10/22/2010 // New York, NY, US // New York City Accident Lawyer // NYC injury lawyer Jonathan C. Reiter
New York, NY—A recent 22-hour study, carried out by the Manhattan borough president’s office as a means of evaluating of the true level of safety associated with the city’s “safer” bike lanes, revealed staggering results. According to a New York Daily News report, even officials with the New York City Police Department (NYPD) seemed to disregard the new bike lanes. The study was conducted during rush hours from Tuesday, October 5, 2010 through Thursday, October 7, 2010 and exposed a whopping 1,700 safety violations.
“Even people who are responsible for safety are not taking the new bike lanes seriously,” said Borough President Scott Stringer, whose staff counted a total of 19 police officers blocking bike lines while the small study was underway. Further observations included 242 bicyclists traveling the wrong way and 237 running red lights. The report also noted that several of the bikes in violation were ferrying kids at the time.
In addition to bicyclists ignoring safety initiatives, 741 pedestrians were seen standing in the bike lanes. Passengers in vehicles such as taxis also created potentially dangerous obstacles for bike riders using the new lanes. Staffers counted 77 cyclists that were forced to take evasive action to avoid hitting opening car doors. “It’s simply not enough to create a bike lane… You have to make people respect the lane and create a path,” Stringer stated, noting that improved sings, a cab rider awareness campaign and amplified enforcement are needed to genuinely improve safety.
Leading Manhattan auto accident attorney Jonathan Reiter states that if you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a traffic accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and damages. With more than thirty years of experience litigating the multifaceted claims of traffic accident victims and their families, contacting NYC injury lawyer Jonathan Reiter with regard to your particular personal injury or wrongful death case may help you obtain the compensation you deserve.
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