The new bus and bicycle lanes along First and Second Avenues are part of a major city traffic overhaul, but local business owners say the lanes are taking up parking spaces and creating obstacles for delivery trucks.

The lanes run from Houston to 34th Streets, and part of the reconfiguration is a dedicated lane to speed up service on the M15 bus.

The curbside bicycle lane is similar to ones on Eight and Ninth Avenues, with vehicles parking away from the curb in so-called "floating parking lanes."

"I love it, it's changed everything, because it's a lot more safe to drive here," said one local.

However, business owners say the bicycle lanes force deliverymen to walk into the bicycle lanes and forces them to run the risk of injury.

"My truck has to park away from the curb. Now my employees have to cross through an active bike lane and there's a possibility of being hit by a bicycle, and there's cyclists getting hurt. My driver's getting hurt," said Jim Doria, who owns a hardware store on First Avenue between East Third and Fourth Streets.

"You've got no place to bring the freight up to stores," said a deliveryman. "You're blocking either the bikes or you've got traffic on the other side of you."

"Should have the bike lane on the other side, the way it was before and parking would be on the same side," said business owner Jawad Rasul. "I think that would be a lot better for the bikers and for the store owners."

Doria said he has not seen some regular customers since the bike lane was established.

"They can't stop now in the morning, there's no place for them to park, so they're going on somewhere else. They can't afford to get tickets,"said Doria.

The hardware store owner said the city Department of Transportation did agree to create a loading zone for him on first avenue, but he said some safety issues remain unsolved.

"It still doesn't take care of the safety issue of walking through oncoming bikes," said Doria.

DOT officials said earlier projects have had dramatic effects on safety, and said in a statement, "On Eighth and Ninth Avenues, injuries plunged more than 50 percent for everyone -- pedestrians, cyclists and motorists -- following the installation of protected lanes."

Cyclists using the new bike lane told NY1 they agreed that the lane is a safer alternative to riding in the roadway, but said they also watch out for pedestrians who may be crossing in front of them.

"This bike lane gives you a free ride, and if there is someone moving in to do a delivery you can see them. It's a lot more safer," said one cyclist.

"I think it's up to the cyclist to have a sort of consciousness for other people and other people's spaces as they are walking back and forth across," said another.

DOT officials said they are in constant contact with merchants and people who live in areas where new projects are brought to city streets, and added there is often an adjustment period to new traffic lanes.