We the undersigned residents and visitors to the Upper East Side believe that a new bike lane along Third Avenue is unnecessary and would be a significant detraction to our quality of life. 

The bicycle lanes that currently exist on First and Second Avenues are more than sufficient for the current bicycle traffic demands.  More importantly, these bike lanes have had a significant deleterious impact on many aspects of life on these Avenues. 

Reducing lanes available for traffic has increased congestion considerably, especially during rush hours, slowing traffic and inconveniencing thousands.   Even worse, there are always trucks double parking, exacerbating the congestion even more.  Congestion is so bad, that using a bus at most times on weekdays on these Avenues is an especially lengthy exercise.   

Third Avenue already has considerable construction on the east side of the street in both the 70’s and 80’s, with barricades already closing two lanes of traffic, so adding a bike lane will mean only two lanes of traffic.

The existing bicycle lanes forced the elimination of a large amount of on-street parking.  This is a great inconvenience and causes even more congestion by forcing more drivers to circle around in search of parking.  Worse, it adds a considerable additional time burden to those that cannot afford expensive Manhattan parking garages.  It is yet another regressive tax.

The bicycle lanes on First and Second Avenue are dangerous to pedestrians.  The users of these bike lanes are predominantly food delivery workers, even in warm weather, as opposed to residents biking for leisure or transportation.  These delivery people tend to have a high disregard for traffic regulations and pose a constant risk for pedestrians, especially older residents who can’t get out of the way quickly.

The bicycle lanes make hailing taxi cabs more dangerous as well.

The bicycle lanes are a severe inconvenience for those whose buildings have entrances on the west side of Third Avenue, making delivery or pickups by car almost impossible.

Ultimately, the goal of the loudest proponents of the bike lanes is not safe co-existence with cars, it is the elimination of cars in Manhattan.   That goal has been stated by many of the advocacy organizations for bicycle lanes as well as the Department of Transportation.   A bicycle lane on Third Avenue is yet another attack on car owners in the neighborhood.

For all these reasons, and many more, we believe that Third Avenue should continue to remain as wide and unfettered as possible.

The Department of Transportation wants to begin construction soon.  Please sign and reach out to our local City Council Members, Julie Menin and Keith Powers, and tell them you would like Third Avenue to remain as is with traffic flowing.