Transportation Alternatives Demands Bike Infrastructure After Queens Cyclist Killed in Preventable Crash
Statement of Transportation Alternatives Deputy Director Marco Conner DiAquoi in response to a crash in Queens late last night where an MTA bus driver struck and killed a 50-year old cyclist on a street without any protection for cyclists
“Last night, we lost another New Yorker to a predictable, preventable traffic crash. On behalf of New York City’s safe streets community, we send our heartfelt condolences to the family of the 50-year-old cyclist killed in Queens last night, and urge Mayor de Blasio to take immediate action to make streets safe for all New Yorkers.
The location where this crash occurred, near 32nd Avenue and 51st Street in Queens, has no physical protection for bicyclists. It is no coincidence that of the 10 cyclist fatalities that have occured this year all but one occurred on a street without a bike lane. By providing people on bikes a designated and predictable space on the street, protected bike lanes save lives. Since Mayor de Blasio took office in 2014, more than 130 cyclists have been killed. Last year was the deadliest year for cyclists since 1999.
We know that protected bike lanes can prevent tragedies like what happened last night in Queens. Yet the Mayor has halted his own “Green Wave” plan meant to protect cyclists, and has largely ignored the recommendations of his own Surface Transportation Advisory Council for how to rapidly build a network of connected and protected bike lanes at a low cost. In a city where more and more New Yorkers are biking for transportation, Mayor de Blasio has a choice. He can continue to do very little, hobbling New York City’s recovery and letting people die, or he can make space on the road for people on bikes, and end this cycle of predictable, preventable tragedy.
Later today, Transportation Alternatives is releasing a report that shows Mayor de Blasio’s inaction has New York City headed for carmageddon as a bike boom clashes with a huge rise in New Yorkers driving.”