Bike Month: NYC DOT to Install Green Wave Signal Timing on Three Additional Manhattan Avenues

Press Releases

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 7, 2025
Contact: (212) 839-4850, [email protected]

Bike Month: NYC DOT to Install Green Wave Signal Timing on Three Additional Manhattan Avenues

Green Wave signal timing allows cyclists and vehicles traveling at 15 miles-per-hour to hit successive green lights, keeping pedestrians safer

After the implementation of the Green Wave on Third Avenue, cyclist crashes decreased from 12 to 7 and pedestrian/cyclist crashes decreased from 4 to 0

NYC DOT will implement Green Wave signal timing on three additional Manhattan Avenues. Credit: NYC DOT

NEW YORK - New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn today announced that the agency will deploy Green Wave signal timing on three additional corridors in Manhattan to provide safety, comfort and efficiency benefits for cyclists and reduce conflicts with pedestrians, following a new data analysis of a Green Wave on Third Avenue. While vehicles can drive within existing speed limits, Green Wave signal timing allows cyclists and vehicles traveling at 15 miles-per-hour to hit successive green lights for the duration of the route. Data shows this incentivizes cyclists to ride at comfortable speeds and to abide by traffic signals. The signal re-timing also does not negatively impact average bus or car speeds during most hours of the day because vehicles rarely achieve higher speeds on busy, high-traffic streets.

"For a driver or cyclist, hitting back-to-back green lights feels like magic. Green Wave corridors leverage that feeling to encourage safer travel speeds across transportation modes, with nearly no impact on nearby streets, while keeping pedestrians safer," said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. "Under Vision Zero, we're prepared to use every tool available, from street redesign to signal retiming and updating curb regulations, in order to deliver safer streets for New Yorkers."

Building on the safety enhancements observed across existing Green Wave corridors, NYC DOT will retime signals on three avenues in Manhattan.

• First Avenue from Houston Street to 19th St (full time), from Houston Street to 34th (off peak and weekends)
• Second Avenue from Houston Street to 32nd Street
• Hudson Street and Eighth Avenue from Canal Street to 23rd Street.

Signal timing adjustments will begin in mid-May and continue through this summer.

Safer Speeds

In 2025, NYC DOT implemented its longest Green Wave signal timing along the Third Avenue corridor in Manhattan. A recent evaluation of Third Avenue's Green Wave signal timing shows the treatment can also help reduce deadly overnight speeding. On Third Avenue, vehicle speeds remained unchanged during daytime hours and lower during overnight hours, when speeding-related crashes are more likely to occur. Speeds on adjacent avenues remained unchanged, suggesting no adverse effects to traffic flow.

Average daytime vehicle speeds on 3rd Avenue remained similar while overnight speeds lowered following the implementation of Green Wave signal timing. Credit: NYC DOT

More Signal Compliance

Recent data collected by NYC DOT along Third Avenue in Manhattan shows that Green Wave signal timing encourages more cyclists to obey traffic signals. On Third Avenue, 85% of cyclists now cross intersections on a green light, up from 81%, indicating a reduction in interactions with pedestrians.

On Hoyt and Bond Streets in Brooklyn, NYC DOT has observed a 10% increase in cyclist compliance at red lights. After the implementation of the Green Wave on Third Avenue, cyclist crashes decreased from 12 to 7 and pedestrian/cyclist crashes decreased from 4 to 0 (2024 vs. 2025).

Cyclists hit successive green lights on Hoyt Street, a Green Wave Corridor, in Brooklyn. Credit: NYC DOT

"I'm thrilled DOT is expanding Green Wave signal timing to First Avenue, Second Avenue, Hudson Street, and Eighth Avenue. The early results on Third Avenue show this technology can help reduce dangerous speeding, improve cyclist compliance with traffic signals, and lessen conflicts between cyclists and pedestrians," said Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal. "Safer streets save lives, and this data-driven approach is an important step toward making our streets safer for everyone who uses them. I'm grateful to Mayor Mamdani and Commissioner Flynn for continuing to prioritize street safety across Manhattan."

"Data proves that Green Wave signal timing improves safety for New Yorkers without sacrificing efficiency," said Congressman Jerrold Nadler. "This innovative transportation program incentivizes safer driving and reduces dangerous collisions between cyclists, pedestrians, and vehicles. I am pleased with the addition of three corridors of Green Wave signal timing and look forward to more New Yorkers benefiting from this expansion."

"Green Wave signal timing saves lives by reducing cyclist-pedestrian conflicts and curbing dangerous speeding," said Assemblymember Grace Lee. "By expanding this proven strategy to First, Second, and Eighth Avenues, we are prioritizing the safety of Lower Manhattan residents through common-sense infrastructure. I thank Commissioner Flynn and the DOT for their commitment to making our streets safer for everyone."

"Green Wave signal timing is a smart, commonsense investment that makes our streets safer for everyone," said Assemblymember Tony Simone. "By encouraging safer cycling speeds and reducing conflicts between cyclists, pedestrians, and vehicles, this program is already showing real results on Third Avenue. I'm excited to see NYC DOT expand these proven safety measures to more Manhattan corridors and continue building a city that prioritizes safer, more efficient streets."

"As one of many New Yorkers who Citi bikes daily, I am proud to support this data-driven initiative that improves street safety for cyclists and drivers alike," said Council Member Harvey Epstein. "By encouraging cyclists to travel at steady, safer speeds and improving compliance with traffic signals, we can reduce conflicts with pedestrians while keeping traffic moving efficiently. The results we've already seen on Third Avenue: fewer crashes and better adherence to signals, show this approach works. I'm glad to see NYC DOT building on that success and bringing these safety improvements to more corridors across Manhattan."

"Green Wave signal timing is a smart, proven tool that makes our streets safer and more predictable for all road users," said Ken Podziba, CEO of Bike New York. "By helping cyclists move through corridors at a steady, comfortable pace, these improvements encourage safer riding behavior, reduce conflicts with pedestrians, and improve the experience of biking in New York City. We're not surprised by the strong results we're seeing on Third Avenue and applaud NYC DOT for expanding this successful approach to more Manhattan streets."

"The Green Wave on Third Avenue has been a huge success, helping cyclists move through the corridor more easily while making our streets safer for everyone. We're excited to see DOT expand the Green Wave to more Manhattan corridors and bring smoother, safer travel to even more New Yorkers," said Ben Furnas, Executive Director for Transportation Alternatives. "Streets across the city deserve this kind of investment, and we hope this expansion becomes a model for the rest of the five boroughs."

"NYC DOT's expansion of the Green Wave signal timing program to three more corridors in Manhattan is a timely and welcome development," said Tom Wright, President and CEO of Regional Plan Association. "Data garnered from the Third Avenue Green Wave deployment supports the expansion, and these types of data-driven technological upgrades to the transit network can deliver safety and efficiency in equal measure."

"Green Wave signal timing makes our streets safer. When we create a steady flow for cyclists, they follow the rules," said Sara Lind, Co-Executive Director of Open Plans. "We enthusiastically support low-cost, high-impact fixes that make our shared spaces easier to navigate for everyone."