The number of bicyclists struck and killed by motor vehicles in New York City in 1997 hit the highest level in ten years. Ironically, the dramatic increase comes at a time when cyclists are painted as a public nuisance and are the target of increased police enforcement and harassment. Bicycle advocates attribute the dramatic rise to reckless and speeding drivers and to woefully inadequate street infrastructure, like bike lanes, for city cyclists.

Statistics reported by the NYC Department of Transportation show that 22 cyclists were killed by motor vehicles in 1997. The number of cyclists deaths marks almost a 70% increase from the average number of deaths from 1992 to 1996. Transportation Alternatives, a 5,000 member bicycling and pedestrian advocacy group, says city streets are more dangerous than ever for bicyclists. "Reckless driving and speeding has gotten tremendously out of hand, and cyclists are paying with their lives," said Gian-Claudia Sciara, bicycle program coordinator of Transportation Alternatives.

Advocates say it is incumbent on the City to encourage cycling as a city-friendly, non-polluting means of travel in NYC. Over 100,000 people use bicycles to get around everyday in New York City--a 20% increase in just five years, reports Transportation Alternatives. "The City should welcome this trend. The equation is simple: more cyclists means fewer cars, cleaner air and less traffic," said Sciara.

Recent City efforts regarding cycling, however, have involved increased police summonsing of cyclists for minor traffic infractions like riding on the sidewalk or the wrong way. "We support police efforts to keep cyclists off sidewalks and riding with traffic, but ticketing will not work alone," said Sciara.

By making streets safer for cyclists, advocates contend, the City would do far more to encourage good cycling habits. "Right now, we need two things," said Sciara. "We need streets where reckless driving and speeding is not tolerated by police, and we need safe, designated and well-designed bicycle lanes."

New York City has only 125 miles of bike lanes on over 6,400 street miles. "Lanes are lacking where cyclists need them most: major Midtown avenues and fast moving boulevards in the boroughs," said Sciara. T.A. also pointed out that, of the small number of bike lanes in New York City, most do not meet federal safety standards, posing a clear hazard to cyclists.

In contrast, other U.S. cities that had a high toll of cycling fatalities, have made concerted efforts in recent years to combat the death toll. While the number of cyclists killed in Portland grew very high in the 1980's, a significant decrease has been achieved. The Portland DOT attributes the decrease in cycling deaths in large part to the installation of over 80 miles of bike lanes and off-street paths in the last several year.

Roughly 800 cyclists are killed by motor vehicles on average in the U.S.