BIKE LANE CRASHES IN NEW YORK
The Department of Transportation continues to create miles of bike lanes throughout New York City to help facilitate cycling in our City. In New York City if you ride outside a bike lane when one is available for use, you will be subject to a bike ticket for a violation of 34 RCNY 4-12(p)(1). This code states that bicyclists must ride in usable bike lanes, unless they are preparing to turn, or are avoiding unsafe conditions (including but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, motor vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, pushcarts, animals, and surface hazards).
Bike lanes bring along with them safety improvements for the entire street and every street user -- not just for people riding bikes. According to the DOT's Pedestrian Safety Study and the most recent Sustainable Streets Index, streets with bike lanes have about 40 percent fewer crashes ending in death or serious injury, and that's for all street users: drivers and pedestrians included. For example, after a parking-protected bike lane was installed on Manhattan's Ninth Avenue, all traffic-related injuries dropped 50 percent. Injuries to pedestrians dropped 29 percent and injuries to cyclists dropped 57 percent.
Even in a clearly marked bike lane and while observing the law, cyclists are still subject to crashes with parked and moving motor vehicles. Cyclists can be especially vulnerable to "doorings" as the bike lane can trap the rider between parked vehicles on one side and an opening door on the other. A scenario like this leaves the cyclist no room to maneuver around the opening door. Striking an opening door can cause serious injury to the rider and subjects the car operator and owner to liability for the crash.
It is illegal for a vehicle to block or obstruct a bike lane. Section 4-08(e) "No Stopping Zones (Stopping, standing, and parking prohibited in specified places). No person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle in any bicycle lanes or within a designated bicycle lane...."If a vehicle or object obstructs a bike lanes and a crash occurs, that person or company can be liable of the obstruction was the proximate cause of the crash and injury.
Central Park Bike Crashes
If you ride in Central Park you know how dangerous it is for cyclists. Between runners, tourists, and dog walkers, a rider needs to be extremely vigilant when cycling in the park. To help combat this danger, the New York City Dept. of Transportation is proposing new rules for the parks loops. To view the proposal click here.
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A recent study on the effectiveness of bike lanes in New York was conducted by the American Journal of Public Health. An abstract of the study is below.
American Journal of Public Health has published the following study on the effectiveness of bike lanes in New York City
Objectives:
We evaluated the effects of on-street bicycle lanes installed prior to 2007 on different categories of crashes (total crashes, bicyclist crashes, pedestrian crashes, multiple-vehicle crashes, and injurious or fatal crashes) occurring on roadway segments and at intersections in New York City.
Methods:
We used generalized estimating equation methodology to compare changes in police-reported crashes in a treatment group and a comparison group before and after installation of bicycle lanes. Our study approach allowed us to control confounding factors, such as built environment characteristics, that cannot typically be controlled when a comparison group is used.
Results:
Installation of bicycle lanes did not lead to an increase in crashes, despite the probable increase in the number of bicyclists. The most likely explanations for the lack of increase in crashes are reduced vehicular speeds and fewer conflicts between vehicles and bicyclists after installation of these lanes.
Conclusions:
Our results indicate that characteristics of the built environment have a direct impact on crashes and that they should thus be controlled in studies evaluating traffic countermeasures such as bicycle lanes. To prevent crashes at intersections, we recommend installation of "bike boxes" and markings that indicate the path of bicycle lanes across intersections.
The Full Text of Section 4-12 of the City Rules Regarding the use of Bike Lanes
p) Bicycles.
(1) Bicycle riders to use bicycle lanes. Whenever a usable path or lane for bicycles has been provided, bicycle riders shall use such path or lane only except under any of the following situations:
(i) When preparing for a turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
(ii) When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions (including but not limited to, fixed or
moving objects, motor vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, pushcarts, animals, surface hazards) that make it unsafe to continue within such bicycle path or lane.
(2) Driving on or across bicycle lanes prohibited.
No person shall drive a vehicle on or across a designated bicycle lane, except when it is reasonable and necessary:
(i) to enter or leave a driveway; or
(ii) to enter or leave a legal curbside parking space; or
(iii) to cross an intersection; or
(iv) to make a turn within an intersection; or
(v) to comply with the direction of any law enforcement officer or other person authorized to enforce this rule; or
(vi) to avoid an obstacle which leaves fewer than ten feet available for the free movement of vehicular traffic
It is illegal for a Vehicle to Block a Bike Lane NYC Department of Transportation Traffic Regulation
Section 4-08(e)
No Stopping Zones (Stopping, standing, and parking prohibited in specified places). No person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle in any bicycle lanes or within a designated bicycle lane, unless otherwise indicated by posted signs, markings or other traffic control devices, or at the direction of a law enforcement officer, or as otherwise provided in this subdivision.