The city plans to expand one of Manhattan’s busiest protected bike lanes to improve safety ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Wednesday.
The project will widen the protected lane on Sixth Avenue between 14th and West 31st streets from 6 to 10 feet, the mayor said in a release.
What You Need To Know
New York City plans to widen the protected bike lane on Sixth Avenue from 6 feet to 10 feet between 14th Street and West 31st Street
The project is expected to be completed before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in June
The city will also add expanded pedestrian space between West 31st and West 35th streets with a painted sidewalk extension
The expanded lane will be ready for cyclists by the time the World Cup kicks off in June, the release said. Matches and related events are expected to increase foot traffic and transportation demand across the five boroughs.
“What better way to welcome the World Cup than by making our streets safer and more accessible for everyone who uses them?” Mamdani said in a statement. “From Sixth Avenue in Manhattan to Broadway in Queens and the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, we’re redesigning our streets to better protect pedestrians, cyclists and drivers alike.”
The city will also be adding 9 feet of expanded pedestrian space and a painted sidewalk extension on Sixth Avenue between 31st and 35th streets as part of the project, while maintaining the existing 5-foot protected bike lane, according to the release.
“Wider bike lanes create a safer and more comfortable riding experience by allowing faster riders, including e-bike users, to pass more safely while also supporting side-by-side riding,” the release said.
The city previously installed a double-wide protected bike lane on Sixth Avenue between Lispenard Street in Tribeca and West 13th Street in Greenwich Village.