path on MN-Canal street on the short span between christie st and the manhattan bridge bike entrance. It would help and would be safer.
62 Police should stop harassing bikers.
63 jaywalkers are a major problem for cars and bicycles
64 Needs to be more/better signs designating the separate ped and bike paths on the Manhattan bridge. The MN side entrance/exit to the Manhattan bridge is dangerous.
65 good survey, thanks for collecting the feedback.
66 Bike lanes are great. Nobody enforces them and they are just used as double parking lanes. Why are all of the bike lanes located to the far east or far west of MN?
67 I'd like some more control on unruly drivers who curse at me while i ride on the side of the road :-)
68 Thanks for this opportunity - need more indoor parking for bikes, and more driver ed. regarding bikers.
69 i'm a consultant with many clients all over manhattan so commuting is not an option for me
70 we need more bike racks, as many blocks have no street signs or meters to lock up; landlord refuses to allow me to bring my bike up freight elevator to park in my office.
71 please install on-street greenways
72 There should be no cars in the parks, not Central park and not Prospect park. Parks are not for people to drive in, it is not safe!
73 Access to Williamsburg Bridge from the Manhattan side is extremely dangerous!
74 I would commute much more often if the routes were safe!
75 this survey is weak
76 we need more bike paths
77 we need more racks and indoor bike parking. also, neither cycling map nor city sites (that I can find) detail available parking options.
78 I am a freelancer and so go to multiple destinations for work, often in one day. This survey doesn't seemed geared to this organization of time & transport.
79 you people need to get w/ it, please.
80 More bike lanes please!
81 It's better if the city provided 5 to 10 complete bike routes that transverse the ENTIRE city as opposed to painting bike lanes on select roads for a few miles at a time.
82 New bike lane on Tillary to the bridge is splendid - more like this please. MN Chambers desperately needs a bike lane down to the West Side Greenway.
83 The worst part of the commute is Adams Street in BK. Lots of cars & bike lanes always blocked. There should be a delayed light for bikers only to get on bklyn bridge.
84 even cops park in bike lanes and open their doors without regard
44
the new york city bicycle survey
Transportation Division
85 As an exercise cyclist there needs to be better connectivity to Central Park with bike lanes and non-street Greenways as too many people park/unload in the bike lanes.
86 No East Side Park Bike Lanes
87 The MN side of the Manhattan Bridge is a disaster with a one-way street going the wrong direction from where people want to go, poor light timings, and oblivious peds.
88 The entrance/exit to the Manhattan Bridge is extremely dangerous from any street or direction.
89 The 2 biggest problems in my opinion are drivers violating traffic laws namely running lights or stop signs & hazardous road conditions
90 Brooklyn Bridge Bike path needs better markings to keep the tourists off it.
91 I ride Broadway in BK from Boyland St all the way to the Williamsburg Bridge. The condition of the road surface is in a really poor state, potholes, ridges, etc.
92 Bike path needed on Riverside drive
93 I think a lot could be done around driver education on basic traffic rules and regs as well as sharing the road. Cars are so hostile towards bicycles and pedestrians!
94 I see the NYPD passing cars parked/driving in the bike lanes. If the NYPD wants the bikers to obey the traffic laws they need to start enforcing the bike lane laws.
95 All of the east river bridges on the MN side are very dangerous (esp. Manhattan & Williamsburg). Cars don't wait for cyclist to get across. They seem to aim at us.
96 a separate bike traffic light at the BK side of the Brklyn Brdg would be wonderful; the Manhattan Bridge on the MN side is a terrible place to bike-- but I do it everyday!
97 The bridge bike lanes are fabulous (Williamsburg, Manhattan, Brooklyn)
98 more money needs to be spent on all aspects of biking
99 I think the main problem is that there is no continuous education for cab, car, and truck drivers about being aware and considerate of cyclists on the road.
100 The NYPD bike seizures are BOGUS!
101 Pulaski Bridge path access to/from the East is terrible.
102 Ticketing of bicyclists for infractions such as missing bells or reflectors is abusive and egregious. I have yet to see a vehicle ticketed for blocking a bike lane.
103 QNS side of Pulaski bridge intersection is very dangerous (consistently harassed by motor vehicles in Astoria). There needs to be more investment in bike infrastructure.
104 Manhattan side of Williamsburg Bridge is incredibly dangerous. The Triborough needs a ramp. Brooklyn Bridge entrances are both dangerous.
105 Motorists, peds & delivery vans seem to have idea that bike lanes exist simply for additional parking and driving. Lanes need to be clearly marked BIKE LANE.
106 Please help promote safer bike conditions in NYC! Thank you!
107 This is a good start. Bikes are important to the city and it's good to see some recognition.
108 People in cars are oblivious to cyclists. They constantly swerve into the bike lane without looking and turn without signaling. I have been doored & clipped several times.
109 Manhattan Bridge is Excellent, 59th Street Bridge is exceptionally difficult to get to by avenues going north
110 The main problem is that drivers in NYC are dangerous and inconsiderate (especially of people that ride their bikes) and there are not bike lanes anywhere that I commute.
111 More money should be spent to encourage bicycling, and not to ticket or arrest them!
112 To all public servants of NYC: You are not above the law. Stop parking your cars in the bike lanes.
113 Please work to eliminate motorized vehicles from central park. They are hazardous, as there are too many joggers and cyclists. They also drive much too fast.
114 Bikes are constant harassed for taking up a whole lane. Cars are always parked in bike lanes. Bike lanes are made for getting doored so I hardly ever ride in them.
115 Everything that can be done to accommodate bicycles will be a great improvement to the city and a benefit to all of its residents
116 Houston St is one of the most perilous streets for cyclists. Drivers are increasingly reckless and irresponsible near bridges, tunnels, and highway entrances/exits.
117 all bronx bridges could use some talc for bikers
118 a full two wide lane separated bike road that runs north/south e.g. in the middle of Park Ave would solve most problems for commuters. bike lanes are not very useful
119 Drivers: slow down and don't cut off bikes. Peds need to acknowledge that bikes are NOT as dangerous as cars and keep out of bike lane. Share the road education.
120 The city should have bike only sections of greenways - the no pedestrian rule should be enforced with ticketing. Double parking too.
121 It isn't just the cars - it's careless pedestrians who step out into the street without looking against traffic signals and/or jaywalking
122 The city could be a better place if non-cycling people felt safe to bike. This can only happen when the city REALLY promotes cycling+infrastructure improvements.
123 there are not enough bike lanes and not enough enforcement of cars parked in the lanes. there's a lack of awareness on the part of vehicles and peds about bikes.
124 Cyclists must dismount at Newtown Creek bridge Metropolitan Ave.
125 One of the biggest problems is getting people and cars to respect bike lanes.
126 I can't wait until the Greenpath on the east side of Manhattan is properly finished. Bike map should show access roads to Greenway. I keep getting stuck at stairsways.
45
the new york city bicycle survey
Department of City Planning
127 I commute 6 miles one way & ride on 3 sidewalks during the trip. Cops hassle me about riding on the wide sidewalks but no bike paths are available in high traffic location.
128 intersection off MN bridge is a NIGHTMARE crossing; no easy access uptown w/one way traffic off left of bridge. BK Bridge on BK side, cars do not honor traffic lights.
129 It is great you are taking a serious look into this. I look forward to hearing more about your changes.
130 Triboro bridge is dangerous and inconvenient for cyclists. There should be a way to commute that does not require carrying a bike up and down many flights of stairs.
131 MN BR: BK side, entering from Jay St. is treacherous w/trucks exiting BQE. MN side, peds crossing Canal St. to/from Forsythe are unaware of bikes at bridge path.
132 Thanks for providing the survey!
133 cab drivers are completely erratic and never yield to bikers.
134 would love to see bike racks on buses like Seattle and Austin
135 Cars in Central Park biggest problem, including service vehicles.
136 MH side of W'burg bridge...crossing guards only help the cars. cars run the red light all the time. super dangerous
137 Access to the Manhattan Bridge on Brklyn side is very dangerous. How do I get from Jay St past the auto exit ramp to the bike ramp without getting crushed by trucks?
138 wmsbg bridge entrance on MN side is hard to get to. I ride along delancey st & merge with heavy traffic. delancey needs buffered bike lane from bowery to the bridge.
139 ticketing bikes for minor traffic violations while so many cars break laws with impunity is bad policy.
140 paths are too small and dangerous
141 more bike lanes please!
142 Due to one way streets it is hard to enter and exit the bridge legally/safely
143 Open Central park pathways for bikes like all other urban city parks, impose speed limit for pedestrian safety
144 Greenpoint Avenue. bridge, BKLN and QNS
145 Queensboro brdg shoots you out into traffic on the MN side. Very dangerous. If you turn left onto 60th St after coming off the bridge, it's hard to make a left onto 2nd Ave.
146 Queens Plaza area at Queensboro bridge landing is dangerous for cyclists. Needs to be a more direct and safe access to the bike lane on the bridge from Queens.
147 ask questions related to other types of riding, besides commuting to work
148 what about a cross MN car free route on weekends linking Queensboro bridge to Central Park, also MN eastside waterfront park down to Brooklyn Bridge
149 make city more bike friendly-more greenways, more safe laces to store bikes, police more attuned to bike theft
150 Please do something about Chinatown - it is the most biker unfriendly area of Manhattan - perhaps a separate bike lane or traffic enforcement of parked delivery trucks
151 We need a bike lane on First Ave in MN
152 A bike lane on McGuiness Blvd. coming off the Pulaski Bridge would be great.
153 Buses weaving in and out of my lane of travel (being the right-hand side of the road) are particularly dangerous.
154 As for question 15, the presence of a direct route via bike facilities to work does not strongly influence my decision to commute by bike because there isn't a direct route.
155 The pedestrians on the Brooklyn bridge do not read the signs, a few police or other uniformed official to teach them would be good. This is a problem all summer.
156 There needs to be more facilities to park bikes and penalties for cars or pedestrians blocking the bike paths
157 The Hudson River Park is the first 1/2 of my commute. It is safe well lit, enjoyable riding, no matter what time of the year. The paths are well maintained year round.
158 GW Bridge very confusing to enter.
159 have cops stop harassing critical mass
160 There should be a comprehensive bike locker program so that bikes are not stolen. Bike lockers are common in SF and I think they would work well.
161 make bad drivers accountable. ticket them. file accident reports. teach bike awareness. and stop harassing critical mass. thanks.
162 Bikeways along City Hall Park, both sides Adams St always filled vehicles forcing bikes out into bus and truck lanes. It's only a matter of time before a tragedy is caused.
163 Difficult to cross streets and service lanes at the same time to get to bridge bike path at Tillary
164 Difficulty crossing off-ramp traffic from bridge, many large vehicles,
165 please add more bike racks throughout Brooklyn and Manhattan, especially near restaurants. Additional bike lanes would be great too!
166 Thank you.
167 I work from home.
168 Buses are my biggest safety issue. The greenway in the 80's/90's needs repair! Runners/peds on the bike/skate only sections is out of hand. I love riding in NYC.
46
the new york city bicycle survey
Transportation Division
169 Kamikaze cyclists as well as packs of hoodlum youths are a menace on the Brooklyn Bridge.
170 Question 7: If dedicated bikeways were well-designed, maintained, not cluttered with peds/carriages/dog walkers, then I would prefer them & ride further to use them.
171 More bike lanes are good to encourage those that don't bike regularly. I don't use them cuz they're underdesigned or out of the way. I ride with traffic as traffic-- it's safer.
172 I would like to most see is extra-wide right lanes with or without 'shared lane' markings -- i believe bicyclists do best when they act and are treated as any other vehicle.
173 Schedule is variable with no warning-cyclists must use very indirect route to get to greenway or riverside--terrible compare to car access to bridge!
174 Re: proposed Qns East river greenway: please provide a dedicated bike land along Vernon Blvd!!!!
175 manhattan bridge access for pedestrians and cyclists is abysmal
176 Pls. fix road surface/please get cars out of bike lanes, including police vehicles. Please publicize dangers of dooring.
177 Please put a stop sign up at the car exit to the Queensboro bridge in MN where it crosses the bike lane exit on E 60 St
178 bike lanes need buffers to make safe to cyclists if you want us to use them instead of purposely using streets that don't have bike lanes
179 Essentially the city should be promoting cycling more to work. There should be a vehicle law reducing the amount of cars from out of town that come into the city.
180 POLICE need to ticket drivers that threaten to hit riders with there vehicles
181 this city has a long way to go in terms of encouraging cycling and mass transit. not only is it dangerous to cycle in this city, the buses are impeded by heavy car traffic
182 Hudson River bike path: promote pedestrian use of walking paths
183 Bike lanes throughout the city would be so cost effective for all New Yorkers!
184 your new 8th Avenue bike lane is great!
185 The entry/ramp to the GWB needs to be redesigned
186 I appreciate your efforts with this survey. Please share it with your colleagues at PD and DOT. Many of the biggest problems start there.
187 I've stopped using the wonderful 2nd Ave buffered lane since I was doored there 4 weeks ago. Cars abuse that lane so badly. Need enforcement!!
188 The entrances are narrow and windy, and pavement is not well maintained, and there are slippery metal plates on sidewalk approach
189 Pedestrians and cyclists squeezed together on GWB.
190 please make cycling safe in our beloved NYC. cycling is good for NYC and please help improve the greatest city in the world!! NYC!!
191 Traffic on MN side of Williamsburg bridge is often trouble. I oppose a Helmet Law!
192 Need the Verrazano Narrows Bridge bike -ped paths completed. TBTA should drop the ban on cycle riding on bridge paths. Goethals Bridge to open in 2006
193 Exit of Queensboro Bridge is dangerous. Too sharp a curve to go to First Ave, crossing 60th St is dangerous due to exiting traffic from ramp. Need a street light there.
194 There is an empty lane off the Q-bridge in Queens that could be used as a bike lane. Instead, it is blocked and bikes are forced to ride against traffic to 28th St.
195 Dirt and sand and gravel in bike lanes
196 Improve the path on the east side of Manhattan
197 I feel like I'm risking my life by riding my bike in NYC. Please help, mostly by educating drivers. Make NYC a more bike friendly place!
198 Very hazardous bridge exit in Manhattan. Bike traffic Manhattan bound crosses bike traffic going from 60th St onto bridge. Speed bumps/curbs are needed to slow bikes.
199 current bike paths in MN are more dangerous than streets
200 Make drivers more aware of danger of dooring
201 Figuring out how to get ON the bridges is often very difficult
202 please plan more greenways and buffered lanes
203 Need more bike lanes and more enforcement to keep cars/trucks out. There should be public education campaign about sharing the road with bikes/pedestrians.
204 I would like to see the bike path on the Goethals Bridge re-opened, Access to the Brooklyn Bridge from Brooklyn needs improvement
205 vehicles, especially livery and cabs speed excessively in central park
206 In the 15 years I have lived on SI it has become horrible to ride. Children will never learn to ride bicycles because someone will kill them in the roads.
207 My commute is 60 mi. one way. More bike lanes/signs to alert drivers to share the road bikes might make trips safer and encourage me to use the bike for most errands.
208 Why do many mta, dot, tbta bridges say:
209 go back to 9/11 carpool only into ALL of Manhattan! Follow England and other nations who have made cycling safer by encouraging less cars through congestion pricing.
210 RE: Question 7 - I prefer well paved roads. RE: Question 8 - I prefer wider bike lanes because I can remain in the bike lane when I swerve to avoid being 'doored'.
47
the new york city bicycle survey
Department of City Planning
211 I would LOVE to commute to work but rarely do so because I don't feel safe even if using bike lanes. Please enforce cars in the way of bike lanes!!
212 I would like to be able to take my bike on the bus that crosses the Verrazano Bridge so that I can get to Staten Island with my bicycle from Brooklyn.
213 I would love to commute however Staten Island - Richmond Ave, Rich Terrace and Hylan Blvd are way too dangerous & high volume, poor road conditions
214 The biggest problem is not the cars but the pedestrians. They don't think of cyclists as vehicles and will blatantly walk out in front of cyclists against their red.
215 Access to bridges in general is just terrible
216 would use bike if safe
217 Figure out easier access to the West side greenway from 72nd Street, east side greenway - b/w 59-86 is a mess and connects to nothing!!!
218 Traffic signals timed to 25 mph would make major streets more pleasant for cyclists and peds. I'd bet that slowing down the slaloming traffic would improve flow too.
219 Ocean parkway bike path is in poor condition. Huge cracks in the cement. Terrible ride. No clear markings for peds to stay out of bike lane.
220 Bike lanes and accessways are always afterthoughts in planning.
221 The city has done a nice job with the greenways. I look forward to additional improvements related to bicycling.
222 Need far more bike lanes in Manhattan especially cross town
223 I go out of my way to ride on the Hudson Greenway because it makes my commute much safer.
224 Pedestrian traffic in bike areas on Greenway / bridges is common and dangerous. Existing signage isn't working. Thanks for conducting this survey!
225 Drivers need to be more aware of their surroundings, and stop parking in the bike lanes!
226 i've had my bike stolen many times at work because i cannot bring my bike into my office. I'm considering no longer biking to work. please find a SOLUTION!!!
227 Williamsburg Brdg MN entrance is very dangerous! Traffic is often re-routed with barrels, bikers don't know which way cars are going. Curb cuts not in the right places.
228 Encouraging one-way traffic in Central Park loop, especially for cyclists and rollerbladers.
229 Instead of, or in addition to, mandating bike access for workplaces, incentives should be considered to promote bicycle parking at workplaces.
230 The Roosevelt Island Bridge is in horrible condition - very unsafe for cyclists.
231 Bridge & street traffic flow is always dangerous
232 It is very difficult to turn onto the bridge bikeway with speeding traffic pinning you in, ditto exiting in Manhattan
233 Awkward and dangerous
234 It would be nice to see drivers cited for parking in bike lanes. Cops just ignore it.
235 Second Ave needs a bike lane! There is no unbroken southbound route for the east side.
236 Crosstown bike lane in MN, W106th Street, & bike lane in MN, West End Ave, I'd be able to take my child to preschool on a bike and increase commute to 5 days/week.
237 cars are rude to bicyclists and they leave us no room
238 Please enforce the bikes and skates only policy on the west side bikeway. It's extremely dangerous if there are joggers, peds, people with dogs, and strollers on it.
239 Brooklyn Bridge needs more bike & pedestrian signs - tourists don't know, and are often standing/walking/lounging in the bike lane.
240 The biggest dangers I face are pedestrians...those exiting cars without looking for bikes and those who cross against the light in front of me at intersections.
241 Getting on and off the brooklyn bridge in Manhattan is confusing and unsafe.
242 office building bike access!!
243 most of the bike lanes are useless or more dangerous than the street. Need to be separated or there needs to be real enforcement about no parking etc in the bike lane
244 THE CITY DESPERATELY NEEDS TO ENFORCE SPEED LIMITS AND GET AN OPERABLE BIKE PLAN IN MOTION BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF OIL.
245 Cars run stop signs frequently; pedestrians do not pay attention
246 Overall the city is getting to be a better place to ride. I plot my rides to minimize interaction with commuting car traffic.
247 PLEASE complete the connector between the HH bridge and the west-side greenway!
248 park police are ridiculous with their ticketing- i was 20ft off the greenway, thought it was legal area and wasn't given a warning but a $50 ticket while dozens did same
249 No available bike lanes from Central Park to/from midtown on East Side; Cars in Central Park pollute and are dangerous to bikers, pedestrians and kids
250 If there's any way to clear the inbound bike path on Adams Street, please do it. Policemen and court officers should not park their cars in the bike lane.
251 the South lanes are too often closed
252 although i rarely commute by bike due to lack of secure parking, i encounter these issues on recreational rides
48
the new york city bicycle survey
Transportation Division
253 More street bike lanes are needed. There are none on 9th Avenue. I went down 13th Street to avoid 14th Street (MN) and it is in horrible condition!
254 I hope New York can be made as bike and pedestrian friendly as London.
255 This survey didn't accommodate irregular bicycling patterns to well.
256 it's very scary riding a bike in nyc. I can't say how many times I've almost been run over by a city bus or a private driver. cabbies are pretty good in general.
257 The 'bike' side of the Manhattan bridge has too many walkers. There needs to be better signs/enforcement.
258 The Queensboro Bridge has been very difficult to cross in the mornings because construction workers are parked all over the pedestrian/bike path.
259 1. Spacey, camera-wielding peds on the bridges are often more problematic than cars. 2. North bike lane on MAN bridge is a big improvement over the south. Thanks!
260 We need many more bike racks in midtown. I commuted by bike during the transit strike and I would do it every day if I could park my bike around 58th and Madison.
261 I used to commute to work when I worked in midtown. I would ride thru Central Park and lock the bike on the street or in the basement of the office bldg.
262 I would like to see better enforcement of vehicles which park or drive in bike lanes. I often see police that watch this happen and do nothing.
263 The BK exit from the Manhattan Bridge is an accident waiting to happen
264 Bike lanes need physical barriers or they are USELESS!
265 Bridge access ramps too narrow
266 I no longer live in NYC, but I still work there part time. I would love to be able to use public transportation/biking to commute but there is no secure parking.
267 The stairs on the Queens side of the Triborough Bridge are WAY too steep!
268 it's very frustrating to see cyclists victimized by ticketing blitzes by the NYPD that cars are spared.
269 The road surface is extremely rough on the NJ side of the GWB
270 There should be some type of accountability for aggression from car drivers towards bicyclists.
271 Corporate/Building benefits to encourage them to provide indoor bike storage would be GREAT
272 biking is extremely dangerous. car drivers should be more educated. or better yet, make all cars, except taxis illegal in manhattan.
273 Brooklyn Bride on/off in Brooklyn is most hazardous and filled with potholes
274 I don't cross the bridges from the BX because conditions for cyclists are too scary
275 car free parks is not as important as enforcing the current laws. Keep cars out of bike lanes, encourage commuting by bike, get the city used to sharing ALL roadways
276 Biggest threat is cars running reds
277 Cars should be the last priority, not the first.
278 Most important thing is more active enforce and educate people about traffic laws -- peds who step into the street without looking, cyclists who go against traffic, etc.
279 entering delancey st in manhattan from Williamsburg bridge is VERY dangerous, cars speed at the lights for unexplainable reasons.
280 Driver behavior and lack of dedicated bike lanes makes it unsafe to bike in most NYC streets. I would bike much more often if it were safe.
281 Biggest danger is w/aggressive drivers in midtown Manhattan
282 It's difficult to get to the pedestrian entrance of the GW Bridge, there's no bike lane around there that feeds into it. I've done it on foot & on bike and either way it's messy.
283 A law requiring landlords to allow people to bring their bikes to their offices would be terrific. Most important thing you could do.
284 City needs to provide a bike lane connecting the brooklyn bridge to the west side greenway
285 Double parked cars are a constant nuisance when biking in the city.
286 This survey is geared towards people who commute to work. There should be a survey relating to people who do not bike to work due to the dangerous conditions.
287 Top priority improve both sides of Queensboro Bridge. MN side first, connecting West side safely to entrance. Extend path along existing medians N side in QNS?
288 Consider bike lane construction: starting w/ the bldgs, move out to pedestrian sidewalk, curb, bike lane, physical barrier, on street parking lane, auto traffic & repeat
289 bike parking is impossible
290 Recently, Hudson River Greenway has been the site of numerous construction projects. Not dangerous but disruptive.
291 Double-parking is biking's biggest enemy, and there seems to be no NYPD ticketing to reduce/prevent it.
292 No longer commuting due to layoff
293 I commuted by bike every day before moving to BKLN, but now I do not because people speed excessively in BKLN and I do not feel safe to ride more often.
294 The key to safer streets for all NYC residents is better enforcement of existing traffic laws. This will make our streets safer for all users!
49
the new york city bicycle survey
Department of City Planning
295 Entry is difficult to find, not illuminated, roads narrow and dangerous.
296 Delancey approach to Williamsburg bridge is suicidally treacherous, but my safer (Ave. B) alternative is inconvenient
297 Queensboro bridge MN entrance sucks. Manhattan bridge MN entrance has signs that lead you in an enormous circle. Harlem river bridges bike lanes are just sidewalks.
298 Willis Ave bridge sidewalk needs a ramp and crossing on Bronx side (or a bike lane).
299 Please get rid of the stupid gates by the ped and bike paths on the BRKLN side of the Manhattan Bridge. Please build a separate ped/bike path on the Verrazano Bridge.
300 I walk to work because it's so close to my home (10 blocks)
301 thank you for conducting this study and hearing our voices. it's very appreciated. thank you for caring about our lives.
302 exiting from the curving bridge path onto the sidewalk is lethal!!! One slightly wrong move and a cyclist could be thrown into fast moving cars coming off the bridge!
303 Greenway signage in the Bronx is very poor
304 Please improve Queensboro Bridge approach on both sides! Please provide eastward path on Queens side of bridge. Please fix lights on QB Bridge.
305 The cycling situation has improved greatly but there's a long way to go before it is safe/viable for average riders to ride throughout the city.
306 Please get the bike lane signs and lines repainted on the ENTIRE Brooklyn Bridge! Please remove the temporary fencing on the MN (north) side of the Manhattan bridge.
307 Help! It's dangerous out there. Taxis especially disregard bicyclists' safety (and existence).
308 I wish I could ride to Museums and sporting events and put my bike in a secure place, like checking a coat, where it would be watched by a guard.
309 connect the east river greenway between 34th and 63rd
310 With all respect, the approach to Manhattan Bridge is terrible. It's still easier to use Jay Street. You made it more difficult AND more dangerous. MN side: too short.
311 In early spring Borough President Scott Stringer spoke about holding a Transportation Summit. What happened?
312 Many times if there is construction, there aren't offered alternatives to the only access. This could be addressed with a shuttle system.
313 pedestrians and taxis are biggest problem
314 Indoor parking for commuters is a major major problem
315 I'M AFRAID OF DYING WHEN RIDING ON STREETS
316 Bike lanes are ok, but they perpetuate the idea that cars should have primacy, that bikes don't belong on streets and make motorists dangerously hostile to cyclists.
317 On weekends there Brooklyn bridge is very crowded. On my last trip I crashed into the railing.
318 Bayonne Bridge Requires cyclist to dismount, try that in Road shoes
319 thanks for doing this survey
320 I do not use bridges
321 The biggest problem with biking in the city is a lack of respect from drivers. This mostly comes from drivers not understanding they must share the road with cyclists.
322 No interior bike storage is the number one reason that I do not commute to work on my bike.
323 I don't commute to work. I'm a musician who plays drums.
324 SUV's are the biggest new hazard cutting into the bicyclist in Manhattan
325 I've encountered a problem called 'selective enforcement' with NYPD where cars are allowed to use a street but not cyclists. NYPD should notify cyclists beforehand.
326 bikers are just as reckless as drivers
327 Appalling lack of bike lanes on First and Second Aves
328 Triborough Bike Lane is hard to find on the Queens side
329 Biggest problems I face are cars intentionally cutting me off and pedestrians stepping in front of my path
330 I have been an easy target for ticketing by bike police Yet I rarely see cars being ticketed. I am frequently cut off by traffic not using their turn signals at intersections!
331 need Verrazano bridge bike path
332 I don't have to cross a bridge
333 I love the bike path on the West side. Can't there be a few more north/south routes separated from traffic? Also where are adequate bike lanes for crosstown routes?
334 Bicycle riding is a disaster in New York. I pay as much taxes as any car owner but more street space and resources are given to each individual car. This is outrageous.
335 It is difficult to enter the Brooklyn Bridge on the Manhattan sound when approaching from the southside.
336 traffic enforcement saves lives!
50
the new york city bicycle survey
Transportation Division
337 I think that the Williamsburg bridge improvements are great. I feel like I am still in the midst of the city and not about to get attacked like on both sides of Manhattan Bridge
338 Thanks for taking action! There are way too few bike paths...
339 Traffic
340 I would like the process for getting a bike rack in my neighborhood to involve a simple phone call to one person
341 help with bike safety is necessary
342 No bike rails on steps of Bronx side of Triborough Bridge
343 Manhattan Bridge is dangerous with all those cars turning under to get on the highway. I've seen quite a few terrible mishaps there and I always fear for my life there.
344 SUVs, wider cars are bad for bikes - they hog road space. The crucial shoulder btw parked cars & moving traffic is getting narrower. Bikes get squeezed. Scary!
345 2nd Ave (14th-Houston) has bike lane/ First Ave (Houston - 14th) does not.
346 more parking facilities need to be created throughout city
347 The city REALLY does not do enough for bicycling, and even seems to subtly discourage it.
348 Bridges need better access points and directions
349 Cars are regularly parked blocking bike path under the FDR. Runners, walkers, and especially people walking backwards in the bike path are a hazard under the FDR.
350 More enforcement of traffic rules, please!
351 when not commuting by bike I use bus AND Subway (question 19). West side greenway is JEWEL! undervalued and underappreciated-I would not commute without it!
352 Cars should be ticketed for endangering cyclists (dbl parking, dooring, cutting off at intersections, honking, verbally threatening). They need bike education from the DMV.
353 The 'right turn permitted after stopping' at Boerum/Adams and Atlantic in BK should be discontinued - no one stops!
354 The Washington Bridge is so dangerous for bikes that I think you should take it off your bike map or fix it. The sidewalk is way too small and the roadway is a death trap.
355 Cars are never ticketed or policed
356 Center St/Park Row at Manhattan end of Brooklyn Bridge worst stretch in daily commute - vehicles parked along entire length of bike lane & heavy car & pedestrian traffic
357 My biggest problem is finding a place to park at work. My building does not always allow me to bring my bike in.
358 Some buses should have bike racks... I've seen this in California. Provisions should be made for cyclists to cross the Verrazano, Whitestone & Throggs Neck Bridges.
359 Brooklyn bridge has a real problem with peds & bikers 'sharing' . Peds don't know etiquette
360 If there were secure parking I would bike to do errands, shopping, etc. If there were showers at work, I'd bike to work daily.
361 traffic all over brooklyn is heavy. prospect park should not be a park and not a thru street, and grand army plaza is too congested.
362 Bridges around Grand Street (BK), Metropolitan Ave. bridge and few blocks later state dismount and walk bicycles, but there are obstructions on the walking path.
363 you need a section for people who bike AS their work
364 I lived in Germany for 26 years where bicycle paths separated from car traffic by greenways or at least a curb are the norm.
365 The Manhattan Bridge North side is great.
366 thanks for the opportunity to comment. Please evaluate the pollution and disruption to greenway by helicopters on westside highway. They idle irresponsibly for hours.
367 The Willis Ave Bridge is unusable since you can't safely cross on the BX side when entering from MN. Also the Madison Br is difficult on BX side, coming from MN.
368 Driver Awareness of bike lanes and rules severely lacking! Please help educate drivers!
369 Fewer ridiculous tickets to cyclists (no bell tickets!). Focus on real problems like unusable bike lanes (too narrow, too close to parked car doors, parked vehicles, etc).
370 More bike lanes please!!! More access to city streets safely! Thank you
371 PLEASE ALLOW BIKES IN OFFICE BLDGS - IT WORKED DURING THE TRANSIT STRIKE. I WOULD COMMUTE EVERY DAY BY BIKE AND BE MUCH HEALTHIER!!!!!
372 I think experienced cyclists have few problems. The city is very inhospitable to less experienced bikers and needs to take into account their needs.
373 Please feel free to contact me!! I love to bike in the City and I am happy to help!
374 bicycles are more than just exercise, don't forget bike messengers
375 In memory of Derek Lake: R.I.P. 06-26-06
376 Get motorists to yield along west side highway when turning right (west) going downtown like on 38th St. i've almost been killed there many times. more signs please!
377 Bike Route signs can be vague, perhaps need more signs or road markings...like colored road markings
378 Ped and driver general ignorance do not look out or respect cyclists. European cities see cycling as a norm. NYC public is very ignorant. Walk right in front of cyclists.
51
the new york city bicycle survey
Department of City Planning
379 please do something to enforce the illegal parking of cars/trucks in bike lanes.
380 exiting the bike path on the Manhattan bridge is extremely dangerous, people tend to walk up the bride on that side and the turn is really steep.
381 My commute - I bike from my house to the DeKalb subway station and then take the train to work. I don't bike because of the traffic in Manhattan not the time or distance.
382 The greenway needs to be accessible at more places. Currently no access between 125th and 168th.
383 Please help add bike lanes and barriers in Manhattan--make it bike friendly, not dangerous. My friend who lives in Harlem is always getting hurt, mostly by dooring.
384 The Brooklyn side entrance to the Manhattan bridge needs serious rethinking
385 excessive crackdowns and surveillance by the police have made me uncomfortable about riding in the city
386 MORE PARKING!!!! IT SHOULD BE REQUIRED FOR EVERY BUILDING WITH A CAR GARAGE AT A MINIMUM
387 please, please enforce bike lane regs! PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS! Please!
388 3 cyclists died in june 06 already! stop cracking down on cyclists & crack down on drivers endangering cyclists. should be working with us not against us.
389 I love bicycling in New York, I would like to see bike lanes reserved for bikes, but this may be a pipe dream.
390 Thank you. #1 problem is bike lanes that are too few, poorly maintained and ignored by motorists.
391 No entrance on Willis ave. bridge for bikers
392 Bike racks should be required for new commercial developments. The new Atlas Mall in Glendale, Queens has NO bike parking and very unfriendly bike rules.
393 Right now the biggest reason NYC should be doing more to support alternate transportation is to reduce traffic congestion AND pollution.
394 Broadway in Brklyn is the most double parked, truck used, potholed, speeded on, and uncomfortable yet most direct route from many places in BK to the W-burg bridge.
395 The biggest obstacle other than traffic that I encounter is the fact that I am not allowed to bring my bike into my building at work. I must park it on street.
396 The focus of NYC planning with regard to bicycle/traffic policy should be on driver ed, increasing awareness and respect towards cyclists, & improve street surfaces!
397 please add Master Bike Shop on to your next printing of your NYC Cycling map - they are great on the Westside of Manhattan
398 Please make it easier to get onto and off Manhattan bridge, esp. BK
399 Two issues: Hudson River Park bike lanes are always filled with peds or runners; 8th Ave bike lanes have taxis/trucks parked in them too often.
400 More dedicated bike lanes! Bicycles are the most cost-effective, healthy, environmentally sound mode of transportation. Cars are killing us, wake up people!
401 Thank you for your effort to improve biking in the city!
402 I would be more than willing to help you with any case study on any issue raised in this survey, provided its under contract and in agreement with compensation.
403 The Greenway needs completion in upper Manhattan - continuation upriver from GW Bridge to Dyckman and beyond. The path at 79th St needs completion.
404 Need paths, routes, directions to link to Westchester
405 Reduce travel and car parking lanes on Upper East and dedicate to expanded sidewalks and bike space.
52
e origins and destinations of commuter cyclists are listed on the following two pages.
the new york city bicycle survey
Transportation Division
53
appendix 4:
zip code origin & destination
the new york city bicycle survey
Origins of Commuter Cyclists by Zip Code
Respondents who originated in small, unique zip codes in Manhattan are included in this chart. Graphic
representation of this data, Map 1 on page 20, places those unique zip codes into the larger area zip
code.
Department of City Planning
Zip Code # Zip Code # Zip Code # Zip Code #
07024 2 10025 41 10463 4 11221 5
07030 3 10026 3 10467 1 11222 26
07047 1 10027 13 10469 1 11225 5
07087 2 10028 14 10470 2 11226 11
07093 1 10029 5 10471 3 11228 1
07302 2 10030 2 10472 1 11229 3
07306 1 10031 5 10516 1 11230 5
07307 1 10032 5 10591 1 11231 27
07310 1 10033 6 10704 1 11232 5
07631 1 10034 6 10965 1 11233 1
07641 1 10035 2 11050 1 11234 1
07666 1 10036 6 11101 4 11235 4
07901 1 10038 5 11102 8 11236 2
08816 1 10040 4 11103 5 11237 3
10001 3 10128 11 11104 4 11238 24
10002 23 10280 3 11105 5 11361 1
10003 23 10301 5 11106 7 11365 1
10005 1 10303 1 11201 24 11367 1
10006 2 10304 2 11204 2 11372 4
10009 31 10305 1 11205 16 11375 7
10010 11 10306 2 11206 13 11377 5
10011 17 10307 2 11207 1 11378 1
10012 6 10308 1 11210 1 11385 3
10013 13 10309 1 11211 29 11415 1
10014 24 10310 1 11212 1 11416 1
10016 9 10312 1 11214 4 11417 1
10017 1 10314 3 11215 52 11418 1
10019 9 10451 1 11216 7 11576 1
10021 15 10454 1 11217 26 11697 1
10022 6 10456 1 11218 13 11743 1
10023 14 10457 1 11219 2 18940 1
10024 16 10458 1 11220 3
54
Destinations of Commuter Cyclists by Zip Code
Respondents whose destinations are in small, unique zip codes are included in this chart. Graphic repre-
sentation of this data, Map 2 on page 21, places those unique zip codes into the larger area zip code.
the new york city bicycle survey
Transportation Division
Zip Code # Zip Code # Zip Code # Zip Code #
07036 1 10027 19 10301 1 11212 1
07086 1 10028 3 10303 1 11213 1
07102 1 10031 4 10309 1 11215 10
07302 1 10032 2 10314 3 11216 2
07470 1 10033 2 10451 1 11217 4
07601 1 10034 1 10452 1 11218 2
07666 1 10035 2 10457 1 11219 1
07922 1 10036 27 10458 2 11220 1
07932 1 10037 1 10460 2 11222 3
07974 1 10038 20 10461 2 11223 1
10001 50 10041 2 10468 2 11224 1
10002 8 10045 1 10471 2 11229 1
10003 44 10055 1 10474 2 11230 2
10004 17 10080 2 10601 1 11231 4
10005 12 10104 3 10707 1 11232 2
10006 11 10105 2 10708 1 11234 1
10007 23 10106 1 10962 1 11236 1
10009 11 10111 1 11010 1 11237 1
10010 35 10112 4 11050 1 11238 5
10011 35 10118 1 11101 10 11362 1
10012 39 10123 1 11102 1 11367 1
10013 42 10128 3 11103 1 11368 1
10014 18 10151 1 11104 1 11370 1
10016 35 10167 1 11106 1 11374 1
10017 30 10168 2 11107 1 11375 1
10018 19 10170 1 11201 23 11377 1
10019 32 10174 2 11203 5 11385 1
10020 6 10271 2 11204 2 11426 1
10021 23 10276 1 11205 6 11432 1
10022 29 10278 2 11206 5 11439 1
10023 14 10280 1 11208 1 11590 1
10024 11 10281 4 11209 2 11735 1
10025 7 10282 1 11210 3 12590 1
10026 1 10286 1 11211 7
55
the new york city bicycle survey
is page is intentionally left blank.
Department of City Planning
56
The City of New York
Department of City Planning
Amanda M. Burden, AICP, Director
Richard Barth, Executive Director
Sandy Hornick, Deputy Executive Director for Strategic Planning
Barbara Weisberg, Deputy Executive Director of Planning Coordination
Elizabeth Mackintosh, Director of Planning Coordination
The City of New York
Department of City Planning, Transportation Division
Jack Schmidt, Director
Kevin Olinger, Deputy Director
Stephen Johnson, Project Manager
Indradeep Chakrabarty, Urban Designer
Scott Wise, former Team Leader
The New York City Department of City Planning would like to thank all the people who took
the time to fi ll out the survey. Your input and comments will help us to plan better bike facilities
throughout the city.
the new york city bicycle survey
Transportation Division
57
credits
