Bike Lane Cement Barriers To Be Installed On Vernon Boulevard: DOT

LONG ISLAND CITY, QUEENS — After a local push from Astoria and Long Island City residents to prioritize cycling safety, the Department of Transportation said it will undergo a series of projects in the neighborhoods to harden bike lanes.

A bike lane hardening project will add cement “Jersey Barriers” on Vernon Boulevard from the Queensborough Bridge to the Roosevelt Island Bridge, officials said. The barriers help separate bikes from motor vehicle traffic, and sturdier materials will also be used in new bike lanes, they said.

“I look forward to continue working with the NYC DOT on additional street safety improvements along McGuinness Blvd. and beyond as we continue to prioritize pedestrian and cyclist safety in our district,” said State Senator Kristen Gonzalez.

The announcement comes less than a month after a 16-year-old was fatally struck by an SUV driver while the teen was riding a bicycle in Astoria. Earlier this year, a 62-year-old woman also lost her life while biking in Astoria last month after she was hit by a cement truck, officials said.

The city plans to harden more than 10 miles of existing bike lanes, as well as install new lanes and build neighborhood networks, in 2023.

Several lawmakers including Gonzalez, Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris, and City Council Member Tiffany Cabán demanded the city department add protected bike lanes to the neighborhood by September 2023.

Officials said Monday that they will also install barriers on Queens Boulevard, notoriously known to cyclists as the Boulevard of Death, from 72nd Street to Grand Avenue in Elmhurst.

The city will also add protected bike lanes to Addabbo Bridge from 165th Avenue to the Crossbay Kiteboarding Launch Area.