Avenue B by Tompkins Square Park gets a bike lane, wider crossings and northbound-only blocks

The city Department of Transportation said Tuesday it has finished redesigning Avenue B in the East Village between East 4th and East 14th streets. The redesign gives people on foot more room along Tompkins Square Park and limits car traffic.

The project expands the avenue’s popular open street. It is part of the citywide Open Streets program, which began in 2020 to give neighborhoods safe outdoor space during the pandemic.

What changes on Avenue B for drivers and cyclists

Traffic between East 7th and East 10th streets now runs northbound only. Residents and deliveries keep local access, and emergency and city vehicles such as sanitation trucks can still use the avenue. The city said a series of one-way reversals will limit traffic to local trips. Cyclists get a two-way bike lane, and new loading zones on nearby side streets are meant to cut down on double parking and truck traffic.

Every intersection on the corridor was rebuilt with curb extensions protected by planters, bike corrals or granite blocks. The extensions shorten crossings, add public space and make pedestrians easier for drivers to see.

“Our streets are public spaces for everyone to share,” DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn said. He called Open Streets one of the few bright spots of the pandemic and said that crisis pushed the city to rethink how its streets are used.

Applying for a 2027 open street

Community groups that want to run an open street of their own can now apply to DOT for the 2027 season. The agency says paying as a partner will be easier this time. Partners will also get new options for concession agreements, and open streets beside schools will get extra help.