After receiving numerous constituent complaints from motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists, Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer today released a survey of bike lane safety in Manhattan that maintained that "while bike lanes bring a tremendous benefit to New York City, misuse by all parties - motorists, pedestrians and cyclists - undermines their success."

The survey was based on data collected at eleven Manhattan bike lanes during recent morning and evening rush hours, and the most common infractions in bike lanes included motor vehicle blockage, pedestrian use and cyclists going the wrong direction.

Mr. Stringer said he strongly supports bike lanes, "because they enrich the environment, quality of life and health of New York City residents," but he also said that "we must respect the rules and regulations surrounding them. Unfortunately, chaos reigns in bike lanes across the city, making them an unpredictable and unprotected method of transportation."

The Bloomberg Administration has recently greatly expanded bike lanes in the city.

"New Yorkers who rely on bike lanes need to know that fellow riders, motorists and pedestrians will join them in honoring the rules of the road," Stringer added. "We need to develop a bicycle-friendly culture where New Yorkers respect the bike lane and clear the path."

Data was compiled during morning and evening rush hours between October 5 and October 7 at eleven bike lane locations, including: Centre Street and Chambers Street; Grand Street and Bowery; St. Marks Place and Second Avenue; 14th Street and First Avenue; 23rd Street and Eighth Avenue; 36th Street and Broadway; 77th Street and First Avenue; 94th Street and Columbus Avenue; 115th Street and Fredrick Douglas Boulevard; 116th Street and First Avenue; and 145th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue.

Over the course of a three day observation period, staff from the Borough President's office observed over 1,700 infractions at these locations.

The Borough President's survey found a range of bike lane abuses including: unmarked Police vehicles in apparent non-emergency situations cutting through protected bike lanes, to circumvent traffic stopped by a red light; motor vehicle encroachment and speeding through bike lanes; at Grand Street and Bowery, wrong way bicycle traffic in the bike lane outpaced the correct use of the bike lane for a full hour; pedestrian encroachment on bike lanes in the Herald Square area was rampant, with over 240 occurrences recorded during a two-hour period; cyclists running red lights; dooring where car doors open as a cyclist approaches; and cyclists riding on sidewalks.

Paul Steely White, executive director of Transportation Alternatives, said in the press release that the study "shows clearly that bike lanes make the streets safer for everyone -people walking, driving and cycling" and "when cop cars, taxi cabs and delivery trucks double-park in bike lanes, it compromises the good they can do."

"We encourage cyclists to ride the right way and always yield to pedestrians," he said.

"Bike lanes have the potential to get bikes off the sidewalk, safeguard seniors and other pedestrians, and green up the city. The weak links are enforcement and education," said Councilmember Gale Brewer.

In order to reduce the number of bike lane blockages and improve cyclist safety, the Borough President is making the following recommendations: increase enforcement against motorists who drive in or obstruct bike lanes; the creation of a "dedicated bike lane patrol that would "traffic enforcement agents on bicycles"; enhanced street signage for cyclists, pedestrians and vehicles; a Taxi Cab Public Awareness Campaign on Dooring; reservation of parking spots for deliveries along commercial streets to discourage potential bike lane blockages; the city should make available data related to bike safety.