We'd usually expect bicycle accidents in New York to increase as we see an increase in commuter bicyclists.  There has been a 15 percent increase in the number of cyclists from this spring to last spring.  The number of commuting bike riders has increased nearly 70 percent since 2008 and by more than 260 percent since 2000.  The New York City's Department of Transportation calculates these numbers by collecting data at a number of major commuter locations throughout the area.

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Our New York bicycle accidents lawyers understand that even with the increase in the number of riders, we've seen record lows in traffic deaths over the last four years.  Some credit the installation of the City's bicycle route for this decrease.  Nearly 400 miles of bicycle lanes have been installed in the city since 2002.  But make no mistake: Bicyclists are at high risk of being involved in an accident and serious or fatal injuries typically result.

Since more residents of the area have chosen a bicycle as their main form of transportation, the city has been forced to adjust transportation efforts to accommodate these travelers.  The DOT says that they have since improved the street network and strengthened traffic law enforcement to improve safety.

This spring, the DOT calculated approximately 18,800 local cyclists.  That's a record high for the area.  This number is up from nearly 16,000 in the spring of 2010 and roughly 11,600 in 2008.

The city calculates bicyclist counts at the following commuter locations:

-Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge

-The Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge

-Williamsburg Bridge

-Manhattan Bridge

In addition to new bike lanes, the DOT launched a "Don't Be a Jerk" campaign.  This effort included celebrity bicyclists in some of its ads that detailed a number of roadways rules that all cyclists should know. 

"More New Yorkers than ever are using the expanding bike route network, and still more are seeing the benefit it brings for everybody who uses the streets," said Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan.

The DOT is asking for your help to keep our roads safe.  It's asking that you take the Bike Smart Pledge and make the commitment to learn and practice obeying the basic rules for the safety for all bicyclists.