A Multiagency Effort to Reduce Bicyclist Fatalities and Serious Injuries in New York City

Abstract

In the summer of 2005, responding to an apparent increase in the number of bicyclist fatalities in New York City (NYC), a coalition of bicycling advocacy groups, clubs, racing organizations, and working cyclists presented a six-point Bike Safety Action Plan to NYC's Department of Transportation (DOT) and Police Department (NYPD). Leading the list of desired action steps was the coalition's request for a comprehensive study of bicyclist fatalities. The requested report was to be modeled on a bicycling casualty study completed by the city of Toronto in the late 1990s, 1 considered by many advocates to be the most comprehensive municipal study to improve bicycling conditions to date. Advocates asked that the city's health department play a role in the study. One year later, in September 2006, four NYC agencies with a shared interest in promoting safe bicycling-the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), Department of Parks and Recreation, DOT, and NYPD-released a joint report to the public entitled Bicyclist Fatalities and Serious Injuries in New York City: 1996-2005. 2 The report provided a comprehensive examination of bicyclist fatalities and serious injuries, drawing on multiple data sources including police accident reports, accident scene investigations, and medical examiner files. As part of the report, the city announced an aggressive package of action steps to increase bicycling and promote safety. Details of the investigation, proposed action steps, and subsequent efforts are described in this article.