[Op-Ed] Position on the 31st Street Bike Lane Proposal – Astoria

OANA supports the proposed 31st Street bike lane project in Astoria contingent on the full implementation of critical safety, enforcement, and operational measures.

We believe the corridor’s unique conditions—including heavy pedestrian activity, elevated subway infrastructure, and overlapping transportation modes—require integrated traffic controls for vehicles, bicycles, micromobility, and pedestrians to improve safety and reduce conflicts.

Our support also depends on meaningful enforcement, including visible NYPD presence and long-term accountability measures for bikes and micromobility devices. OANA considers this a probationary approval and recommends a formal public review after one year to evaluate safety, congestion, emergency response impacts, and overall performance.

Additional concerns regarding student safety near PS 85 and FDNY emergency operations must continue to be monitored and addressed throughout implementation.

The success of this project will depend not only on design, but on how effectively it is controlled, enforced, and evaluated in practice.