Bicycle Blueprint

Table 17:
Collisions and Fatalities in NYC Traffic Accidents
a) Perceptions and Reality
b) Accident Statistics
c) Cyclist/Pedestrian Accidents
d) Motor Vehicle Collisions
e) Helmet Laws
f) Chapter 17 Recommendations

Table 17: Collisions and Fatalities in NYC Traffic Accidents

1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986

Bicycle-Motor Vehicle Collisions 3,520 3,857 3,356 3,544 3,661 4,246 4,313

Bicyclist Fatalities 17 18 20 18 15 15 24

Pedestrian-Motor Vehicle Collisions 13,599 14,732 15,109 14,552 14,043 14,304 14,347

Pedestrian Fatalities 294 317 366 374 352 319 286

Pedestrian-Bicycle Collisions 298 358 351 327 430 511 631

Pedestrian Fatalities 2 0 3 0 0 1 2

Fatalities (except 1991-92) from Traffic Fatalities Data in New York City, NYC DoT, Aug. 1991. All collision data and 1991-92 fatalities compiled by Transportation Alternatives from NYPD Traffic Division, except 1992 bicyclist fatalities from DoT Safety Division, March 1993. See T.A. fact sheet, updated regularly, “Accidents Involving Bicycles, Pedestrians and Motor Vehicles in New York City.”

	1992	1991	1990	1989	1988	1987	1986
Bicycle-Motor Vehicle Collisions	3,520	3,857	3,356	3,544	3,661	4,246	4,313
Bicyclist Fatalities	17	18	20	18	15	15	24
Pedestrian-Motor Vehicle Collisions	13,599	14,732	15,109	14,552	14,043	14,304	14,347
Pedestrian Fatalities	294	317	366	374	352	319	286
Pedestrian-Bicycle Collisions	298	358	351	327	430	511	631
Pedestrian Fatalities	2	0	3	0	0	1	2
Fatalities (except 1991-92) from Traffic Fatalities Data in New York City, NYC DoT, Aug. 1991. All collision data and 1991-92 fatalities compiled by Transportation Alternatives from NYPD Traffic Division, except 1992 bicyclist fatalities from DoT Safety Division, March 1993. See T.A. fact sheet, updated regularly, “Accidents Involving Bicycles, Pedestrians and Motor Vehicles in New York City.”

Police Department Accident Record-Keeping

Police Department crash statistics, though helpful, are superficial where bicycle figures are concerned. According to Sgt. Brian Franklin of the NYPD Traffic Division, bicycle accidents tend to fall between the cracks of the official accident record. “Bicycle-pedestrian accidents aren't even supposed to be reported under the federal government's Fatal Accident Reporting System,” he says.

The explanation usually given by city record-keepers is that city cycling is still a relatively new phenomenon — a strange attitude to take toward a transportation option that is over a century old and has been resurging for several decades. In any case, the Police Department had little difficulty in mobilizing its forces to increase its ticketing some 20 times over. To learn more about how to reduce risks, the NYPD or the DoT needs to gather, analyze and disseminate detailed information about serious accidents, such as proximate cause and (when it's possible to determine) who was at fault. [2]

NOTES:
2. For example, Accidents in North American Mountaineering, published annually by the American Alpine Club, has raised awareness of pitfalls in mountain climbing and wilderness hiking. Transportation Alternatives has offered to develop a parallel report for city cycling accidents, but city officials have refused access to accident reports.