On Thursday, riders will be able to test ride cycles through Bike Share in Brooklyn. The bicycles will be available on the Bedford Avenue bike lane; riders can swing by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Prospect Park.

The bikes will be available at the entrance to Medgar Evers College, 1650 Bedford Avenue, at the corner of Crown Street, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 1151918_new_york_2_2.jpg

Our New York City bicycle accident attorneys are closely monitoring the implementation of the city's Bike Share program. According to the New York City Department of Transportation, Atla Bicycle Share has been chosen to launch the program next summer. The system will add 10,000 bikes to city streets. The bikes will be available 24 hours a day at more than 600 stations.

The New York Department of Transportation reports more than 5,600 bicycle accidents occurred statewide in 2009, killing 30 riders and injuring more than 5,500. New York City cycling accidents accounted for more than half of all crashes, claiming 12 lives and injuring nearly 3,000.

As we reported recently on our New York Personal Injury Law Blog, bicycle accidents involving pedestrians are already a concern, as our cycling accidents with motor vehicles. As the city continues to encourage bicycle and pedestrian travel, it's important that the appropriate safety accommodations are included as part of such plans -- and that such safety measure receive the funding necessary to be effective.

The Bike Share program will offer bikes designed for quick trips. Riders can check out the bikes using a membership or credit card. A mobile app will show the availability of bikes at various docking stations around the city. Advocates promise the program will make public transit more accessible in developing areas and along the waterfront.

Promises indicate the program will be paid for with user fees and private funding -- not tax dollars. And the city already has a robust cycling infrastructure expansion plan. The city has added 250 miles of bike lanes since 2006. There are now more than 700 miles of bike lanes citywide. Advocates say the number of cyclists has more than doubled since 2000, while the risk of an accident has fallen by 75 percent.

But the addition of 10,000 bikes will require vigilance on the part of operators as well as police and city officials.

Backers say nearly half of all trips in New York City or under a mile. And two-thirds are under three miles. Biking is a cheap, easy and efficient alternative method of travel. It can also be healthy and fun.

As long as everyone keeps safety first.