Street for Cyclists May Be Solution as NYC Faces Subway Shutdown
- Commuters would traverse a 14th Street limited to bikes, buses
- The decision comes as pedal-powered transportation has surged
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As 300,000 passengers face the temporary closing of one of New York’s busiest subways, Mayor Bill de Blasio is considering easing movement by barring a major Manhattan street to all traffic except buses and bicycles.
The 2019 refurbishment of the L train, which carries passengers under the East River from Brooklyn, may test the mayor’s resolve to make the most populous U.S. city also the most bike friendly. De Blasio, who has courted riders since his City Council days a decade ago, last month set a goal of doubling the number of frequent bikers to about 3 million by 2020. The 18-month subway hiatus will place the issue before the public as he campaigns for re-election next year.