Accident News Headlines

New Facilities To Help Reduce Number of Bicycle Accident Injuries

New York City Transportation Commissioner Iris Weinshall today joined Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe and Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly to announce a series of unprecedented bicycle safety improvements, including the addition of 200 miles of new on-street bicycle facilities (paths, lanes and routes) over the next three years. The agencies also announced the release of a joint report describing the factors that contributed to the deaths and serious injuries of bicyclists over the past decade. The joint report issued today, Bicyclist Fatalities and Serious Injuries in New York City 1996-2005, examines factors that contributed to the deaths of 225 bicyclists during the past decade and the serious injuries of 3,462 bicyclists between 1996 and 2003. While bicyclist injuries declined by 46% between 1996 and 2003, death rates in the past decade remained steady at 2.8 deaths per million, per year. Bicycle death rates in New York City are similar to national rates. Two times as many New York City adults (6% vs. 3%) bicycle or walk to work compared to the national average, according to census data.

"The ambitious target we've set for the next three years will complete the backbone of the City's planned bicycle network," said Transportation Commissioner Iris Weinshall. "Last year, Bicycling Magazine named New York one of the top cycling cities in the United States and we're committed to being the safest city for cycling as well." "Safe bicycling is a great way to increase physical activity and improve health," said Health Commissioner Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. "By making New York City an even safer place to ride, we hope more New Yorkers will bike for better health." "As both a runner and cyclist myself, I am always thrilled to know recreation is on the rise in New York City parks, but it is also important to remember that an increase in use of public space means more reason to use caution on bike paths, lanes, and routes," said Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe. "We are delighted to come together with the various City agencies through this awareness initiative to inform New Yorkers of the importance of bicycle safety, while also bringing to their attention the exciting new developments in store for cyclists along New York City streets and in parks.""A combination of adherence to traffic rules by motorists and cyclists alike, along with the use of appropriate safety equipment, will go a long way toward saving lives and making the cycling environment even safer," said Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly.

The 200 miles of new on-street bicycle facilities will include vehicle-free bike paths, on-street striped lanes and signed routes. The Department of Transportation (DOT) will install 40 miles in Fiscal Year (FY) 2007, which began July 1, 2006 and will add 70 miles in FY 2008 and 90 miles in FY 2009. To accomplish this, DOT is hiring new staff and committing more funding for its Bicycle and Highway Design divisions. The City's Parks & Recreation Department (DPR) also plans to complete 40 miles of greenways in City Parks over the next four years. Since July 1, 2006 DOT has installed more than 10 miles of bicycle facilities in Queens, including new bike lanes on Shorefront Parkway, Beach Channel Drive, Commonwealth Blvd and 20th Avenue. DOT plans to complete 30 additional miles of facilities in the coming months, including lanes in Chelsea and The Lower East Side in Manhattan, Bedford-Stuyvesant and Flatbush in Brooklyn, and the South Bronx. DOT has also initiated a public outreach campaign to increase motorist and cyclist awareness and make clear a bicyclist's right to the road, in partnership with DOHMH, NYPD, The Office of the Public Advocate, the Taxi and Limousine Commission, AAA, Transportation Alternatives, and the Five Borough Bike Club. The advertising firm Publicis is providing its services pro-bono to help develop this campaign.