On the streets of New York, more and more people are dying: what is happening

In 2019, more cyclists died in New York than in any other year in the past 20 years. Activists urge authorities to step up their efforts to change these sad statistics in the future. This publication writes The New York Times.

Fall after takeoff

In recent years, New York has been stubbornly and quite successfully addressing the issue of street safety. This allowed the authorities to be commended for reducing road traffic deaths to the lowest level in 100 years, as well as launching a national movement to improve road safety for pedestrians and cyclists.

But years of progress may be in jeopardy: in 2019, the death toll on the roads increased. This was caused by a sharp increase in the number of dead cyclists, which outraged the vibrant cycling community and the townspeople.

Alarming statistics cast doubt on the street safety plan signed by Mayor Bill de Blasio and prompted the city council to make ambitious efforts to add more than 400 km of bike lanes.

While some New Yorkers want to ban cars from entering Manhattan, city officials say they must also balance the needs of those who use cars for business or to get to work and back home.

Bill de Blasio made street safety one of the top priorities during his first year as mayor of the city and pledged to eliminate all accidents by 2024. His plan, known as Vision Zero, is modeled on the Swedish approach, according to which all deaths are considered preventable. Other American cities, such as Los Angeles and Boston, followed suit.

A sharp increase in fatal accidents

It is worth noting that the number of deaths on the roads of New York in recent years has really decreased. However, last year it suddenly rose to 219 from 203 deaths in 2018, according to preliminary data from the city. In 2019, 28 deaths of cyclists were recorded, which is the highest rate in the last two decades and more than double the rate of the previous year.

“We are very sad about what happened this year,” Polly Trottenberg, Transport Commissioner for the City, said in an interview. She added that this year is still the second most secure city in history. “I do not want people to suffer.”

About the victims

Among the dead on the streets of New York in 2019 was a 10-year-old boy who was hit by a driver without a driver’s license a few steps from his house.

Also on the list was a 52-year-old man - he was hit by a car that, it would seem, jumped out of nowhere, as can be seen on the recordings from the cameras.

On the subject: Mortality of cyclists in New York reached a historic high: what's next

One of the last victims was Daniel Kammerman, a pediatrician on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, who was hit by a school bus while riding his bike near Central Park. “He was more than just a doctor. He was her protector, ”says Joannie Cruz, mother of a daughter with special needs. “It's like we lost a family member.”

Among the dead was also a pedestrian who was hit by a truck on New Year's Eve in Harlem. The 23-year-old man was accused of driving while intoxicated.

Activists urge the city to act

The death of cyclists has led to a surge in public outrage. Cyclists urge police to more aggressively enforce traffic laws, and city officials to establish more secure bicycle lanes physically separated from traffic. This is especially true, given that cycling is becoming increasingly popular in New York. The number of daily bike rides has almost doubled - almost 490 thousand in 2017 compared to 250 thousand in 2010.

Cyclists regularly post on the Internet photographs of treacherous routes, as well as police cars and other vehicles blocking bike lanes.

“It was an exceptionally difficult year, especially for New Yorkers who ride bicycles,” said Joe Katrufo, a spokeswoman for the Transportation Alternatives group, which promotes cycling. “Most people who died while cycling in 2019 would have survived if there was a secure and unobstructed bike path.”

The reasons for the increase in the number of fatal accidents

According to Trottenberg, one of the reasons for the increase in the number of deaths on the streets was the increase in the number of trucks. “I think this is part of a big trend in the city,” she said. - We are seeing an increase in the number of trucks on the streets. When a truck and a pedestrian or cyclist meet, the consequences can be fatal. ”

In addition, given the low gas prices (about $ 2,50), more and more New Yorkers are changing to SUVs, a collision with which is also very dangerous for pedestrians.

However, many accidents boil down to reckless driving. “We also observed many cases of speeding and unlicensed driving this year,” said Trottenberg.

The sad statistics

Over the years, road traffic deaths have declined from nearly 300 cases in 2013 - a year before the start of the Vision Zero program. During the reign of Bill de Blasio, the city reduced the speed limit on most streets to 40 km / h and added 160 km of protected bike paths.

But mortality among pedestrians, who account for the largest share of deaths on roads, has become an intractable problem for a densely populated city. So, in 2019, mortality increased to 122 people from 115 in 2018.

The number of people killed in cars rose to 44 in 2019 from 38 in 2018. At the same time, the source notes, the number of dead motorcyclists dropped to 25 people from 40 in 2018.

The streets of New York have long been known for their danger. The death toll on the roads peaked in 1929 and amounted to 1360 people, despite the fact that there were much fewer cars than today. In 1990, more than 700 deaths were recorded on the roads.

How the city plans to solve the problem

In November, the mayor of New York signed into law, according to which in the coming years the city should build more than 400 km of protected bike paths. An impressive list of other street upgrades was also presented. In particular, it is planned to build 240 km of bus lanes that will be physically separated from other lanes or will be controlled by cameras.

The law was drafted by Corey Johnson, the speaker of the city council, who is expected to run for mayor next year. He persuaded the incumbent mayor to uphold the law after the administration of Bill de Blasio expressed concern about his aggressive terms.

According to Trottenberg, in the new year the city will begin to develop rapidly with the goal of installing more bike lanes and cameras to capture drivers who drive at high speed. “Despite the difficult past year, we are doing a lot of important things,” she said. “We set incredibly aggressive goals for building long-distance protected bike lanes in Brooklyn.”

“Break the car culture”

Johnson promised to "break the car culture" and said that the city has too many parking spaces. The local transportation committee in Manhattan plans to completely eliminate free street parking.

And from 2021, New York will be the first American city where drivers will pay to enter the busiest commercial area. Under a plan known as congestion pricing, drivers will probably have to pay $ 14 to get to Manhattan below 60th Street.