Bike-Friendly 'Greenways' Will Expand In Queens: Here's What To Know

QUEENS, NY — Bike-friendly "greenway" corridors soon could grace Queens' northern and southern shores.

A major proposed expansion of New York City's Greenway network will add more than 40 miles of new protected bike infrastructure to the outer boroughs, Mayor Eric Adams announced Thursday.

Queens corridors, including a 16-mile street along its north waterfront, account for roughly half of these bike lanes, according to information provided by the mayor's office.

"More miles of new bike lanes, bikeways and walkways that will fill critical gaps for the city's Greenway network, connect every corner of our city with new transportation options and transform the ways New Yorkers live, work and get around," Adams said.

The five proposed corridors citywide — which will be done in a "community-driven" process — represent roughly 60 miles of new and existing greenways, officials said.

Here's information on the Queens corridors, as outlined by the mayor's office.

Queens Waterfront, Gantry Plaza State Park to Little Bay Park (16 miles): "This corridor will close gaps in cycling routes from Long Island City and Astoria to East Elmhurst and College Point, Queens. Running parallel to the Long Island Sound, this route will improve transportation options throughout New York City’s most diverse borough and enhance park access for Queens neighborhoods with limited green space. Connecting these neighborhoods with an active transportation network will particularly benefit Queens residents living within much of the planning area who are underserved by public transit access."

Southern Queens, Spring Creek Park to Brookville Park (seven miles): "The Southern Queens Greenway will transform access to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), complementing ongoing work by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The roughly 35,000 people who work at JFK will have access to a fast, environmentally friendly mode of transportation connecting the airport to the remainder of the borough. This corridor — located in an area with limited cycling infrastructure — will also directly connect to the existing Jamaica Bay Greenway and parks in Southeast Queens, providing an important bike network expansion in the area."