Franklin St Bike Lane passes 8-1

We did it! On Wednesday, March 11, nearly forty of Bike JC's supporters showed up in full force to speak in favor of the Franklin Street project, and even more showed up to hold signs and show their support. Bike JC also hand delivered a representation of more than 8,000 letters of support delivered to the previous City Council.

After two hours of public comments on Franklin Street alone, this three year campaign came to a vote — and in a landslide 8-1 victory, Jersey City Council affirmed that safety and public process matter. Jersey City Heights is getting its first ever protected bike lane!

None of this would be possible without the support of the Bike JC community, and the hundreds of daily bike riders, parents and workers who demanded this change for years. Whether you came out to speak Wednesday night or at any other meetings, talked to neighbors, helped install the pilot, signed the petition, or donated a few dollars, your efforts helped make the Franklin Street campaign a success. 

This will be the first protected bike lane in the Heights neighborhood of Jersey City, building momentum for more such changes in the future.

In 2023, Jersey City applied for and was awarded a $670,000 New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) Bikeway grant to implement a protected bike lane on Manhattan Avenue and Franklin Street. This route was identified as a critical east-west corridor that crosses the high-injury network. It connects two major parks and PS 8, and it is the only east-west route in the Heights identified for a protected bike lane by the Jersey City Bike Master Plan.

Following the demonstration project, the City then conducted a survey and community meeting, and Bike JC engaged supporters with a letter writing campaign. Because of a drawn-out process, the City needed to get three separate grant extensions from NJDOT, as the grant was originally set to expire in December 2024.

The previous City Council awarded a design contract for the project; then, after the new City Council took office in January 2026, the City conducted another community meeting before bringing an ordinance to convert Franklin St. to a one-way to the new City Council. On Wednesday, March 11, the City Council voted 8-1 to approve the ordinance!