[Random bike photo by Derek Berg]
NYC cyclists are becoming more considerate and law-abiding, according to research conducted by Peter Tuckel and William Milczarski of Hunter College at the City University of New York.
The study, "Bike Lanes + Bike Share = Bike Safety," looked at the behavior of 4,316 bicyclists at 98 different locations in central and lower Manhattan. (The researchers also compared this survey to a similar one from 2009.)
The new survey results showed that 34 percent of riders were observed going through red lights without pausing or stopping, down about 10 percentage points from 2009. In addition, 4.2 percent of cyclists were seen by the research team riding against traffic … while 3.2 percent were riding against traffic in the bike lane. This combined total of 7.4 percent is down nearly 6 percentage points from 2009. The survey also found that more women are riding bikes than in 2009.
Other survey results include:
• Helmet use rose from 29.9 percent in 2009 to 49.8 percent in 2013.
• Citi Bike riders in general are more compliant with traffic laws and ride in bike lanes at a higher rate than other riders.
As for Citi Bike, the study concludes: "Predictions that the launch of the bike-share program would lead to a spike in the number of cycling-related injuries have not materialized. Citi Bike riders appear to be more cautious and even more compliant with traffic rules than other cyclists."
You can find the whole academic jargony survey below...
Other media outlets covered this survey, including Atlantic Cities, Gothamist and Streetsblog.
None of this surprises me. I always knew that, in time, people would adapt themselves to the bike lanes, and I never believed the (ridiculous) claims that bike sharers were some sort of clueless renegades.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame that cars clearly aren't.
ReplyDeleteWow- my experience in the East Village is a lot different than this study. I wonder if they consider delivery guys "bike riders". In any case as both a rider and a pedestrian I now find I have to look in every direction at corners because you have to watch for riders on the sidewalk, going the wrong way in bike lanes and the wrong way on streets. I'd say there have been fewer accidents because pedestrians have to be ultra aware. My experience is about 30-40 of bikers (including delivery) aren't obeying the laws, at least in the East Village.
ReplyDeleteThree types of lies -- lies, damned lies and lies, damned lies and statistics. And anything supported by SMDH is certainly adverse.
ReplyDeleteBike Lanes + Bike Share = Bike Safety doesn't sound biased at all.
ReplyDelete@ Anon 9:23- Not trying to bag on ya' but you're SUPPOSED to look all around you. It's a big city & you don't know WTF could be headed for you.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 9:43 - You said there were "three types of lies -- lies, damned lies and lies, damned lies and statistics". That sounds like five, with two redundancies. Good thing you're on the anti-biker's side!
ReplyDeleteMy experience as both a pedestrian and a sometime motorist in the East Village area is that the bike riders have gotten worse. What I am witnessing is a what seems to be a real sense of entitlement akin to the cab drivers' attitude that the street belongs to them. This behavior isn't confined to the delivery boys. It is across the board, but I do see that the Citibike riders are more cooperative. Recently, within 2 days, I was very nearly struck by bikes either going in the wrong direction, or not in the bike lane, or at incredible speed, or without a warning horn / light/ bell, OR a combination of those. Also, no apologies - often the finger and cursing. I'd say for the privilege of those bike lanes the cyclists should be made to abide by the same traffic laws as the motorists - licenses, ID plates, lights, horns, courtesy.
ReplyDeleteThe plural of anecdote is not data.
ReplyDeleteTire spikes in the bike lanes.
ReplyDeleteAs you were.
I agree! I noticed the CitiBikers on the sidewalks are wearing their helmets more these days.
ReplyDeleteIdiots. When was this study taken? During the snowstorms? Everyone knows that the bicyclists ride like cars without following rules. They run lights, don't stop for pedestrians, go the wrong way, etc... I root for more storms so I don't see them! Can't wait for spring.
ReplyDeleteThe Citibikers are not the problem.
ReplyDeleteI got cleared out by a delivery guy Friday night going the wrong way on Second Ave at the busiest time of night. Hurt like a @$%@#.
I should have looked both ways. But those guys are a menace and I would not be surprised if there were some vigilante justice the next time this happened.
I was too woozy to do anything but a bunch of the people behind were screaming at the guy. One of these days it might get ugly....
All I can say is
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What BULLSHIT. The Bikes are a menace and hopefully soon more will die.
I used to hate the junkies. I hate the bicyclists even more!
ReplyDeleteI don't hate all bicyclists, I hate the rogue bicyclists esp. the CitiBikers who are delusional that the bike lanes or being on a CitiBike is their own personal designated lane free of traffic and traffic rules, a bike bubble lane, basically.
ReplyDelete