NEW YORK, NY- Ny.curbed.com reports that New York City is working to make cyclists safer. There are currently more than 1,000 miles worth of bike lanes in the city, and each year 50 additional miles are added. Unfortunately, the city is still nowhere near meeting its goal of zero traffic-related fatalities. The city implemented Vision […]
NEW YORK, NY- Ny.curbed.com reports that New York City is working to make cyclists safer. There are currently more than 1,000 miles worth of bike lanes in the city, and each year 50 additional miles are added. Unfortunately, the city is still nowhere near meeting its goal of zero traffic-related fatalities.
The city implemented Vision Zero to make the streets safer for everyone, and yet, safety measures taken to protect cyclists have not proved successful in reducing the number of cyclists killed in crashes. Even while overall traffic fatalities in NYC have been declining, the number of cyclists killed each year has stayed high and even increased over the last few years. While part of the increase is likely the result of more people choosing to bike in the city, the increasing fatalities are working against Vision Zero’s efforts.
According to the Department of Transportation (DOT), the vast majority of cyclists, 89 percent, were killed died at intersections. Many of the crashes involve vehicles turning. The DOT conducted a study in which it looked at different designs that were capable of reducing crash risks. Delayed Turn, Offset Crossing, Mixing Zone and Fully Split Phase designs for intersections all showed the ability to reduce collisions between bikes and cars. Most cyclists reported feeling safe in Offset Crossing intersections.
While other major metropolitan areas have been working to create different styles of intersections, NYC is one of the first to look at ways to “codify and scale them citywide.”
Some of the issues faced by cyclists include not just a lack of protective infrastructure, but also the fact that many drivers fail to abide by laws that are meant to keep cyclists safe.
Our bicycle accident lawyers in New York are ready to start the process of investigating your potential claim, beginning with a free consultation. Call our law firm today by filling out our online web form or by calling 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529).
