Hi everyone — I just got a Citi Bike membership and my work location changed. I need to be near Lenox Hill by 5 p.m. a couple days a week. I'd be starting around Delancey/Essex around 4:15. Is 2nd Ave protected lane actually manageable for somebody slow? Google keeps suggesting it, but I’ve only ever ridden the East River path on weekends. Should I get an e-bike? And where do you even dock near 72nd/Lex? Sorry if this is basic, I’m from a small town where “bike lane” meant a painted stripe next to a ditch.

Oh I did East Village to 60s at 4:30 last week! 2nd Ave was okay but not exactly calm. There were a couple spots near hospitals where cars were just parked in the lane and I had to wait for a gap. I used a classic and was sweaty but fine. Don’t let the fast e-bike delivery people make you feel like you have to hug the curb. I docked near 69th? My station near Lenox Hill was full too. Maybe check the app a couple blocks before.

2nd Ave at 4 p.m. is a whole mess, but it’s still better than First Ave with the tunnel traffic and the UN. The lane gets blocked by school pickup and black cars. East River path is prettier but adds time and the midtown exits are annoying. I’d stick with 2nd Ave, keep your head on a swivel, and do the classic unless it’s 90 and humid. E-bike is fun but in that stop-and-go lane it can feel like you’re constantly braking. Dock north of the hospital; the station at 76th usually has spots.

I’ve done a version of this commute for years, though usually ending in the 60s. A few things I’d add:

• 2nd Avenue’s protected lane is your best bet, but it is not a protected lane in practice from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Expect delivery e-bikes going the wrong way, cars standing in the lane, and pedestrians stepping into it without looking. Ride near the middle of the lane when safe and keep your speed low.
• From Delancey/Essex, I’d get over to 2nd directly rather than taking the East River path unless you have extra time. The path is calmer but dumps you into intersections where drivers are not looking for bikes.
• If you’re slow, use a classic bike, not an e-bike. The pedal assist can push you into situations you don’t have time to read yet, and e-bikes are heavier to walk when the lane is blocked.
• For docking, Lenox Hill station can be full during hospital shift change. I aim for 76th and 1st and walk back. The UES blocks are short.

And yes, when you dismount to get around a blocked lane, walk it on the sidewalk or in the crosswalk with the light. Riding a bike on the sidewalk is the one thing that might get you a ticket, but the bigger issue is pedestrians.

Thanks, this is so helpful. I tried it today! Did a classic from near Essex Market and rode up 2nd. It was okay until about 23rd where a box van was fully in the lane and a bus was next to me, so I got off and walked on the sidewalk for half a block. Felt silly but safe. Then the station at 72nd was full and I ended up at 76th, just like you all said. Should I have hit the green beacon on the dock? It didn't register my bike clicked? The app said returned but still. Also, do you signal when you go around a blocked car, or just point?

Walking a bike for half a block when the lane is blocked is totally normal, especially around 23rd. I do that all the time and I’ve never had anyone say anything. The dock not clicking: if the app says returned, it's returned. Definitely wait for the green light and maybe pull the bike back to hear the click? But don't overthink. @smalltown_steph yes signal, but only if you're stable. A quick point left can help a delivery guy behind you read your line. I have more trouble crosstown from 72nd to Lex at that hour. Anyone have a less terrifying way to cross Park and Madison?

Okay, this thread is making me feel less alone. I'm also new and tried 2nd Ave yesterday. I kept getting passed by e-bikes that didn't even pedal? I thought Citi Bike e-bikes only boost while pedaling. Are those gray things just electric mopeds? Because one went through a red at 34th and another almost hit a stroller. Is that allowed? Also, is docking at 76th and walking to Lenox Hill like 10 minutes? The UES blocks feel long even though they say short. I’m from a place where every block is half a mile? Maybe I'm just dramatic.

@exploring_nyc_e, Citi Bike e-bikes are pedal-assist. If somebody is moving without pedaling, it is not a Citi Bike, or it is a converted/illegal bike. The gray throttle mopeds are not legal in the protected lane, but enforcement is rare. Don’t confront them; keep a straight line and let them pass.

@smalltown_steph, when you need to go around a blocked car, point if you can, but the more important thing is looking over your left shoulder before you merge into the traffic lane. If you can’t look back without swerving, stop, put a foot down, and look. Nobody should rush you.

@firstwinter, 76th to Lenox Hill is not 10 minutes unless you hit every light. More like 6-8 minutes depending on where on Lex. The avenues are wider than they look, but north-south blocks are short.

Last thing: run a front light even in daylight. It makes you visible in the shadowed blocks between buildings.

@exploring_nyc_e those gray ones are not Citi Bikes. They're throttle e-mopeds and they're all over that corridor. I don't think they're legal in the lane, but I also don't think anyone is writing tickets. 2nd Ave below 42nd after 3pm is basically a mix of food delivery, Uber Eats, and people who don't want to sit in traffic. Don't be a hero. If you see a moped barreling the wrong way, just slow. And yes, UES blocks are short; walking from 76th to 72nd is like four blocks and takes maybe 7 minutes if you don't stop.

@firstwinter, crosstown from 72nd to Lex is one of those routes where the map and reality don’t match. I’ve seen the city move stops and leave shelters in place for months, so I know the feeling. That’s the same issue as the earlier thread 'M60 SBS eastbound at Hoyt and 31st: old shelter's still there but the stop moved?' M60 SBS eastbound at Hoyt and 31st: old shelter's still there but the stop moved? — the physical stuff lags behind the change.

If you’re heading west from 72nd at 4 p.m., I’d try 66th or 68th. They are not great, but there are fewer school drop-off drivers than on the wider crosstown streets. The garages are the wildcard. Let cars clear the box at Park and Madison, and don’t squeeze between a delivery truck and a parked car. If it feels bad, walk the bike on the sidewalk for the block. That’s a normal part of riding here, not a failure.

For ending near Lenox Hill, I’d rather dock at 76th and 1st and walk than circle Lex with a bike. The app makes stations look closer than they feel in hospital traffic.

@oldyork_otis thanks. 66th or 68th is a good idea, I think I tried 72nd because it's the number I knew. The garages on the side streets make it worse than the avenue. I also realized the app says 'returned' but the bike light doesn't always turn green right away; I sat there yanking it like an idiot. Does it update after a minute or did I just look clueless? Also, OP, how did the e-bike question end? I still say classic if you're not in a rush.

@firstwinter if the app says returned and the bike won't pull out, you're fine. The light lags sometimes, especially at the older docks. Give it a sec and check again. @smalltown_steph I did the same route Tuesday and the 23rd St box van was still there. Maybe it's a permanent feature. I ended up taking the East River path on my way home and it was so much nicer, but then getting back to the LES from the path involved a weird detour. Not sure it saved time. This thread convinced me to try 2nd again but with a classic and more patience.