East River Bicycle Ridership All-Time High, Participatory Planning for 14th Street In Manhattan, Welcome To Manhattan Sign Drop
Editor’s note: NYC DOT recently closed the application period for Summer Streets programming partners for summer of 2026 in just a few months. Their previous article covered other bike lanes in the city and new bus lanes.
BICYCLE RIDERSHIP OVER EAST RIVER BRIDGES REACHES ALL-TIME HIGH FOR FIFTH STRAIGHT YEAR
An average of more than 28,500 trips were taken over the city’s four East River bridges each day in 2025
NYC DOT average daily cycling rates over the city’s four East River Bridges. Credit: NYC DOT.
NEW YORK – New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn today announced bicycle ridership over the city’s East River bridges reached an all-time high for a fifth straight year in 2025. An average of 28,853 cycling trips were taken across these city bridges each day, according to NYC DOT’s annual bike traffic counts, which are conducted from April 1 to October 31 each year. These cycling counts include the Brooklyn, Manhattan, Williamsburg, and Ed Koch Queensboro Bridges, and represent a key metric for judging city cycling rates. This year’s record-breaking bridge ridership represents a 30 percent increase over the nearly 22,000 average daily riders who used the spans at the same time 10 years ago, and nearly 18 times greater than the ridership recorded in 1980, when the city first began recording bridge cycling levels.
“Cycling is an affordable, efficient, and fun way to get around the city—and these record-breaking numbers show that when we build safe cycling infrastructure, more New Yorkers choose to bike,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. “This is a great reminder of why we will be doubling down on safe street designs and deliver bold new ideas to take cycling and street safety to the next level.”
NYC DOT develops its daily cycling ridership for East River bridges by averaging the total daily cycling volumes during warm-weather months, from April to October, excluding holidays and rainy days. Some other key takeaways from 2025 ridership:
- The Brooklyn Bridge continues to climb in ridership growing from 2,652 cyclists in 2021 to 5,625 average daily riders in 2025—a 112 percent increase since opening the bike-only lane.
- The Williamsburg Bridge remains the busiest city bridge for cyclists, serving a daily average of 9,464 riders in 2025—a 10 percent increase from cycling ridership on the bridge last year.
- In September 2025, an average of 31,687 cyclists rode over the East River Bridges each day, marking the busiest month for bridge ridership in recorded history.
In 2025, NYC DOT doubled the amount of cycling and pedestrian space on the Queensboro Bridge. The city continues to improve East River bridge bike access, most recently by announcing it will finish the Ashland Place bike lane and fixing a notorious bump at the offramp of the bike lane on the Williamsburg Bridge
An M14D traveling along East 14th Street, at University Place. Credit: NYC DOT
NYC DOT KICKS OFF TRANSFORMATION OF MANHATTAN’S 14TH STREET WITH PUBLIC PLANNING PROCESS LAUNCHING THIS MONTH
Once-in-a-generation upgrades for pedestrians and bus riders will build off the remarkable success of the 14th Street busway
Since busway was installed, bus speeds have increased as much as 24 percent, with ridership up as much as 30 percent
NEW YORK — New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn today announced the kick-off of the transformation of Manhattan’s 14th Street corridor through a public planning process launching this month, known as The 14th Street Plan: Keeping People Moving and Business Booming. Public outreach will inform a permanent redesign of Manhattan’s 14th Street that builds on the remarkable success of the corridor’s busway. The work will focus on transformational public space and safety upgrades for pedestrians, bus riders, cyclists and more. Since the busway was installed in late 2019, bus speeds increased by as much as 24 percent and ridership grew as much as 30 percent. The first public meeting will take place on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Pratt Manhattan on 14th Street. More information about the project and a new survey for the public is available at nyc.gov/14street.
“The 14th Street busway is already a success—faster buses, higher ridership, safer streets. But we’re not stopping at a coat of paint,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. “We’re taking it to the next level with greenery, pedestrian space, and stronger safety infrastructure. I invite New Yorkers to join DOT later this month and help shape the world-class future of 14th Street.”
“The 14th Street busway is an example of how when we think boldly, we can deliver real results for New Yorkers. This project has been a remarkable success, delivering faster commutes and safer streets for tens of thousands, but besides a new coat of paint, 14th Street looks and feels like it has for decades,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. “This process will deliver truly transformational, permanently constructed upgrades for the corridor that capitalize on the benefits of the busway and create a world-class street from river to river.”
“Investment in the kinds of upgrades that make streets truly come alive — new landscaping, safety features, expanded plazas and parks — create public spaces that New Yorkers are proud to call their own,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura. “The best version of any capital project comes to life when communities are at the center of the process, and we are excited to work alongside the Department of Transportation and New Yorkers to shape a 14th Street corridor that serves everyone.”
“The 14th St busway has proven successful, delivering meaningful improvements since 2019, increasing bus speeds by as much as 24 percent,” said MTA Chief, Policy and External Relations John J. McCarthy. “We look forward to partnering with NYC DOT, Union Square Partnership and the Meatpacking District Management Association to build on this progress to enhance safety, modernize the overall rider and pedestrian experience, and deliver faster, more reliable service on one of the MTA’s busiest crosstown routes.”
The project scope for the 14th Street Plan stretches the entire length of the corridor and neighboring streets. Credit: NYC DOT
NYC DOT is currently undertaking a $3 million, 24-month study to develop a once-in-a-generation upgrade to the entire 14th Street corridor for 28,000 daily bus riders and hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers visiting the iconic destinations along the street every day. Design features will include new landscaping, upgraded pedestrian, park, and plaza space, greenery, and safety enhancements that will all complement existing busway operations. As part of the proposal, NYC DOT will also deliver design upgrades to neighboring streets and public spaces that provide connections along 14th Street from Avenue B to Union Square Park, onto Irving Place, Broadway and University Place, over to the Meatpacking District, and into Hudson River Park. The city has committed $2 million to the study, with the additional $1 million coming from Union Square Partnership and the Meatpacking District Management Association business improvement districts (BIDs).
The city plans to fast-track its redesign process so that capital projects will be developed by the end of the 24-month study. The city has already secured $9.5 million for future capital projects developed through the study, with $9 million coming from City Council, and another $500,000 from the Manhattan Borough President’s office.
Members of the public are encouraged to join the first public workshop for The 14th Street Plan: Keeping People Moving and Business Booming and can drop in any time during the hours below:
Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Time: 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Location: Pratt Institute, 144 W 14th St, 2nd floor, New York, NY 10011
“Union Square is one of New York City’s most vital anchors, and The 14th Street Plan is a direct investment in the city’s future,” said Union Square Partnership Executive Director Julie Stein. “A world-class boulevard and a modernized Union Square Park will help small businesses in the neighborhood and better serve the hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers who rely on this district every day. We are grateful to the community members who sparked this vision and excited to advance it together as we move into design.”
“In the Meatpacking District, we’ve seen firsthand how investing in people-centered public space transforms neighborhoods for the better,” said Jeffrey LeFrancois, president of the Meatpacking District Management Association. “The newly installed 14th Street Promenade demonstrates the corridor’s potential and serves as a stepping stone for The 14th Street Plan – a generational opportunity to significantly improve this vital, busy corridor. As we kick off public engagement for the future of 14th Street, we’re excited to work with our community to advance a bold vision that will benefit all New Yorkers, as well as local businesses and visitors.”
About Union Square Partnership
Union Square Partnership (USP) is a community-based 501(c)3 organization created more than 40 years ago to promote, preserve, and progress its vibrant namesake neighborhood. USP cultivates a welcoming, diverse space and work to enhance livability, ensuring residents, workers, and visitors can revel in the time they spend in the Union Square neighborhood — and feel compelled to make it one of their go-to spots, set up shop, or even call it home. USP fosters a thriving economy, helping create a district that amplifies exciting new businesses and iconic brands, invests in public art, events, and local hidden gems, and acts as a place to explore. Tied to all of this is USP’s celebration of the neighborhood’s distinct, enduring reputation. From Union Square’s residents to regular visitors, businesses to artists, casual strolling to civic engagement, flagship markets to moments in history, Union Square Partnership stewards the neighborhood into a safer, happier present and a future of limitless opportunity. For more information, please visit https://www.unionsquarenyc.org.
About the Meatpacking District
The Meatpacking District is a neighborhood like no other: a fusion of grit and glam, where old New York meets the frenetic pace of the 21st Century. It has a magnetic appeal. The Meatpacking District Management Association is a business improvement District (BID). It serves the businesses, residents, and visitors of the area with a common goal: to program, promote, and take care of the Meatpacking District. There is a broad community that makes the District distinct. The BID organizes community events and entertainment. It is the partner with the City to maintain and keep clean over 30,000 square feet of plazas and four Open Streets. The teams are on the ground seven days a week sweeping the sidewalks and engaging with visitors. The work, at its core, is to ensure that businesses succeed and the characters who work, live, and play here enjoy it and are happy to return. For more information, please visit meatpacking-district.com.
“The 14th Street busway is a model for how New York City can move people smarter, faster, and more safely — and the numbers prove it. A 24 percent increase in bus speeds and 30 percent growth in ridership speaks for itself. Building on that success, NYC DOT’s $3 million planning process is the right moment to make the investments needed to truly optimize the corridor — strengthening bus operations while creating a safer, more seamless experience for pedestrians, cyclists, and everyone who moves through 14th Street every day,” said U.S. Representative Jerrold Nadler. “I’m pleased that over the course of this two-year study, NYC DOT will ensure every voice is heard — from daily bus riders and cyclists to the residents who call this neighborhood home and the small businesses that depend on a thriving 14th Street. The needs of our community must be woven into every aspect of this plan, and the study must take into account the needs of residents living in apartment buildings along the corridor who rely on pick-up and drop-off access. I’m confident that by incorporating the day-to-day concerns of everyone who lives, works, and travels along this corridor, we will create something that truly serves New Yorkers for generations to come.”
“Years ago, I was proud to help lead the push for the 14th Street busway because we knew the corridor needed to work better for the tens of thousands of New Yorkers who rely on buses every day. The results have been clear — faster commutes, safer streets, and a more vibrant corridor for riders, pedestrians, and local businesses alike,” said Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal. “I’m grateful to Mayor Mamdani and Commissioner Flynn for building on that success and launching a thoughtful public process to shape the next chapter for 14th Street.”
“Fourteenth street is a vibrant and vital corridor in Manhattan whose streetscape deserves to reflect the cultural importance and diverse needs of the communities it encompasses. I’m excited to see the City building on transportation innovations like the 14th Street busway with real investments to improve the public realm, support small businesses, and create safer and more livable streets. This community engagement process will give residents an opportunity to transform their neighborhoods for the better, especially on the East Side where improvements in transportation and street safety are urgently needed,” said State Senator Kristen Gonzalez. “Thank you to the Union Square Partnership, Meatpacking District Management Association, City Council, Manhattan Borough President’s office, DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn, and Mayor Zohran Mamdani for making critical investments in the future of 14th Street.”
“We look forward to seeing the 14th Street plan details and a robust public process. As has been true elsewhere, New Yorkers bring their knowledge of the public space and their experiences to enhance proposals,” said Assembly Member Deborah J. Glick. “The Busway has been an important improvement for bus travel, and I’m sure riders and pedestrians who traverse 14th Street regularly will have important insight to share.”
“The 14th Street corridor has seen transformative improvements over the past eight years – and I’m excited to partner with NYC DOT to make it even better with improved safety features, more greenery, and upgraded designs,” said Assembly Member Keith Powers. “The busway on 14th Street has revitalized the corridor by getting our buses moving again, and increasing ridership by as much as 30 percent. I’m looking forward to NYC DOT beginning this public planning process to build on our progress and I encourage community members to get involved so we can ensure that the future of 14th Street reflects the needs of the neighborhoods it connects.”
“The 14th Street Plan is an unprecedented opportunity to transform one of our city’s most important corridors with a people-first investment that will deliver faster buses, safer streets, and better ways for all New Yorkers to get around,” said City Council Majority Leader Shaun Abreu. “With the City Council’s support firmly behind this landmark redesign, we’re reimagining 14th Street as a place where neighbors enjoy public spaces, businesses thrive, and everybody moves through the city safely and efficiently.”
“The iconic 14th Street busway was a hard won victory for transit riders out of the crisis triggered by the L train subway tunnel reconstruction. Seven years later, even past critics agree that the busway has done wonders for the community, exemplifying the kind of positive change that often triggers unfounded fears at first,” said Riders Alliance Policy and Communications Director Danny Pearlstein. “Now, with the busway having proven itself through faster speeds and a safer street, riders and neighbors will have the opportunity to reimagine the whole public realm along the corridor and deliver something beautiful that we can be proud of together.”
“It’s fantastic that 12 years after TA launched its campaign for a busway on 14th Street, it’s finally getting the pedestrian and public realm improvements to make the corridor fully people first,” said Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Ben Furnas. “We look forward to a future where buses don’t just move quickly, but pedestrians can fully enjoy the new public spaces created when we calm traffic from river to river. Let’s match all busways with public realm transformations.”
“We’re thrilled the City is inviting the public to shape a permanent redesign of Manhattan’s 14th Street,” said Guillermo Gómez, director of programs, Urban Design Forum. “Thoughtful streetscape design can balance faster buses with pedestrians, create greener, safer public spaces, and support local businesses – showing how this corridor can model world-class urban design. We encourage everyone who uses 14th Street daily to share their vision.”
“Dating to its initial implementation in 2019, the 14th Street busway has been a game-changer for the tens of thousands of riders who rely on the bus to travel crosstown on every day,” said StreetsPAC Executive Director Eric McClure. “NYC DOT’s planned permanent redesign will deliver further benefits to straphangers, as well as the many people who live, work, and shop from one end of 14th Street to the other. We’re excited to take part in the public planning process that will help shape 14th Street for generations to come.”
NYC DOT RELEASES LIMITED BATCH OF WELCOME TO MANHATTAN STREET SIGNS FEATURING NEW “HELLO, GORGEOUS!” SLOGAN
NYC DOT
The New York City Department of Transportation’s (NYC DOT) mission is to provide for the safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible movement of people and goods in the City of New York and to maintain and enhance the transportation infrastructure crucial to the economic vitality and quality of life of our primary customers, City residents.