Blog Topic

More Than 1000 New York Pedestrians Killed in Bicycle Accidents Every Year
Posted by: William Gentile
September 26, 2011

 A new study that has grabbed a lot of interest, not just in New York but across the country, indicates that at least 1000 pedestrians in New York State are injured every year in accidents that involve bicycles.  More than half of those pedestrian-bicycle accidents occur in the city of New York.

The number of people actually injured in bicycle accidents could be higher, because these statistics do not take into account pedestrians who do not seek treatment for their injuries, or those who visit private doctors.  According to the study, pedestrians are at risk not just from motorists, but also bicyclists.  The city of New York has begun expanding its bike lane network, so this particular study has come at an opportune time.  A number of bicycle lanes have been added to New York streets recently.  Additionally, New York plans to set up a bicycle sharing program under which more than 10,000 bicycles will be made available for bicyclists to rent and ride.

However, pedestrians in New York are at a greater danger from negligent motorists than negligent bicyclists.  According to the Department of Transportation, the number of pedestrians being injured in bicycle accidents in the city of New York has actually decreased.  Further, the numbers don't really add up to much, because they are far lower than the number of pedestrians being injured in motor vehicle accidents every year.  In the city of New York alone, approximately 10,000 people are injured every year in bicycle-motor vehicle accidents that are serious enough to require a hospital visit.

The New York bicycle accident lawyers at Godosky and Gentile represent victims of bicycle accidents across New York City.  

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Accident Risks Discourage New York's Female Bicyclists
Posted by: William Gentile
August 18, 2011

Compared to other large cities, New York City has some of the most disproportionate rates of male and female bicyclists.  New York bicycle accident lawyers suspect that this has much to do with the high accident risks facing cyclists in the city.

According to the New York Times, male bicyclists in New York outnumber females 3 to 1.  The difference in male and female bicyclists has remained steady over the years, even as other large cities around the country have succeeded in narrowing the gender gap when it comes to bicycling.  For instance, cities like San Francisco and Washington DC have managed to see more balance in male and female bicycling populations.  Portland has managed to significantly decrease the gender gap in bicycling.

Not only is New York City home to fewer female bicyclists, but the gender gap between male and female bicyclists increases in areas with heavy vehicle traffic.  According to experts, one of the reasons why most women in New York City prefer to stay off bicycles is because most women here see bicycling as too dangerous.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, out of the 10 largest cities in the United States, New York City had 12 bicycling accident fatalities in the year 2009.  It also ranked fifth out of the top 10 largest cities in the country in per capita deaths in bicycling accidents.

The truth is that other cities have simply succeeded in making their streets safer for bicyclists in New York has.

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Bronx Bicyclist's Family Sues City of New York in Fatal Accident
Posted by: William Gentile
June 01, 2011

The family of a bicycling advocate and community leader in the Bronx, who was killed in a bicycle accident last March, is suing the City of New York for not installing a bike lane on the road where the accident occurred.

57-year-old Megan Charlop was riding a bicycle on her way to a Bronx school to talk about a community gardening project. Charlop had been a highly respected member of the Bronx community for several years. On the day of the accident, she seems to have run into a car door opened by a motorist, who opened the door without bothering to look out for bicyclists. Charlop swerved on her bicycle and into the path of a bus. She suffered serious injuries, and died.

Her family has now filed a lawsuit against the city of New York for failing to install bike lane along Crotona Avenue, even though the city knew fully well that this area was dangerous for bicyclists.

The lawsuit also coincides with the New York Department of Transportation's "Don't Be a Jerk" campaign, which includes an online smart pledge in which bicyclists pledge to yield to pedestrians. Bicyclists in New York have been upset at the language used in the campaign, which seems to suggest that bicyclists are unsafe riders. In some communities, there is a hostile atmosphere between motorists and bicyclists. When the Department of Transportation orders bicyclists to stop being "jerks" it reinforces in the minds of many drivers, the feeling that bicyclists do not belong on the road.

The New York bicycle accident attorneys at Godosky and Gentile represent injured victims of bicycle accidents in New York City and around the State of New York.

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DOT: BICYCLING IN NEW YORK CITY UP 35%
Posted by: Will Gentile
October 30, 2008

The recent increase in fuel costs along with general trends toward urban living is having a large impact on the way people get around the city.  The Department of Transportation has released a study showing a rapid increase in bicycle riders over the last two years.

The crowded streets of the City of New York now include messengers and delivery persons on bicycles. This growth has, unfortunately, led to more and more pedestrians being struck by bicyclists who are employed by various businesses utilizing their services. What many people may not be aware of is that these bicyclists are subject to many of the same "rules of the road" that govern vehicular traffic. They must yield to pedestrians, not ride on sidewalks and, of course, obey traffic signals and controls.  Learn more about the law on bicycle accidents

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