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New Developments in the News

JUNE 1, 2009




Bikes are great for the city as long as they ride by the rules

Topping this week's local news was the conversion of a stretch of Broadway in midtown Manhattan to a pedestrian mall as part of the Bloomberg Administration's efforts to reduce pollution and traffic in the city. Bicycles play an important part in efforts toward a greener, cleaner city, and the recent festivities of Bike Month this May have underscored a growing acceptance of bike travel as a better way to get around.

A recent academic study showed evidence that between 2007 and 2008 the number of commuter cyclists increased 35 percent in the city. But the downside of two-wheeling comes when cyclists don't obey laws and pose a threat to themselves and pedestrians. The above-mentioned study found that more than one-third of the city's cyclists never stop at red lights; 13.2 percent were observed riding against traffic; Where a bike lane was available, 29.3 percent didn't use it, though 10 percent of the cyclists weren't able to because the lane was obstructed. The study also found that nearly all cyclists killed in bike accidents in New York City were not wearing a helmet.