New bike lanes unveiled along dangerous stretch of Queens road

ASTORIA, Queens (WABC) -- A new bike lane was unveiled in Queens, along one of the most dangerous stretches of road along 31st Street in Astoria.

Supporters hope the new project will save lives - not just for bikers and pedestrians, but for drivers as well.

The fight for safer streets is the same reason why a group of cyclists gathered in Astoria on Sunday - and to celebrate the addition of the new bike lane along the very busy throughfare.

"We are a city of commuters; we are a city of workers, we move around, and we deserve to be able to move around safely," said Mae Francke of Transportation Alternatives.

In the last year alone, one person was killed on 31st Street and roughly two hundred more were injured.

Supporters maintain this project is an easy fix that could save lives.

"This is a transformative paint job, essentially that then directs cars and people and bikes to move in a very different way across this corridor," said NYC Council Member Tiffany Caban.

It is a corridor where there are transit hubs and schools. It is also a feeder to main highways - another critical reason why the area can be tough to navigate.

"We have an elevated train, so we have all those pillars that block the view when you're crossing and when making a turn," added Caban.

For Julie Huntington, it is personal. Seven years ago, her father, Kim, was driving behind an oversized commercial vehicle. Soon after, she got the phone call that changed everything.

"That oversized commercial vehicle sheared off the underlining of a bridge construction project and the debris pierced through my dad's window and killed him," Huntington said.

The next phase of the project, which at this point, is to be determined, looks to expand the bike lanes all the way to 20th Avenue.