NEW YORK CITY BICYCLE SAFETY & ACCIDENT RESOURCE
More New Yorkers than ever before have taken up biking as part of their daily routine. Commuters fill the streets at rush hour, families flock to bike paths on the weekends, and delivery workers keep New Yorkers supplied and fed all day.
If you’re one of the many New Yorkers riding through a city of 8.7 million people and 2 million cars, you know how dangerous it can be. As real New Yorkers, we know the importance of safety on our roads, and we are happy to share these New York City bicycle safety tips to help cyclists stay informed and safe on our roads.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Why Is Bicycling in New York City So Dangerous?
- Dangerous Areas for Cyclists in NYC
- Bicycle Safety Tips
- New York City Cycling Infrastructure and Design
- NYC Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety Resources
- New York City Bicycle Accident Statistics
- Contact an Attorney If You’ve Been Injured in a NYC Bicycle Accident
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Why Is Bicycling in New York City So Dangerous?
- Dangerous Areas for Cyclists in NYC
- Bicycle Safety Tips
- New York City Cycling Infrastructure and Design
- NYC Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety Resources
- New York City Bicycle Accident Statistics
- Contact an Attorney If You’ve Been Injured in a NYC Bicycle Accident
Why Is Bicycling in New York City So Dangerous?
The streets and traffic patterns of New York are primarily designed for cars, trucks, and buses. In recent years, cyclists have successfully demanded more protected bike routes, but bike lanes are limited in the city. Too often, cyclists are forced to ride in the street next to much larger and faster vehicles.
When bikes share the road with drivers, especially aggressive drivers, collisions happen. An inattentive driver may cut you off to make a right-hand turn, or a driver may not look before opening their door in the bike lane. Other times, you may find a delivery truck parked in an unprotected bike lane for hours.
While you may not be able to control drivers’ behavior on the road, you can take steps to protect yourself by following all New York City bicycle and traffic laws and always staying alert. If you are injured in an accident, consider speaking with one of our skilled New York bicycle accident lawyers.
Dangerous Areas for Cyclists in NYC
Bicycle safety is important whenever you’re out for a ride, but certain areas of the city stand out as particularly dangerous for cyclists. To navigate the city, use the New York City Department of Transportation’s Bike Map to plan your trip and anticipate road construction and other potential hazards that may impact your routes.
Manhattan
Midtown stands out as a particularly bad spot for biking in Manhattan. In 2023, there were 161 crashes between cyclists and drivers in Midtown North, Manhattan’s 18th Precinct. Crashes in the southern portion of Midtown included 159 in the 13th Precinct and 129 in the 14th Precinct. Across all three Precincts, 328 bicyclists were injured and three died.
If you’re riding in Manhattan, also be careful near Sixth Avenue and West 23rd St in Chelsea, which was named NYC’s most dangerous intersection for cyclists in 2019.
Bronx
The southernmost part of the Bronx has the most cycling accidents. The 40th precinct, which includes the Melrose, Mott Haven, and Port Morris neighborhoods, saw 86 crashes between cyclists and drivers, 73 injuries, and one fatality in 2023. Multiple crashes have occurred in the Bronx over recent years, including one fatal bicycle accident in the 41st Precinct near Bruckner Boulevard.
The Bronx has only about 3 percent of New York City’s overall protected bike lane infrastructure, despite being home to a growing cycling community. This means cyclists are forced to share the road with cars, trucks, and buses, increasing the risk of accidents. If you’re planning on riding your bike here, take extra care to follow traffic laws, stay visible, and be alert to your surroundings.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn cyclists must be careful when riding through downtown Brooklyn. In 2019, two of New York City’s most dangerous intersections were identified in downtown Brooklyn: Jay Street at Tillary Street and Jay Street at Myrtle Avenue. The 84th precinct is home to both intersections. In 2023, it saw 86 crashes with cyclists and 70 injuries.
Cyclists in Williamsburg also face serious risks on the road. The Graham Avenue and Grand Street intersection in the 90th Precinct was also named among New York City’s most dangerous. In 2023, this area reported 174 cyclist crashes, leading to 157 injuries and one tragic cyclist fatality.
Queens
The 114th precinct, which is located in the northwest of Queens, saw the most cyclist crashes in 2023, with 147. This area, which stretches to Northern Boulevard in the south and the Brooklyn Queens Expressway in the east, also saw 134 cyclist injuries and two cyclist fatalities.
Concerns about cyclist safety in New York City, including Queens, are not new. In 2017, the New York City DOT released a Cycling Safety Plan highlighted three areas east of Queens as priority bicycle districts. These districts, along with the five located in Brooklyn, were identified for having high rates of serious injury and fatality from cycling incidents, but poor cycling facilities.
While future bike paths will make cycling in Queens safer, many areas remain dangerous today. If you’re a New York City cyclist who rides in Queens, carefully plan your routes and prioritize using protected bike lanes whenever possible to reduce your risk on the road.
Staten Island
Staten Island is New York City’s most auto-dependent borough, and cyclists here find themselves sharing the road a lot. The 120th precinct, located in the northeast corner of Staten Island, had 35 cyclist crashes, 29 injuries, and one cyclist fatality in 2023.
Bicycle Safety Tips
Cyclists can make their journeys safer by following a few simple tips. Taking these precautions can minimize your risk of injury and help you navigate city streets more safely and efficiently.
Prepare for Your Ride
Wear a helmet: Among all bike safety measures, wearing a helmet is the most critical. Bike helmets can reduce the chance of death and serious injury by 34 percent Even a short ride around the neighborhood can turn dangerous without proper head protection.
Install a horn and use it: A loud horn can help you catch the attention of a careless driver or an unaware pedestrian. In a busy city environment where distractions are everywhere, making yourself heard can prevent serious accidents.
Add lights and use them: Lights make you more visible to others on the road, especially at dusk or after dark. Visibility is critical in areas where drivers may not expect to see cyclists or where lighting is poor.
Keep your bike well-maintained: Make a habit of regularly checking your tire pressure and brakes. A small mechanical issue can quickly turn into a major hazard in the middle of traffic.
Ride Safely
Use off-street bike paths where available: Take advantage of off-street bike paths, like the one over the Williamsburg Bridge. These paths provide a safer route by separating cyclists from motorized traffic.
Avoid using earphones: While New York state law allows you to wear one earphone while riding, it’s safer to avoid using them altogether. Staying aware of your surroundings, particularly the sounds of traffic, is crucial for avoiding accidents.
Wear reflective clothing: If you don't have reflective gear, wear neon colors or white clothing. Avoid wearing dark or black clothing, which can reduce your visibility to drivers.
Watch where you're going: Potholes and other road damage can appear suddenly, sometimes overnight, on roads you ride on every day. Always stay alert to road conditions and take precautions to avoid accidents with pedestrians.
Being proactive about bike safety doesn’t have to be expensive. NYC DOT sponsors a wide variety of events to distribute safety gear and teach basic repair skills.
New York City Cycling Infrastructure and Design
New York City has the nation’s largest bicycle network with 1,550 lane miles. Projects that add more bike lanes and better biking connections are underway in every borough. These include building a comprehensive bike network near Fordham University in the Bronx, expanding the bike network in Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn, and installing sensors all over the city to better understand how New Yorkers use their streets.
NYC DOT has also conducted research into better ways to integrate bike lanes and bike infrastructure into communities. With an overwhelming number of cyclist injuries and fatalities at intersections, the city considers improving safety at stoplights a key priority.
NYC Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety Resources
Bicyclists in New York have access to many resources from government agencies and nonprofit groups. These resources can help you keep up with local laws, connect with other cyclists, and advocate for better cycling safety in your community.
- NYC DOT : Use the bike map to plan your next cycling trip, read more bike safety tips, and stay up to date with the latest news on cycling in the city.
- New York Bicycling Commission : Get involved with cycling advocacy at the state level, check out safety videos, or plan a bike-friendly trip.
- Vision Zero Network : Vision Zero is a worldwide movement dedicated to reducing traffic deaths to zero. Cyclists can learn more about general traffic safety and how to get involved with local initiatives.
Even the most proactive safety measures aren’t guaranteed. If you have been in a crash, a bicycle accident lawyer can explain your legal options for compensation.
New York City Bicycle Accident Statistics
While riding a bike in New York City is generally safe, many injuries and deaths still happen. In 2023, there were 5,702 crashes between bikes and motor vehicles citywide, with 5,158 cyclist injuries and 30 cyclist fatalities.
Serious deaths and injuries occur everywhere in the city. Each borough saw at least one cyclist death in 2023, with Brooklyn seeing the most, with nine.
Cyclists aren’t the only ones injured in crashes, either. In 2023, 144 drivers and motor vehicle passengers were injured in collisions with cyclists.
Citywide, the rate of fatalities and severe injuries in cycling incidents has dropped dramatically, but many areas remain underserved and less safe. The vast majority of cyclist deaths occur on streets without a bike lane or other facility.
Contact an Attorney If You’ve Been Injured in a NYC Bicycle Accident
Getting in a bike accident can feel like your life has been turned upside down. The pain of injuries, mounting medical bills, and lost income can leave you wondering how to move forward and support your family.
At Chopra & Nocerino, we understand the challenges you’re facing, and we’re here to help. With over 20 years of combined experience handling cases in New York’s courts, we know what it takes to fight for and win the verdicts and settlements our clients deserve.
If you’ve been hurt in a crash on your bike, get in touch with one of our skilled New York personal injury lawyers. We’re real New Yorkers, and we never back down when it comes to fighting for our clients. Contact us today at (855) NYC-HURT if you need a law firm that isn’t afraid to go all the way to court to get you the compensation you deserve.
