Board considers temporary West Street cycling lane amid park crowding

Members of the Manhattan City Executive Committee discussed crowding in Hudson River Park over a recent weekend and said a temporary cycle thoroughfare on West Street could relieve congestion on the bikeway.

Jeffrey (board member/advocacy lead) and other advisory members are drafting a resolution asking the state to repurpose a lane on West Street for cycling; the board said it would consider adopting or supporting the resolution once it is circulated. Carter said the Hudson River Park Trust had requested similar action and urged coordination with the parks and traffic committees.

Board members noted enforcement challenges in parks: park enforcement personnel (PEP) and NYPD have limited authority to compel dispersal in all circumstances, and enforcement patterns raised questions about equity and consistent application. Several members said the idea would initially use cones and temporary measures, not concrete dividers, and stressed the need for state approval because West Street is a state-controlled thoroughfare.

Members also flagged a separate advisory note that the state planned repaving or road work affecting West Street from 59th Street to Battery Park, and asked staff to check whether that schedule would conflict with any temporary lane reallocation. The committee asked Jeffrey to circulate the resolution he and a co-writer are preparing so the executive committee can consider supporting it at a near-term meeting.

No formal vote was taken; members agreed to coordinate with the parks and traffic committees and to bring a draft resolution back to the executive committee for consideration.