One year ago.
Born: October 14, 1973, Fayetteville, NC
Died: May 25, 2020, Minneapolis, MN
Bicycle Lane Density
The percent of streets with bike lanes can affect cyclist and pedestrian safety, physical activity, and sustainable transportation use.
About the Measure
Bicycle Network Coverage – Percent of Streets with Bicycle Lanes
Percentage of streets with bicycle lanes (conventional and protected bicycle lanes, excluding sharrows, dirt trails, boardwalks, and velodrome tracks).
Source: New York City Department of Transportation
Cyclists Killed by Drivers
In Manhattan, nearly 30 percent of streets have bike lanes – but in Brooklyn, only 13 percent of streets do. This is consistent with research that shows that bicycle networks offer protection to people on the streets.
Safety in numbers
The idea of “safety in numbers” comes from a study that found that “a motorist is less likely to collide with a person walking and bicycling if more people walk or bicycle.” This is probably because as the number of people walking and cycling increases, motorists become more attentive. So as the number of cyclists rises, we expect to see injury rates go down.
Ongoing work to promote cycling will help lower injury rates. Expanding bike share networks, increasing bicycle network coverage, and continuing to build protective street environments – like separated bike lanes – can get more riders on the street and offer them greater protection.
This effect is apparent when we look at differences between Manhattan and Brooklyn – and apply what we learn throughout the city. Disparities in cycling by sex, race/ethnicity, age, and neighborhood poverty also need to be addressed through equitably focused safety improvements, since safety in numbers works best if we increase safety for everyone – starting where it is most needed.
As New York City continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, many New Yorkers may turn to biking as a good way to get around while still keeping a safe distance from others. Our data show us that there is a clear connection between road infrastructure and street safety. That means that one way to keep New Yorkers safe during this public health emergency – and beyond – is to continue building safer streets.
Electronic Waste and Recycling
