Greenway

Usage: Limited

Greenways provide safe, accessible corridors designed for active transportation and recreation, integrating bike and pedestrian paths within parks and city streets. These continuous routes enhance mobility, support environmental sustainability, and provide public space for walking, cycling, and other forms of active travel. DOT is responsible for the planning, design, and implementation of greenways on city streets, connecting key destinations while ensuring safety and accessibility.

Greenway users can access current bike maps, information on Citi Bike, and safe biking resources by visiting The DOT Bicyclists website. An interactive online bike map is available through Ride the City: New York City, and updated bike maps can be downloaded from DOT's Bicycle Maps page. Additional guidance on cycling best practices and street safety can be found at Biking Rules.

Brooklyn Bridge Park Greenway, Brooklyn
Hudson River Greenway, Manhattan

Benefits

  • Expands safe and continuous routes for walking, cycling, and recreation
  • Enhances mobility by linking neighborhoods, parks, and transit hubs
  • Supports sustainability by promoting non-motorized travel and reducing emissions
  • Provides public space for community engagement and recreational activities
  • Integrates green infrastructure, improving stormwater management and urban heat island effect

Considerations

  • Must maintain safe access for all users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and those with disabilities
  • Requires coordination between agencies and stakeholders to manage design, maintenance, and operations
  • Street-based sections should include traffic calming and clear separation between modes where feasible

Application

  • Implemented along waterfronts, parks, and city streets to form a connected network
  • Suitable for areas with high demand for active transportation and recreation
  • Designed to accommodate various users

Design

  • Uses dedicated or shared paths with clear markings and wayfinding signage
  • Incorporates traffic calming and safety measures at street crossings
  • Maintains accessible, well-maintained surfaces suitable for walking and cycling
  • Integrates Landscape, Lighting, and Seating to enhance usability and comfort
  • Designed in coordination with Planted Stormwater Management Practices 
  • Emergency access must be maintained