NYC Parks to Ban Bikes from the Boardwalk from Beach 73rd – 108th

By Katie McFadden

Bikes off the boardwalk in busy areas! Those are the new rules NYC Parks plans to have in place this summer.

An April 18 article in Gothamist outlining NYC Parks’ new rules for bikes on the boardwalk sparked a host of mixed reactions as it was shared across local social media pages over the weekend. What will the rules be? From Memorial Day weekend to October 1, biking on the Rockaway boardwalk between Beach 108th Street and Beach 73rd Street will only be permitted from 6 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Instead, bike riders will be directed to the street-level bike lanes along Shore Front Parkway in these areas. According to Parks, this policy falls in line with rules for other popular beach boardwalks like Coney Island and Orchard Beach.

“To make sure the boardwalk is safe and accessible for all users, this summer we’re establishing pedestrian-only hours on the busiest stretches of the boardwalk, during the busiest parts of the day,” Chris Clark, a NYC Parks spokesperson said in a statement to The Rockaway Times. “We encourage cyclists to use the protected bike lane that runs in both directions on Shore Front Parkway as an alternative.”

There were no further details provided about the policy including how exactly it will be enforced. NYC Parks has had various rules for biking on the Rockaway boardwalk, including a ban on bike riding from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the entire boardwalk in the summer, and at some point, over the last few summers, there was signage alerting bike riders to dismount their bikes in the busy concession areas, but there has been little action as far as enforcement of these rules in the past.

However over recent years, concerns have grown as those with motorbikes, e-bikes, e-scooters and Tour de France-esque racing riders have turned the boardwalk into their personal speedway, putting pedestrians at risk and sometimes getting hurt.

“It’s regrettable that a few bad apples have spoiled it for the bunch, but this was ultimately deemed necessary for the safety of everyone,” Councilwoman Joann Ariola said in response to the new policy. “We’ve seen too many people hurt because of motorized bicycles and speeding cyclists, and we want to avoid that going forward.  I do want to stress, however, that the entire boardwalk is not closed to bicycle riding. This only involves the busiest stretch – between Beach 73rd and Beach 108th – where the most injuries have been recorded.”

Some on local social media pages like Friends of Rockaway Beach celebrated the news, sharing stories of how they or their loved ones have been hit by bicycles and they feel unsafe walking on the boardwalk. Others responded with anger and vowed to ignore the new rules, while others presented alternatives to fixing the issue instead of forcing bikes off the boardwalk. Many have pointed out that pedestrians are often walking in the designated bike lane on the boardwalk and that the bike lane is poorly positioned being right next to the boardwalk entrance and railing. Aside from a few ground circles picturing a bike and small signs higher up on posts indicating the bike lane every few blocks, some believe the bike lane isn’t indicated clearly enough, leading to confusion and accidents.

Those who are angry about the new rules are determined to have their voices heard. On Thursday, April 24 at 5:30 p.m. at the Coastal Conservation Center (190 Beach 44th St.), Community Board 14’s Parks and Public Safety Committee is meeting with new NYC Parks Rockaway Administrator Elizabeth Walsack to discuss the new policy among other issues. Then, at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 1, Walsack will be stopping by the Rockaway Beach Civic meeting at the Knights of Columbus (333 Beach 90th Street). Activist John Cori is also spearheading a “Stop the Summer Bike Ban” rally and press conference regarding the issue on the boardwalk at Beach 94th Street on Saturday, April 26 at 4:30 p.m. All meetings and events are open to the public.