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 of 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 by 50 percent. Injuries to pedestrians dropped by 29 percent and injuries to cyclists dropped by 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 a 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 lane and a crash occurs, that person or company can be liable of the obstruction was the proximate cause of the crash and injury.

Bike Lane Construction

When a street is being renovated or construction effects a bike lane, the City or Contractor must adhere to the following:

§ 19-159.3 Temporary bicycle lanes.

a. Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

Bicycle lane. The term “bicycle lane” means a portion of the roadway that has been marked off or separated for the preferential or exclusive use of bicycles.

Temporary bicycle lane. The term “temporary bicycle lane” means a bicycle lane intended to be used for a limited period of time during which construction or other work prevents or otherwise affects use of a bicycle lane on a roadway, street segment or intersection.

b. Requirements. Any permit issued by the commissioner authorizing work affecting a street segment or intersection that has a bicycle lane shall include a stipulation requiring that the applicant maintain a temporary bicycle lane, and shall specify the particular manner in which the applicant shall maintain the temporary bicycle lane for such street segment or intersection. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the commissioner determines that maintenance of a temporary bicycle lane is not feasible on such street segment or intersection, such determination shall not prohibit issuance of the permit, provided however that the permit shall set forth such other measures the applicant must take to protect public safety, including persons utilizing bicycles on such street segment or intersection.

Central Park Bike Crashes

With cars now banned from the park, it just got a lot safer. However, 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. 

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.