《BICYCLE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS》.pdfVIP

Web: /dot IMMEDIATE RELEASE RELEASE # 06-50 Tuesday September 12, 2006 Contact: Kay Sarlin (212) 442-7033 Warner Johnston (212) 360-1311 Andrew Tucker (212) 788-5290 CITY ANNOUNCES UNPRECEDENTED CITYWIDE BICYCLE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS DOT, DOHMH, DPR and NYPD Release Comprehensive Report of 1996 – 2006 Bicycle Injuries and Fatalities New York City Transportation Commissioner Iris Weinshall today joined Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, Parks Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe and Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly to announce a series of unprecedented bicycle safety improvements, including the addition of 200 miles of new on-street bicycle facilities (paths, lanes and routes) over the next three years. The agencies also announced the release of a joint report describing the factors that contributed to the deaths and serious injuries of bicyclists over the past decade. The joint report issued today, Bicyclist Fatalities and Serious Injuries in New York City 1996-2005, examines factors that contributed to the deaths of 225 bicyclists during the past decade and the serious injuries of 3,462 bicyclists between 1996 and 2003. While bicyclist injuries declined by 46% between 1996 and 2003, death rates in the past decade remained steady at 2.8 deaths per million, per year. Bicycle death rates in New York City are similar to national rates. Two times as many New York City adults (6% vs. 3%) bicycle or walk to work compared to the national average, according to census data. “The ambitious target we’ve set for the next three years will complete the backbone of the City’s planned bicycle network,” said Transportation Commissioner Iris Weinshall. “Last year,