Temporary Bike Lanes To Connect Central Park, Queensboro Bridge

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — The city will create two temporary bike lanes connecting Central Park to the Queensboro bridge, providing safe passage for outer-borough residents seeking solace and a place to spend outdoors while maintaining social distancing in Manhattan's largest park.

The temporary 1.3-mile bike lane network will run on East 60th and 61st streets between the Queensboro Bridge and Fifth Avenue, the city announced Wednesday. Lanes will be marked off with markings, barrels, signage and other forms of barriers, city officials said.

Work on the new bike lanes is expected to be "phased in throughout the summer," according to a city press announcement. Exact dates were not provided.

The 60th and 61st street lanes are part of the next expansion of Mayor Bill de Blasio's plan to open 100 miles of New York City streets in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The next round of street openings includes 9 miles of temporary bike lanes. A 3.6-mile bike lane on Queens' Northern Boulevard will also be installed to provide safe access to the Queensboro Bridge from deeper into the borough.

City Hall reached an agreement on the program with the City Council — which was pushing a plan to force the city to pedestrianize streets after de Blasio's initial open streets pilot was quickly abandoned.