New York City Bicycle Accident Statistics

Cycling, both as a recreational activity and as a sport, is on the rise in the USA. A recent survey shows that over 50 million people in the country ride their bikes at least once a year. That is a positive shift in means of transportation considering the congestion levels across the states.

However, along with the growing interest in bicycling comes less optimistic data. The recent US bicycle accident statistics show that cyclist fatalities have grown by an alarming 75% since 2010.

Large American cities, like New York, are experiencing a noticeable surge of bicyclist deaths. Dozens of riders die on the streets of NYC, and thousands sustain serious injuries that have a lingering, if not permanent, effect on their lives. Today, we’ll analyze the number of New York City cyclists injured or killed in traffic accidents over the recent years, the factors that contributed to the incidents, the types of vehicles involved, and more.

Key Takeaways

• In 2024, bicyclist fatalities accounted for over 10% of all deadly accidents in New York.
• Almost 50% of state-recorded biking accidents took place in New York City.
• Distracted drivers are the main contributing factor to severe crashes.
• Single-bike crashes can be as deadly as motor vehicle collisions.
• Station wagons and sedans were the main types of vehicles that contributed to the deadliest bicycle accidents in New York City between 2020 and 2024.
• Only 18% of fatal bike crashes happen in the winter.

Most Recent New York Bicycle Accident Statistics

Bike riders, as well as pedestrians, are called vulnerable road users for a reason. The lack of physical protection and dedicated bike infrastructure often results in catastrophic accidents. 

The New York authorities introduced the NYC Streets Plan in 2019. Aimed at reducing traffic deaths, it mandated the construction of 250 miles of protected bike lanes from 2023 to 2026, building 50 miles each year. However, in 2024, less than 50% of the required lanes were installed.

As a result of insufficient compliance with the plan, the cyclist fatality rates in the state and the city are as follows:

The table highlights that almost half of all cyclist deaths recorded throughout the state happened on the streets of New York City. Considering how dangerous the Big Apple is for cyclists, you must be aware of the primary contributing factors as well as the main steps to take after a bicycle accident to ensure safety while cycling.

NYC Bicycle Accident Trends Over the Past Decade

There isn’t a common bicycle accident trend to observe in New York City. Bike-related fatalities seemed to fluctuate depending on the increase in cycling activities in the city and safety measures taken to prevent traffic deaths. For instance:

• Between 2014 and 2017, bicyclist fatalities were on the spike, reaching 20+ deaths a year.
• In 2018, the city saw the most significant drop in cyclist deaths over the past 10 years.
• 2019 brought another surge of riders’ deaths on the streets of New York.
• 2023 was the deadliest year for New York City cyclists over the past years.

The New York City’s Department of Transportation publishes a bicycle crash statistic report annually, and here’s a summary of the data from 2013 to 2024:

Most Common Causes of NYC Bicycle Accidents

New York City cyclists face multiple obstacles while riding across the city, from other users’ behavior to improper lane marking to driver fatigue. The NYC OpenData statistics highlight the following causes to consider when heading out on the streets of the city:

• Distracted driving: Any activity a driver partakes in aside from operating the vehicle is viewed as a distraction that can cost cyclists their lives. Motorists eating, messaging, enjoying the view, or conversing with passengers were responsible for 1,544 bicycle accidents in New York in 2024.
• Failure to yield the right of way: Cyclists have a legal right of way that many drivers discard. Assuming that the cyclist has to yield to a car often leads to catastrophic incidents.
• Road user error: Often, pedestrians and fellow riders misread or ignore traffic signals. Unpredictable lane changes, people crossing or running on the bike lanes, and other movement errors can result in a serious bicycle accident.

Here’s the list of the top five contributing causes that led to serious bicycle accident injuries in NYC in 2024:

Recent Statistics of Bicycle Crashes with Motor Vehicles in New York City

A bicycle accident with a motor vehicle usually inflicts the most serious injuries on a cyclist. There are several reasons for this. For once, any car is larger and heavier than a bicycle. Even a low-speed collision can result in severe traumas, let alone speeding automobiles. But a bicyclist does not necessarily have to be hit by a car to suffer harm — a suddenly opened car door or a poorly maintained lane can also lead to serious injury or even death.

Let’s take a closer look at how many New York City cyclists were injured after a crash with a motor vehicle over the past years:

Bicycle Collisions Involving Pedestrians in New York City

Bicycle accidents that involve another vulnerable user category, such as pedestrians, aren’t as frequent as those with motor vehicles. However, they remain a serious concern when it comes to cyclist safety. Although riders owe pedestrians the right of way, the latter may step into a bike lane all of a sudden and provoke a serious accident.

Since cyclists have a mere split second to react, they may try to avoid collisions by swerving into another lane — which may send them under the wheels of approaching traffic. Or, a bicyclist may try to brake and get thrown over the handlebars, sustaining serious injuries. 

The following stats prove that bike infrastructure in New York City requires significant improvements to keep all road users as safe and protected as possible:

Cycling Accidents in New York City Involving Cyclists Only

In the majority of cases, these bicyclist crashes are relatively minor, and the parties involved often choose to resolve the incident without reporting it. That is why the available data isn’t as recent or complete.

Over the past 10 years, zero cyclist deaths caused by a bicycle-on-bicycle accident have been reported. However, around a hundred people suffer injuries in this type of collision annually. Let’s take a closer look:

Why do such crashes happen in New York City? These are the most common causes:

• Whether you are traveling in a designated lane or sharing the road with other vehicles, you can’t foresee a sudden swerve or stop that a fellow rider makes. Such actions pose a serious threat to all traffic participants.
• A mechanical failure, such as a faulty brake system, broken chain, or blown-out tire, is yet another typical cause of bicycle collisions in the city.
• Negligent New York City cyclists who ignore traffic signs, exceed speed limits, or use their devices while driving can initiate a serious collision.

Single-Bike Crashes in New York City

A single-bicycle accident means that there were no other road users that could have contributed to the collision. However, cyclists can still get seriously injured in such a crash. These collisions are usually caused by incomplete or poorly maintained bike infrastructure. For instance:

• Potholes: If a bicycle wheel gets into a hole in the road, it can unbalance the rider and send them off the vehicle.
• Debris: Fallen leaves or piles of gravel can hide broken glass or potholes that will also obstruct a safe cycling journey and can impose serious injuries on the cyclist.
• Slippery surface: Wet and icy surfaces decrease traction. A sliding bike is harder to control. Besides, the vehicle may not brake on time to avoid a potential collision.
• Lack of experience: Some situations require speedy reaction, and New York cyclists with insufficient riding experience often fail to handle sudden shifts and obstacles.

Here’s a table reflecting how many bicyclists sustained serious traumas and fatal injuries in a solo accident in New York City from 2013 to 2023:

Most Dangerous Streets for Cycling in New York

Statistical data proves that some streets in the city are more dangerous than the rest. There may be multiple contributing factors, such as poor or absent bicycling infrastructure, traffic volumes, or population density, that create potentially dangerous riding conditions. We’ve compiled a list of the 10 most dangerous streets for cyclists in New York City:

Source: NYC OpenData — Motor Vehicle Collisions

Bicycle Accident Statistics by NYC Borough

Population density, local infrastructure, congestion rates, and other factors differ throughout all New York City boroughs. But, are cyclists more at risk riding through Manhattan or Queens? Let’s see what the situation was like in 2024:

Source: NYC OpenData — Motor Vehicle Collisions

• Brooklyn: The borough had the highest number of bicyclist fatalities in 2024. The fact that of all deadly traffic incidents, bike riders account for 15.1%, raises serious concern.
• The Bronx and Queens: The boroughs had equal numbers of cyclist deaths in 2024. Although they are not as dangerous as Brooklyn, their existing bike infrastructure isn’t perfect.
• Manhattan: Although the number of bicyclists who suffered deadly injuries in Manhattan was lower, the overall traffic death rate in the borough remained high.
• Staten Island: The borough had zero bicyclist deaths recorded in 2024. While all the safety precautions that the local municipalities took to prevent cycling crashes had a lot to do with the trend, we shouldn’t forget that Staten Island is the least populated borough in New York City.

Manhattan Bicycle Accident Statistics

Manhattan is known for its impressive cycling activity. In fact, in 2024, NYC DOT reported an 8% increase in daily commuters riding their bikes over major bridges, including the Manhattan Bridge. 

This data pushed local authorities to take additional safety measures to protect New York City cyclists and widen existing bike lanes. The number of cyclist deaths has dropped by 50% in 2024, which indicates positive progress.

The Bronx Bicycle Accident Statistics

Over 450 bicycle accidents were recorded in the Bronx in 2024. Four people lost their lives in those crashes. Although the majority of serious and deadly collisions happened with a motor vehicle involved, single-bike accidents, as well as incidents that involved a pedestrian, remain the second most common type of cycling collisions in the Bronx.

Has the situation in the borough improved or worsened over the past decade? You can find the answer to the question in the table below:

Brooklyn Bicycle Accident Statistics

In 2024, Brooklyn experienced a palpable decrease in biker injury and fatality rates compared to 2023. Yet, almost 1,500 people were seriously injured on the streets of the borough and eight people died on Brooklyn roads riding their bikes. Downtown Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Bushwick, East Flatbush, and Sunset Park were the main areas where the incidents were concentrated.

The following data proves that Brooklyn needs rapid implementation of additional safety measures, including but not limited to expanded miles of equipped bike lanes and public awareness campaigns.

Queens Bicycle Accident Statistics

Queens saw the largest number of bicyclists killed in 2014. From 2015 to 2022, the death rate among cyclists seemed to be on a stable decrease, but 2023 brought another wave of deadly incidents to the borough streets. Recognizing the lack of proper bike infrastructure and low safety levels, the city implemented several Priority Bicycle Districts in the borough. However, statistics show that unfavorable patterns remain:

Staten Island Bicycle Accident Statistics

Staten Island is known for its suburban appeal and majestic scenery. The borough is the least populated in the city and has a smaller cycling community. However, the area still experiences traffic casualties among bikers — even if it’s one or two cyclist deaths a year. It is worth mentioning that during the last year, serious injury rates dropped by an impressive 20%.

NYC Bicycle Accident Statistics by the Season

As it turns out, the frequency of biking accidents in New York City differs depending on the season. Statistics provided by the NYPD show the following trends:

• Over 25% of fatal cyclist crashes happened during the spring months of 2024.
• Summer is the deadliest time for biking — 35% of cyclist fatalities in New York City occur during the season.
• On average, 29% of fatal bicycle collisions on the roads of New York City take place during the fall.
• Winter is the least deadly season in New York.

NYC Bicycle Accident Statistics by the Time of the Day

Traffic is more active during certain times of the day, so, logically, more traffic collisions happen during rush hours. This also applies to bicycle crashes. Based on our analysis, it is safe to state the following:

• Over 30% of New York City cyclists who were seriously or fatally injured were riding in the evening, from 18:00 to 00:00.
• Noon and night hours are relatively safe for bike riders. These hours see the lowest injury and fatality rates among cyclists in New York City.

Source: NYC OpenData — Motor Vehicle Collisions

NYC Bicycle Accident Statistics by Helmet Usage

Something as simple as a protective helmet can save your life, and countless researches prove the point. Back in 2021, the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research (ITSMR) reported the following:

• 1,455 cyclists who were involved in a biking crash across the state were wearing helmets. There were seven fatal instances, and 121 crashes resulted in severe injuries.
• At the same time, out of 3,946 riders who weren’t wearing a helmet, 32 were fatally injured, and 378 suffered severe injuries.
• Another study proved that only half of observed New York City cyclists were wearing a helmet while navigating city streets.
• Men are more likely to wear helmets than women.
• Around 20% of bike renters tend to wear a helmet in NYC.
• A helmet can reduce your chances of getting killed or seriously harmed in a bicycle accident by 34%.

NYC Bicycle Accident Statistics by Vehicle Type

New York City cyclists have to share the road with more than fellow riders and pedestrians. The urban traffic scene is often multi-layered and complex. Bike riders have to move along cars, trucks, buses, taxis, e-bikes, and motorcycles, all of which can pose a threat. We’ve rounded up the top five most dangerous vehicle types to keep an open eye on while roaming the streets of NYC:

Source: NYC OpenData — Motor Vehicle Collisions

Conclusion

New York City cyclists have to deal with locational, seasonal, infrastructural, and countless additional obstacles every time they choose to go for a ride. Recent data on the most common causes of accidents, their types, and the most dangerous boroughs may help you steer clear of the danger.

However, suppose you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident in New York City. If someone else was at fault, you can recover compensation for physical injury, emotional trauma, and financial expenses. To assess the potential worth of your claim, you can use our bicycle accident settlement calculator.

For a successful settlement, you will need a committed New York City bicycle accident lawyer to advocate for your rights and help you secure maximum compensation for the inflicted losses. Contact our team for a free consultation, and we’ll provide you with the best legal support you deserve!

Posted by Robert Goldwater

Since his academic days at the UC Berkeley School of Law, Robert Goldwater has remained a committed advocate for victims of other people’s negligence. His tort law background, together with his unquenchable thirst for justice, helped young Robert found a now-successful law firm – Bicycle Accident Lawyers Group, gathering same-minded and promising attorneys from all over the country.

All articles by Robert Goldwater