71st Street Block Association Prevails: Bike Corrals Coming to One-Block Stretch After DOT Initially Said No
Following the Halloween night shooting in 2024, in which two teenage boys were shot outside the McDonald’s at 2049 Broadway, the West 71st Street Block Association proposed ten measures to enhance the safety and cleanliness of Sherman Square Pedestrian Plaza — the one-block stretch between West 70th and 71st Streets, home to shops like Pinkberry and CBD Kratom. Part of the initiative aimed to quell pedestrian congestion and what the group described as “chaos at the plaza” — an area often impacted by bikes locked to sidewalks and riders weaving through foot traffic. Now, after some back and forth with the DOT, the block association is getting four new bike corrals.
“The New York City Department of Transportation is set to enhance our neighborhood by installing four dedicated bike corrals directly in front of 234 Amsterdam Avenue, situated between West 70th and West 71st Streets,” wrote Elizabeth Caputo, Community Board 7’sTransportation Committee co-chair, noting that existing bike racks would be removed to make way for the project. “These bike corrals are designed to provide secure parking for approximately 24 to 30 bicycles, creating a convenient and organized space for cyclists.”
Caputo also shared that a bike corral could not be installed at the end of West 70th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, where four small racks are currently in place and used to capacity on a regular basis — although some bikes in this area have been abandoned for months.
“But now we have to see if the delivery guys will actually use the corral and not just keep their bikes on the plaza with a kickstand!” said Katina Ellison regarding the next steps in this initiative. “The goal, as we see it, is to relieve chaos and congestion in that area.” Ellison detailed that her block’s plan also includes keeping the abandoned newsstand by the south subway entrance at West 72nd clean. It was initially earmarked to become an E-Bike Hub by Mayor Adams in 2023, but CB7 opposed the plan, and nothing has happened since.
The area under discussion has seen several shootings since 2021. On October 28, 2021, a man in his 70s was shot near the same McDonald’s. In August 2022, a man was shot in the foot at Lincoln Convenience, a smoke shop that has since closed. In March 2023, a 17-year-old student from Martin Luther King High School was shot twice and managed to stagger two blocks back to school. “Less friction here would be good,” said Jennifer Comers while eating pizza at Little Italy on Saturday, July 26. “This is a wide sidewalk compared to other areas, but with all the bikes locked to the tree bed grates, it severely cuts down the walking lanes. And then you still have inconsiderate people riding bikes and scooters—it’s too much,” she added. ILTUWS witnessed numerous bikers—some electric, including one from Little Italy Pizza—riding directly through the sidewalk.
“NYC DOT looks forward to adding in-demand bike parking on the Upper West Side, providing dedicated space for cyclists to store their bicycles and help keep sidewalks clear for pedestrians,” said a DOT spokesperson regarding the incoming bike corrals. They noted that the timing of the installation will depend on “internal capacity,” and no specific date has been provided yet. DOT also plans to monitor all roadway bike parking locations and make adjustments as needed.
Additional locations set to receive bike parking include:
- Columbus Avenue and West 77th Street
- Columbus Avenue and West 83rd Street
- Amsterdam Avenue and West 91st Street
DOT referred us to the NYPD regarding the removal of bikes parked in unauthorized areas. We’re working with DOT to provide more details on the additional parking locations.
c/o Eric Papa
Ellison’s advice for other block associations looking to accomplish local goals when seeking help from the city: “When you know your idea is sound and within the law and guidelines, don’t give up!” She added that they were able to ally themselves with Community Board 7 and local elected officials including Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, City Councilmember Gale Brewer, and State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, who won the Democratic nomination for Manhattan borough president in June 2025. “They advocated right alongside us.”
