We have seatbelt laws in this country not because the government is interested in saving lives but rather because the insurance industry is interested in minimizing their chances that they’ll have to dole out payments for life insurance or costly critical care. It’s the same with bike helmets. If there was as much insurance money to be lost from dead bicyclists as there was from dead drivers, the industry would back helmet legislation in every state in the union. If you aren’t wearing a helmet and get hit by a car and then require thousands and thousands of dollars in medical care, other policy holders pay for it in the form of higher premiums and deductibles. If you don’t have insurance, taxpayers pay for your care.

Obviously bigger issues like bike lanes and cars in the park have to be addressed, but helmet laws may be one concession riders have to make in order to get more things on their public policy wish lists.

I am concerned about the seemingly-inevitable helmet legislation. This is a “blame the victim” approach to bike safety and would discourage cycling. Helmets don’t prevent crashes, and a helmet law would send the message that cyclists are to blame for injuries and deaths. Yes, cyclists must ride safely, but what about speeding drivers who double park and can’t take a second to look for cyclists before opening their doors?

We have a huge problem with road rage in NY, and this will continue as long as the Bloomberg Administration doesn’t challenge the notion that motorized vehicles have more of a right to the road than bikes.

As for the bike lanes, anyone who’s tried to use the much-heralded 8th Avenue bike lane knows that unbuffered lanes without enforcement do little to improve safety.

So, like Will said, it’s a start, but we’ve got to keep up the pressure to get these bigger issues addressed.

Enforcement of bike lanes in the parks would not matter if they would get the dumb cars out of the parks. To the critics however on lack of attention on street bike lanes, look up two bullet points..

“Increase enforcement of laws against motorists who park or drive in a bicycle lane, and enforce traffic control obedience among motorists and bicyclists.”

Enforcement really is what is needed. Problem is cars, delivery trucks, cops all park in the lanes without any consequence. That said, what’s that non-sense at the end about enforce obediance among motorists AND BICYCISTS”. Ah never can just be about the cars can it, bicycists are too blame. No matter that a stray car will kill someone. Does anyone have a figure for number of people killed by cyclists? You don’t have to answer that. Not saying cyclists shouldn’t obey the rules of the road, it’s just that they not at all the root of the problem.

Also why all the focus on DOT investigating accidents, how about the police investigating some accidents?

The focus on helmets is probably silly and will do little to protect cyclists from the real problems.

But more lanes is great, and more bike racks would be a big win. Especially if they would start using some parking spaces for bike racks instead of gobbling up all the pedestrian ways. Oh wait, but that might mean 100 fewer parking spaces. Ok will never happen this time, but next round maybe we can get some.

It’s relatively good news, but what is great news is that the pressure is getting to them!

BUT-
the plan includes support for legislation to increase fines for vehicles parked in bike lanes in PARKS. What about on STREETS, where it’s most important by far?

How about that Houston Street Bike lane!!

Then they will start talking about BRT in a few months hopefully, then perhaps some better regional rail integration strategies and a whole lot of new services will start to come online in about 5 – 8 years.

And about the safety part – this report shows pretty clearly that bike lanes matter and should be considered as much a part of the safety landscape as crosswalks for pedestrians.

End message: those weirdos who choose to bike need help staying safe; cars are still just fine and dandy. Where’s the encouragement to move people from driving to biking?

But seriously, this is great news, and an important first step towards that. You need to have the infrastructure in place before you can start telling people they should be using it…

Support legislation to increase the fine for motor vehicles that park in bicycle lanes within city parks.

Why only within parks? I understand it might be tough to increase police coverage for all of the bike lanes, but if they could ticket them when they see them, people would have incentive not to block up the lanes on any streets.

NYC has committed to improving bicycle safety in the city. Included in its committments: 200 miles of bicycle facilities; Introduce programs to supply free bicycle helmets and instruction to all interested bicyclists in New York City; Increase enforcem…