These NYC Bike Lanes Are Blighted By Parked Cars

LONG ISLAND CITY, NY – The drivers of Long Island City seem to have trouble telling the difference between a bike lane and a parking lot.

The neighborhood is the city's top spot for the number one gripe of pedal pushers – their right of way being blocked by parked vehicles.

Research carried out by the New York City-based data analysis website localize.city dug into the number of 311 complaints involving bike lane parking offenses that were filed between Sept. 4, 2017 and Sept 4, 2018.

Of the 4,230 complaints, the highest number were made in eight areas of Queens, Manhattan and Brooklyn, the website found. Long Island City had the most.

“This is a relatively new 311 category and some cyclists may not even be aware that they can file such complaints. Many are likely unable to call, text or email when they are pedaling,” said Localize.city data scientist Michal Eisenberg.

“But there are still some areas with a critical mass of complaints where cyclists are feeling especially frustrated when drivers block their lanes, potentially causing them to swerve into dangerous traffic.”

Paul Steely White, the Executive Director for cycling advocacy group Transportation Alternatives, said, “When a city prioritizes convenience for motorists above safety for bicyclists, drivers block bike lanes. That's not just annoying — it can also be deadly, as it forces people on bikes to merge into other lanes with mixed traffic.

“The best way to keep cyclist rights of way clear is to design streets so that bike lanes are located between the parking lane and the curb.”

These are the hot spot identified by Localize:

1. Long Island City: Between Vernon Boulevard and 44th Drive – 72. Between Vernon Boulevard and 45th Road – 40. Total: 112

1. Bay Ridge: Around 220 and 221 72nd Street: 94

1. Downtown Brooklyn: Smith Street and Fulton Street: 38

1. Downtown Brooklyn: Jay Street and Chapel Street: 36

1. Astoria: Vernon Boulevard, between 34th and 35th avenues: 31

1. Battery Park City: Between 65 to 69 West Street: 30

1. Crown Heights: 900 Bergen Street: 30

1. Prospect-Lefferts Gardens: Around 115 and 122 Lincoln Road: 28

(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)