Transportation Alternatives gives New York City passing if not stellar grades for bicycle-friendliness in the organization’s 8^th annual NYC Bicycling Report Card.

Outlined in its recent magazine, T.A.’s grades rate city cycling’s progress across a range of issues in 2004, with separate marks for "government efforts" and "cycling reality." That’s because however many parking racks or bike lanes are installed in certain areas, it doesn’t necessarily affect the experience of most riders out on city streets.

For government efforts, "Progress: Momentum & Attitude," T.A. offers a "B," the same as last year’s grade, and a "B-" for cycling reality, up from "C+" a year ago. The rankings cite reduced car-access hours to Central Park’s loop drive, funding for greenway projects, rising bicycle usage statistics and positive good indicators, but also said the arrest of cyclists riding in the monthly "Critical Mass" group ride, proposed bicycle licensing legislation in the City Council, poor connectivity between bikeways and other factors weighed on the results.

In the "Overall Cycling Environment" category, T.A. gave government efforts a "B", up a notch from 2003’s "B-," with cycling reality holding steady for another "C." These marks again cited the disjointed nature of the city’s bike-path and –lane "network," and continued government inaction against the culture of aggressive and dangerous driving. "At the end of 2004, cycling conditions in most neighborhoods were still only tolerable enough to keep experienced cyclists riding and to encourage only the boldest New Yorkers to make bicycle commuting a new habit."

The top grade among more specialized topics is an "A-" for bicycle access to transit. NYC subways have a "common sense" rule that allows bikes on trains when there is room. The mark slipped slightly from 2003 because the threat of station booth closures will complicate access with a bicycle to many stations.

Although we have noted in past editions of MTR that bike access across the East River has improved dramatically in recent years, the bridge category earns only "C’s" in both government effort and cycling reality. The low grades reflect ongoing debate between T.A. and NYC DOT over development of safe on-street routes to the termini of major pathways, such as those on the Queensboro and Manhattan Bridges, as well as the fight over the big series of protruding bumps on the Williamsburg Bridge bikeway (see MTR #492). The ratings are further pulled down by the Port Authority’s odd decision last year to close the George Washington Bridge bikeway overnight.

T.A. also includes grades in each category given via internet vote by its public –members and readers. These are generally lower than the marks handed out by the organization’s staff. www.transalt.org. 

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