{"id":134677275,"date":"2009-04-08T18:21:15","date_gmt":"2009-04-08T18:21:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/?p=134677275"},"modified":"2009-04-08T18:21:15","modified_gmt":"2009-04-08T18:21:15","slug":"nyc-bike-study-by-dc-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/?p=134677275","title":{"rendered":"NYC Bike study – By DC examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"

I really have to question the conclusions of DC Examiner on the NYC bike crash study. <\/span><\/p>\n

Only one fatal crash with a motor vehicle occurred when a bicyclist was in a marked bicycle lane. <\/span><\/b>Bicycle lanes aren\u2019t a luxury; they\u2019re a necessity. Riders should use bike lanes when possible.
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A total of ten other fatalities occurred near a bike line per the report, why were these cyclist out of the bike lane? We don’t know but I seriously doubt that it was because the cyclists had no reason what so ever. Cars parking in bike lanes is a major problem in NYC and IMHO cyclists weaving in out of hazards is a problem while I support bike lanes I would not make the same assertion as this author, if anything to me this says that NYC should get cranking on keeping those bike lanes clear. IMHO
\n it is hazardous for cyclists to pick their path x feet from available space on the right, it should be a straight line (x feet from the stripe on your left that avoids upcoming hazards on your right.) Also bike lanes that I have seen in NYC do not solve the intersection problem, extra care needs to be applied at intersections for bike facilities and not just dumping cyclists into an undefined space and expect them to fend for themselves<\/span>. There is nothing here that supports bike lanes make cycling safer, just as sidewalk riding is safe till you have to leave the sidewalk to cross a road, bike lanes are similar but with the exception that you can be seen by and merge with turning traffic. This works as long as it is clear that is the expected behavior. If the expected behavior is that cyclists must stay out of the way of motorists at all costs you get accidents when their pathways merge.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Nearly all the bicyclists who died–97 percent of them–were not wearing a helmet. <\/span><\/b>A good reminder that cyclists really ought to wear a helmet. As I\u2019ve written about before<\/span><\/a>,
\nthere\u2019s a lot more to bike safety than helmets. That said, urban
\ncyclists who leave home without them should be aware of the risk.  <\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

While I do encourage wearing a helmet, helmets do not prevent crashes, preventing crashes should be the priority not “safe” crashing, this looks like the only point we see eye to eye on.<\/span>
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Nearly all bicyclist fatalities–92 percent of them–occurred as a result of crashes with motor vehicles. <\/span><\/b>Protected bike paths free of traffic are critical.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I do not agree with this conclusion especially since the author just asserted that regular bike lanes are safe, I will assert that just as j-walking is the result of poor to nonexistent accommodations for pedestrians as well as poor to unsafe driver behavior around pedestrians it is the lack of accommodations and the lack of enforcement of traffic laws that make our public roadways unsafe for the vulnerable user. Protected bike paths do not solve the intersection problem and sometimes they can make it worse.
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Although they make up just  5 to 17 percent of vehicles on New York City roadways, large vehicles (trucks, buses) accounted for almost one third–32 percent–of fatalities. <\/span><\/b>Cyclists,
\nbeware of these large vehicles. Traffic engineers: we have to do a
\nbetter job of keeping these vehicles away from cyclists.<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

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While large vehicles are overrepresented in bike crashes in MD they rarely are involved in a fatality with a cyclists. 
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Most crashes–89 percent–occurred at or near intersections. <\/span><\/b>Cross intersections with extra caution. Don’t assume cars can see you.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

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From what I have seen of NYC they stripe bike lanes up to intersections (not AASHTO compliant) and magically expect no conflict with turning motor traffic and the straight through cycling traffic. Not cool to blame the cyclist for this IMHO. FWIW I’ve got a little mini discussion on a new improved pre-intersection design going on here <\/span>https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/photo.php?pid=1531041&l=2a5fc32779&id=513493075<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n


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It may be interesting to note that for 2007 FARS shows NY intersection bike fatalities at 67%, MD at 43%, and National average at 36%<\/span>
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Nearly
\nall–94 percent–of fatalities involved poor driving or bicycle riding
\npractices, particularly driver inattention and disregarding traffic
\nsignals and signs. <\/span><\/b>Policies that discourage distracted driving–regulating cell phone and blackberry use, for example–are important.<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n


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I am of the opinion that 50% of bike crashes are the motorists fault and
\n 50% are cyclists fault. Distracted driving and failing to yield play prominently on the driver side while sidewalk riding, riding the wrong way, mid-block crossing and failure to yield play prominently on the cyclists side. Obviously if everyone did what they were supposed to do, crashes would dramatically decrease.<\/span><\/p>\n


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I would also like to point out ALL<\/span> major cycling faults are “typical” reactions to
\n the lack of accomidations.    
<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>
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Nearly 7 percent of fatal crashes occurred on limited access highways, where bicycling is prohibited. <\/span><\/b>Cyclists who ride on a highway where bicycling is prohibited
\n should realize they could well pay for it.<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n

While any loss of life is a tragedy but with public safety you look at the major issues first before diving into the minor ones. In MD 40% of bike\/ped crashes happen on 25mph or less roads another 40% are on 30-35mph roads, that’s 80% of our
\n crashes that happen on roadways that should be bike\/ped friendly, that’s not right.
<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>
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Although
\nthere are many more miles of local roads, more than half–53
\npercent–of fatal crashes occurred on arterial (large, four lane)
\nroads. <\/span><\/b>Constructing protected bike paths to serve such arterial roads should be a high priority.<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n

In MD 62% of bike fatalities happen on US and State roads.
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 <\/span>
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Men aged 45-54 had the highest death rate (8.3 per million). <\/span><\/b>Riding experience helps, but it\u2019s not a cure all.<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n


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What stands out for me is 34% of MD bike fatalities are 17 years of age or younger.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>
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Bicyclist
\ndeaths tended to occur most frequently in the afternoon and evening
\nhours. The largest proportion of fatal crashes–38 percent–occurred
\nbetween 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. The fewest fatal crashes occurred after
\nmidnight and before daybreak.  <\/span><\/b>Exercise extra caution during rush hour<\/span><\/i>.<\/p>\n

Really, most biking deaths occur when most people ride?  And I don’t think this is the best advice, in assertive traffic you have to be assertive, that’s life and it works for your safety. I wish I could blow a whistle and get everyone to be be calm and courteous during the rush to get in front of a TV but no one has given me that power but it does not improve your safety trying to creep along the sidelines and go unnoticed.<\/p>\n

In conclusion I will note that MD’s cyclists fatality rate among those who bike is 25% higher then the national average. That is saying either our modal share is depressing low (which it is) and\/or it not that safe to bike here.   <\/p>\n

<\/span>
\nhttps:\/\/www.examiner.com\/x-2429-DC-Bicycle-Transportation-Examiner%7Ey2009m4d8-What-can-we-learn-from-New-York-City-bicycle-fatality-stats<\/a>oldId.20090408182115331<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I really have to question the conclusions of DC Examiner on the NYC bike crash study. Only one fatal crash with a motor vehicle occurred when a bicyclist was in a marked bicycle lane. Bicycle lanes aren\u2019t a luxury; they\u2019re a necessity. Riders should use bike lanes when possible. A total of ten other fatalities occurred … <\/p>\n

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