Community Pushing Back Against Planned Bike Lanes on Astoria’s 31st Street
Residents and local entrepreneurs in Queens are standing against a city initiative to install bike lanes along 31st Street in Astoria, labeling it a “recipe for disaster” that could jeopardize local businesses and public safety.
The New York City Department of Transportation’s (DOT) proposal includes reducing parking lane widths from 13 feet to 8 feet and traffic lanes from 14 feet to 11 feet, repositioning parking away from the curb to create bicycle paths extending from 36th to Newton avenues.
While the plan enjoys support from proponents for sustainable transit like Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán, Assemblywoman Jessica González-Rojas, and state Senator Kristen Gonzalez, business owners argue it would obstruct truck access, threatening their livelihood.
Panos Adamopoulos, who, alongside his wife Sylvia Fuster, runs Pilates Designs—a Pilates equipment company that has been on 31st Street since 1984—expressed grave concerns. “We would have to close down, as loading and unloading supplies would become unmanageable,” he stated, pointing out that the jobs of his 16 employees are also at stake.
Access issues are compounded by infrastructure, as navigating to parking spaces presents challenges. An awkward detour via an eight-foot bike lane and a three-foot buffer zone would be necessary to reach sidewalks, according to local sources.
Similarly, Lampros Tsampas, owner of King Souvlaki—a food truck operating at 31st Street and 31st Avenue since 1979—noted that a lack of viable space would force them to relocate. “Some suggest using the floating parking area and serving customers into the bike lane, but that poses safety risks,” he remarked.
According to the DOT, the redesign aims to enhance safety, given that this segment of 31st Street witnessed injuries to 126 drivers, 33 pedestrians, and 24 cyclists, along with two fatalities, from 2020 to 2024. A spokesperson characterized it as one of the most hazardous streets in Queens.
Joseph Mirabella, a lifelong Astoria resident, voiced concerns about accessibility for vulnerable community members, including his 90-year-old grandmother, who is an amputee. “Transporting her in and out of cars while navigating these bike lanes presents enormous safety risks,” he said, criticizing the DOT’s characterization of the project as an accessibility improvement.
The proposed bike lanes threaten existing pick-up and drop-off zones for students enrolled at St. Demetrios School, situated near 31st Street and 30th Avenue. This concern prompted the school, along with 50 other businesses and institutions, to jointly petition DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodríguez to reconsider the initiative. The letter highlighted incidents of children being struck by bicycles and emphasized the need for comprehensive solutions across the city.
As of Friday, over 4,200 individuals have signed a petition on Change.org opposing the plan, citing fears of heightened traffic congestion, increased pollution, and prolonged emergency response times.
Nancy Esposito, whose family owns Brothers Supply Corp., an HVAC business on 35th Avenue and 31st Street, warned of the proposal’s broader implications. “This would trigger extensive ripple effects,” she stated, expressing serious concerns about the safety of the community and the survival of local enterprises.
The DOT countered that redesigns like this one have historically succeeded in enhancing safety while supporting local commerce and maintaining traffic flow. The department claims to have engaged with numerous 31st Street business owners to refine its proposal based on their input.
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