Remarks to PANYNJ, 9/21/23 and NJTPA, 9/12/2023
Regarding the NorthWalk. I presented on this in March. It’s beautiful in detail, but 7 foot paths don’t safely support current use and have no capacity for growth.1 2
I’ve since learned that the PA asks cyclists on the NorthWalk to walk their bikes—something it doesn’t ask on the the AASHTO-compliant Bayonne and Goethals.3
Crash on Manhattan Bridge
Today I will share an account of a crash on the Manhattan Bridge bike lane and the implications for the GWB.
Completed in 1909, the Manhattan Bridge is the youngest of three East River bridges that connect to Brooklyn.4 It has seven lanes for cars, four subway tracks and a pair of 10 foot wide paths—south for pedestrians, north for cyclists.
Manhattan Bridge
On Wednesday, July 26 at 11:30PM, there was a head-on collision involving five scooters and pedal cyclists. An ICU nurse came upon the scene and called 911. She later posted a graphic account on Reddit.5 6 7
“Multiple injured, one critical and bleeding out. This other women biker was completely concussed and confused covered in blood and unable to answer any questions. Literally only knew her name.”
Manhattan Bridge. Imgur, Liam Quigley, StreetsBlog NYC.
Word spread quickly. Some cyclists called for scooters to be licensed and banned from bridges. Others demanded wider bike lanes and to hold accountable apps that incentivize delivery workers to ride as fast as possible.8 9 10
Implications for the George
I’ve long feared that a catastrophic crash on the George would compel the Agency to make cyclists walk the one-mile span.
Unlike the GWB’s 7 foot wide, ADA-compliant walkways, the Manhattan’s 10 foot paths are AASHTO-compliant, which insulates NYCDOT from litigation.11 12 13
But then what? The George is the sole bike-able Hudson crossing out of North Jersey. And congestion pricing will fuel a surge in micro-mobility across its span.
Environmental Justice Communities
Below is a map of the Port District depicting “overburdened” communities as defined by New Jersey’s Environmental Justice Law and New York’s “disadvantaged” per its Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.14 15
Traffic and air pollution coming off the GWB have long impacted adjacent communities. But its paths provide access to jobs and green space.
Since climate legislation creates set asides for projects that benefit these communities, it follows that GWB path enhancements should be eligible.16 17
NJ “Overburdened” and NY “Disadvantaged” Communities. Render Joseph Lertola.
A Complete George
No matter how well designed, there will always be crashes on bikeways. All one can expect is to minimize their frequency and severity and to insulate the operator from liability.
A single ten foot wide, bi-directional bikeway would replicate the Manhattan Bridge. It would also free up the 7 foot walkways for exclusive use by pedestrians.
A second ten foot path would create a pair of uni-directional bikeways that enable safe passing, eliminate the threat of a head-on collision and create capacity to support regional bike share.18
GWB South Path. Daniel Panzer.
Notes
1 “Opinion: The GWB’s Revamped Bike-Ped Paths are Not Enough,” StreetsBlog NYC, 2/14/23, https://tinyurl.com/3pp58shk
2 “Seven examples of how the NorthWalk is not Enough,” 9/12/23, https://tinyurl.com/4bunc6p9
3 “Bicyclists are asked to walk their bikes for the safety of all sidewalk (sic) users.” “GWB NorthWalk advisory,” PANYNJ, 2/14/23, https://tinyurl.com/bdd5fej8
4 “Manhattan Bridge,” Wikipedia, viewed 9/11/23, https://tinyurl.com/3kk5army
5 “I’m sick of these mopeds (huge crash on Manhattan bridge bike path),” Reddit, 7/27/23, https://tinyurl.com/5n7rjr6w
6 “Absolutely horrible fucking crash on the Manhattan bridge bike path Wednesday night 11:30pm”, Reddit, 7/27/23, https://tinyurl.com/5xrx27sc
7 “Manhattan Bridge crash photos,” Imgur 7/27/23, https://imgur.com/a/N480ZHm
8 “Horrific Crash on Manhattan Bridge Bike Path Underscores Moped Crisis,” StreetsBlog, 7/27/23, https://tinyurl.com/y8jfmwfv
9 “ ‘Inevitable carnage’: Cyclists shaken after bloody scooter crash on Manhattan Bridge,” Gothamist, 7/28/23, https://tinyurl.com/5n74v3j2
10 “Opinion: Manhattan Bridge Bike Path Crash Calls Attention to a Growing Problem.” City Limits, 8/1/23, https://tinyurl.com/2kzdwffn
11 Safety, Litigation and the Demise of Cycling on the GWB, Complete George, 9/17, https://tinyurl.com/4jucn67d
12 “It appears that in virtually all jurisdictions in which the recreational use statute applies, the public entity will have immunity for bikeway accidents regardless of whether bicyclists are using the bikeway for commuting or for recreation. … Survey respondents indicated they follow AASHTO standards applicable to bikeways.” “Legal Aspects of Bikeways.” P. 44, National Cooperative Highway Research Program, 4/10, http://tinyurl.com/p8c2cl6
13 “National Standards,” Complete George, 8/17, https://tinyurl.com/5yybummx
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
14 Overburdened Communities under the New Jersey Environmental Justice Law, NJDEP-GIS, 4/30/20, https://tinyurl.com/yybrxjtm
15 Disadvantaged Communities Criteria, NY State Department of Environmental Conservation, viewed 9/10/23, https://tinyurl.com/4zum9cr8
16 Regional Partnerships Challenge, USDOT, 8/31/23, https://tinyurl.com/muy2yshm
17 Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act FAQ, NYSDEC, viewed 9/1/23, https://tinyurl.com/22wrvrw4
18 North (South) Path Plan, Complete George, 2/23, https://tinyurl.com/yhmxh9x5
Comments of NorthWalk presentation posted in the chat
The use of wide angle lens (and absence of crowds) distorts perspective. It makes the 7’ path appear wider than it is and exaggerates the distance between sets of shielded cables. These columns are repeating crash hazards the length of the span. https://tinyurl.com/bdesvhdc
In March 2021, the PA told Manhattan Community Board 12 that *both* sides will be available to pedestrians and cyclists. So It’s unclear how much effort the PA will put into enforcement. https://tinyurl.com/2hk4ap99
Widening approaches to the towers does not increase visibility. Rather it increases cyclists’ speed which shortens reaction time and makes collisions inside the tunnel more severe. The 90º turns were safer. https://tinyurl.com/3uraep8t
Seven examples of how the NorthWalk is not enough: https://tinyurl.com/4bunc6p9
Complete George 