Miles of bike paths coming to Queens

The City has announced an unprecedented plan to bring a total of 63 miles of vehicle-free bicycle paths to Queens over the next four years.
Funds from the city, state, and federal government will support the 63 miles of paths in the borough this year to expand the Greenway System, 20 of which have already been completed on Shorefront Parkway, Beach Channel Drive, Commonwealth Boulevard and 20th Avenue. Overall, 200 miles of bike paths will be completed, connecting all five boroughs.
Seventy miles of new paths are anticipated to be completed by the end of June 2008, and 90 by the end of June 2009.
&#8220Significant city, state and federal funding of $135 million will expand the Greenway over the next four years,” said Warner Johnston, chief spokesperson for the New York Department of Parks and Recreation.
By 2009, the goal is to have the bike paths serve as a &#8220backbone” network to connect the five boroughs.
&#8220A cyclist will be able to start a trip on the Bronx/Westchester border and travel all the way to Tottenville, at the tip of Staten Island, or to Nassau County, without ever having left the bike network,” said Ted Timbers, spokesperson for the New York City Department of Transportation.
In addition to the pathways, other money has been allocated to other improvements intended to improve the Greenway.
&#8220An additional $85 million in Greenway destinations and enhancements, such as comfort stations, boat launches and environmental restoration projects, are also funded for design and construction over the next four years throughout the Greenway network,” Johnston said.
The new pathways come hand-in-hand with a new initiative to promote safer bicycle riding. Because almost all bicycle fatalities, a staggering 92%, come from crashes with automobiles, and also that the City has twice the national average of people who commute daily to work by walking or bicycling, the pathways are expected to significantly reduce the fatality rate. The City also intends to continue to promote helmet use.
&#8220We will be introducing new programs to supply free bicycle helmets and instruction to all interested bicyclists in New York City,” Timbers said.
In addition to the bike paths, the Department of Parks and Recreation has also noted other areas needing improvement, and is currently attempting to obtain funding.
&#8220We've identified close to 23 miles of additional Greenway projects and on-street connections that, if funded, would enhance the quality of life and environment for New Yorkers,” Johnston said.