GET AROUND NEW YORK QUICKLY BY BICYCLE - ALTA BICYCLE SHARE PART II

GET AROUND NEW YORK QUICKLY BY BICYCLE - ALTA BICYCLE SHARE  PART II

Just in time for New York City's new bicycle initiative

GET AROUND NEW YORK QUICKLY BY BICYCLE - ALTA BICYCLE SHARE Part I

which begins the summer of 2012, New York's Hunter College has released a study which shows that every year, there are about 1,000 pedestrian accidents caused by collision with bicycle riders in New York State. About 550 of them happen in NYC alone.

They believe the number may actually be much higher as this study only accounts for those accidents which resulted in hospital visits for the pedestrians and does not include the individuals who sought treatment with their own doctors or who were able to brush themselves off and walk away. Injuries to the cyclists were not counted in the study.

Young children in poorer neighborhoods appear to make up a noticeable percentage of this study's statistics, perhaps because the children spend more time playing outdoors.

Since the program is expected to be a big hit with tourists, it is imperative that cyclists know and follow bicycle laws and safety rules such as:

• Do not ride on sidewalks.
• Do not ride against traffic.
• Stop at red lights and stop signs.
• Use a front headlight when riding at night. Reflective vests or leg bands are cheap, easy and important even during the day.
• Riding a little farther to the left will give you options if a parked car suddenly open their door.

Hunter College Study

Caution sign courtesy of Salim Virji's photostream via Flickr.com's Creative Commons License.