City officials have decided to halt a controversial new plan.
The proposed ban on cycling along a popular section of Rockaway Beach’s boardwalk was abandoned after facing significant community backlash and protests just weeks after it was introduced.
The idea was to limit cyclists on the boardwalk from Beach 108th Street to Beach 73rd Street between Memorial Day weekend and October, citing recent accidents as a concern. However, this move sparked a heated response among locals.
Elizabeth Walsack from NYC Parks mentioned at a community meeting that the discussions around the proposal came at “bad timing,” and there was a misunderstanding that it suggested an immediate ban.
Queens Council member Joanne Ariola expressed her relief that the Parks division is now accessible to residents on the boardwalk this summer but noted that proper enforcement is still necessary. She emphasized the need for the NYPD and Parks Enforcement Patrol to step up their patrol efforts to keep cyclists out of concession areas, particularly those riding aggressively as if the boardwalk were a racetrack.
In a recent interview, council members reported receiving numerous complaints from residents about cyclists moving at high speeds—20 to 25 of them at a time—training for races, stressing that families shouldn’t suffer due to a few reckless individuals.
Rather than impose a bike ban, the Parks department plans to kick off the beach season by enhancing signage at three key concession areas on the boardwalk and stepping up efforts to educate users about compliance.
At a meeting, a parent named Andreana Seymour criticized the proposed cycling ban as “asinine,” comparing it to banning swimming at beaches after drownings. She advocated for a focus on educating both cyclists and pedestrians about boardwalk etiquette instead.
Some residents pointed out that there seems to be an increase in non-English speakers in the area and suggested adding color-coded bike lanes in the park for better clarity.
Community Board member Jose Santana expressed surprise that the boardwalk bike lane hasn’t been painted yet, suggesting that using green paint, a common practice in many cities, could enhance safety and understanding for everyone involved.
The community board, while also voting in favor of noise restrictions at the Rockaway Beach amphitheater, stressed the need for additional measures to ensure safety along the waterfront.
Board Chairman Dolores Oh also called for clear markings on the entire boardwalk bike lane along with long-term safety interventions. Even after rebuilding the boardwalk post-Hurricane Sandy in 2012, improvements for both cyclists and pedestrians regarding safety have been overlooked.
“From the beginning of the promenade’s design, we highlighted that there was no distinction between the boardwalk area and the bike lane, but our concerns were ignored,” said Oh. “This issue has persisted every year since.”
