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Bicycles are becoming an ever more popular mode of transportation in New York City. The New York City Department of Transportation has recognized this and is making a concerted effort to try and keep bicyclists safe on the streets of New York City. These efforts will hopefully prevent with the serious injuries and fatalities that can result when cars and other vehicles hit riders.
If you have been injured in a bicycle accident, you may have sustained serious injuries that may have kept you from working and have led to serious medical bills. New York personal injury attorney Michael LoGiudice can help you receive full and fair compensation for your losses.
Is it Safe to Ride a Bike in New York City?
Every mode of transportation comes with risks. Bike riders, however, are particularly vulnerable as they do not have the safety features and protections that those who ride in cars and other motor vehicles may have. New York City, however, is making efforts to keep bike riders safe. In fact, the New York City Department of Transportation recently committed to add 50 miles of regular bike lanes and 10 miles of protected bike lanes to the city every single year starting this year. The Department found that the vast majority of fatal cyclist accidents occur on streets without bicycle facilities. Hopefully, this expansion will help prevent some of these deaths.
The Department of Transportation published a comprehensive study called “Safer Cycling” analyzing the growth and safety of New York City’s bicycle network. The report states that several New York City neighborhoods have underserved bicycle networks that are significantly contributing to the number of cyclists killed or severely injured (KSI). These will be priority areas for the Department’s bike lane expansion project.
Another finding in “Safer Cycling,” was that there really is “safety in numbers.” The growing number of cyclists has had a positive impact on the relative safety of all cyclists in the city. This may also explain why the launch of Citi Bike, New York City’s bike share system, coincided with a 17% decline in KSI by 17% within the bike share zone. Despite the increase in protected bike lanes and the safety that more cyclists has brought to the city, there are still dangers to riding a bike in a bustling city like New York.
Intersections remain to be notoriously dangerous to cyclists. In fact, the Department reports that 65% of fatalities and 89% of KSI occur in intersections. These staggering numbers may lead to future redesigns of intersections. Additionally, trucks prove exceedingly dangerous for cyclists with 27% of fatalities involving trucks. Also, the top three crash types proving fatal to cyclists are:
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Traveling adjacent to a motor vehicle
Traveling at a right angle to a motor vehicle
Motor vehicle turn crashes.
Fighting for those Injured in Bicycle Accidents
While NYC is making a concerted effort to keep the ever-growing number of bicyclists safe, there are still dangers to this mode of transportation. Be as mindful as possible of drivers who may not be paying due attention to you and always wear safety gear. If you have been injured on your bike due to the negligence of another, contact trusted personal injury attorney Michael LoGiudice.