This year the New York City Department of Transportation measured a 26 percent jump in commuter cycling. Coming on the heels of 2008’s unprecedented 35 percent growth, that puts the total two-year increase at a whopping 66 percent.

Much
of the growth in cycling can be attributed to the installation of 200
miles of bike routes in the past three years, including innovative
facilities like the cycletracks on Eighth Avenue and Ninth Avenue,
which separate car traffic from cyclists. Safer streets get more people
to ride, who encourage their friends to ride, and more riders on the
road means cyclists are more visible and safer. The virtuous circle is in effect here in New York.

With
triple the number of cyclists on the road since 2000, we thought now
would be a good time to get a reality check from riders: How’s it going
out there? Overwhelmingly, folks we interviewed said it is getting
quite crowded on New York’s streets and bridges. Good thing bikes
aren’t space hogs!