There are many benefits to bicycle riding in New York City. Cycling can be a fun form of exercise and an inexpensive and convenient form of transportation. However, sharing the road with motor vehicles can also be very dangerous for cyclists.
Fatal bicycle accidents are on the rise
If you take a look at the number of bicycle accidents that have occurred in New York City over the past few years, you’ll see that they are declining. At the same time, however, the number of fatal bicycle accidents is going up. Here are the fatal bicycle accident statistics over the past three years:
- 8 fatalities in 2018
- 16 fatalities in 2019
- 28 fatalities in 2020
One of the most surprising pieces of data is the number of fatal bicycle accidents that occurred in 2020. The city was in lockdown for much of that year, and overall bicycle accidents declined from 18,510 in 2019 to 12,450 in 2020. Despite the dramatic decline in cycling accidents, there were still eight more deaths than the prior year.
Why are bicycle accident deaths going up?
It’s unclear why there are more bicycle accident deaths each year even as accident numbers decline. What we do know is that cycling is becoming more and more popular, and most cycling accidents occur in areas of the city that lack bicycle safety infrastructure. More deaths and serious injuries occur in neighborhoods that lack bike lanes.
How to avoid bicycle accidents
If you do a lot of cycling, there are many ways you can avoid being injured in a bicycle accident. First of all, learn the safe areas to ride your bike and what areas to avoid. Stay alert and avoiding distractions while you ride, and try to wear bright clothes so that you can be more noticeable.
You can also read: Dangerous streets for cyclists
Call us today at 718-557-9729, or get the Free Consultation you need to receive every benefit you deserve as a bicycle accident victim.
The team of writers of Nonna Shikh is made up of a group of lawyers specialized in personal injury, traffic, construction and slip and fall cases. Each member of the team has extensive experience in their area of specialization and is committed to providing the best defense and compensation to their clients in New York City.