New York City Bicycle Accident Statistics

In 2024, bicyclist fatalities accounted for over 10% of all traffic deaths in New York City, nearly half of the state’s cycling deaths. Distracted driving remains the leading cause of severe bicycle accidents, followed by failure to yield the right-of-way and road user errors. The majority of fatal crashes involve common vehicles such as sedans and station wagons.

In this article, you will learn how many bike accidents per year leave cyclists injured or killed in NYC according to the type of crash, its location, the season, the time of day, and safety equipment usage. To make a reliable analysis, we looked at accident data from many sources, including NYC Open Data, the Department of Transportation’s bicycle crash data reports, the Vision Zero program, and other local and national reports.

Key Takeaways

• In 2024, bicyclist fatalities accounted for over 10% of all deadly accidents in New York.
• Almost 50% of biking accidents reported in the state took place in New York City.
• Distracted driving is the main contributing factor to severe crashes.
• Station wagons and sedans were the main types of vehicles that contributed to bike fatalities in NYC between 2020 and 2024.
• On average, 34% of fatal bike crashes happen in the summer.

Most Recent New York Bicycle Accident Statistics

In 2024, New York City recorded 24 cyclist fatalities. Riders constituted 10% of all traffic crash victims. More than 5,000 bicyclists were injured in accidents that year.

As for New York State, the most recent available data comes from NHTSA’s Traffic Safety Facts report for 2023. Statewide, 49 cyclist deaths were recorded. This table compares the city and the state according to the 2023 report:

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

In the past ten years, rider fatalities have fluctuated. The safest year for New York City cyclists was 2018, while the highest number of cyclist deaths was recorded in 2023.

We’ve analyzed the New York City Department of Transportation’s annual bicycle crash data reports from 2013 to 2024. This table summarizes the main findings:

Nationwide, the recent US bicycle accident statistics show that cyclist fatalities have grown by an alarming 75% since 2010. Although NYC’s rates definitely need to be lowered, they are more stable than the national average. The city and its boroughs rank highly in the PeopleForBikes’ City Ratings among large US urban centers, thanks to the recent investments in bicycle infrastructure.

In 2014, the New York authorities launched the Vision Zero program with the ultimate goal of eliminating traffic deaths and increasing bicycle safety. The NYC Streets Plan was introduced in 2019 as part of the initiative. It mandated the construction of 250 miles of protected bike lanes from 2023 to 2026, with a target of building 50 miles each year. However, in 2024, less than 50% of the planned protected lanes were installed.

Despite the challenges in building safe bike infrastructure, the city continues working to achieve Vision Zero by implementing additional safety measures and expanding protected bike lanes across all boroughs. Urban planners and advocates like Transportation Alternatives keep pushing for policies that prioritize cyclist safety and ensure riders can use bike lanes whenever possible instead of mixing with high-speed vehicle traffic.

Most Common Causes of NYC Bike Accidents

New York City cyclists most often get injured while riding bikes due to distracted or reckless driving, motorists’ failure to yield the right-of-way, errors or confusion of other road users, and drivers ignoring traffic signals or following too closely. Here’s an overview of NYC Open Data statistics on crashes involving cyclist injuries in 2024:

These numbers highlight the importance of education campaigns encouraging all road users to follow traffic laws and remain vigilant, especially in areas without bike lanes where cyclists must share the road with other vehicles. It’s important to remember that the rules of the road also apply to riders, even if the controversial efforts of the New York Police Department (NYPD) to “punish” riders for minor offenses attracted a lot of fair criticism.

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

Most bike collisions involve a motor vehicle, whether a driver hits a rider or suddenly opens a car door in their way. Let’s take a closer look at how many New York City cyclists were injured in bicycle accidents with a motor vehicle over the past decade:

Bicycle Collisions Involving Pedestrians in New York City

For cyclists, pedestrian accidents aren’t as frequent as those with motor vehicles. They rarely result in rider deaths or pedestrian fatalities. However, they remain a serious concern when it comes to both cyclist and pedestrian safety. This table shows how many bike collisions involved pedestrians over the last decade:

Cycling Accidents in New York City Involving Cyclists Only

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

In the majority of cases, these bicyclist crashes are 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.

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

• Sudden turns or stops without proper signaling, whether you are traveling in a designated lane or sharing the road with other vehicles
• A mechanical failure, such as a faulty brake system, broken chain, or blown-out tire
• Negligent New York City cyclists who ignore traffic signs, exceed speed limits, or use their devices while riding.

Single-Bike Crashes in New York City

In 2024, more than 600 single-bike incidents were reported in NYC — the highest number in ten years. A single-bicycle accident means that there were no other road users who could have contributed to the collision. However, cyclists can still get seriously injured in such a crash.

Here’s a table reflecting how many bicyclists sustained injuries or died in a solo accident in NYC from 2013 to 2023:

These collisions are usually caused by incomplete or poorly maintained bike infrastructure. For instance:

• Potholes: If a bicycle wheel gets caught in a pothole, it can unbalance the rider and throw them from the bike.
• Debris: Fallen leaves or piles of gravel can hide broken glass or potholes that can also create hazards for cyclists.
• Slippery surface: Wet and icy surfaces reduce traction. A sliding bike is harder to control. Besides, the vehicle may not brake in time to avoid a potential collision.
• Lack of experience: Some situations require quick reactions, and New York cyclists with insufficient riding experience often struggle to handle sudden shifts and obstacles.

Most Dangerous Streets for Cycling in New York

Statistical data show 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 result in higher accident rates. These are the 10 most dangerous streets for cyclists in New York City based on the number of rider injuries from 2020 to 2024:

Bicycle Accident Statistics by NYC Borough

Are cyclists more at risk riding through Manhattan or Queens? Let’s see what the situation was like in 2024:

Due to population density, local infrastructure, congestion rates, and other factors, NYC boroughs experience different rates of rider injuries and deaths:

• Brooklyn: The borough had the highest number of cyclist deaths in 2024. Bike riders accounted for 15.1% of all traffic fatalities.
• The Bronx and Queens: The boroughs had equal numbers of rider deaths in 2024. Although they are not as dangerous as Brooklyn, their existing bike infrastructure isn’t perfect.
• Manhattan: The number of bicyclists who suffered fatal injuries in Manhattan was lower, but the overall traffic death rate in the borough remained high.
• Staten Island: The borough had zero bike deaths in 2024, most likely because of the smaller population, but the local authorities’ efforts to prevent cycling accidents could have also contributed.

Manhattan Bicycle Accident Statistics

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

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

The Bronx Bicycle Accident Statistics

Over 450 accidents involving cyclists were recorded in the Bronx in 2024. Four people lost their lives in those crashes. Although the majority of serious and deadly collisions involved a motor vehicle, single-bike and pedestrian crashes remain the second most common types 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, there was a decrease in bicycle accidents in Brooklyn compared to 2023. Yet, almost 1,500 people were seriously injured on the streets of the borough, and eight people died on Brooklyn roads while riding their bikes. Downtown Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Bushwick, East Flatbush, and Sunset Park were the main areas where the incidents were concentrated.

The following data show that Brooklyn needs rapid implementation of additional safety measures, including more and better-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 appeared to decline steadily, but 2023 brought another wave of deadly incidents to the borough’s 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 the least populated borough 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. In 2024, rider injury rates declined by 20%.

NYC Bicycle Accident Statistics by the Season

Summer is the most dangerous time of year for NYC cyclists: 33% of injuries and almost 35% of fatalities happen during this season. Winter is the least dangerous season, probably due to lower ridership.

Statistics provided by the NYPD from 2020 to 2024 show the following trends:

This table compares the number of riders injured and killed in each season year by year:

NYC Bicycle Crashes by Time of 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. Over 30% of NYC cyclists who were seriously or fatally injured were riding in the evening, from 6 p.m. to midnight. Noon and night hours are relatively safe for bike riders; they see the lowest injury and fatality rates. This is based on data from 2020 to 2024:

Helmet Usage Statistics Among NYC Riders

In 2021, 1,455 cyclists who were involved in a biking crash across the state were wearing helmets. There were seven fatalities, and 121 of the reported crashes resulted in severe injuries. Out of 3,946 riders who weren’t wearing a helmet, 32 suffered fatal injuries and 378 experienced severe injuries. This was reported by the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research (ITSMR).

Another study analyzed helmet usage specifically among New York City cyclists:

• Only half of the observed riders were wearing helmets.
• Men are more likely to wear helmets than women.
• Around 20% of bike renters tend to wear helmets in NYC. Due to the lower rates of helmet usage, riders in Citi Bike accidents have a higher risk of head injury.

Remember: a helmet can reduce your chances of getting killed or seriously harmed in a bicycle collision by 34%.

NYC Bicycle Accidents by Vehicle Type

The majority of NYC crashes involving bicycle riders in recent years were caused by sedans and station wagons. Based on data from 2020 to 2024, these are the five most common vehicle types involved in bike collisions:

Conclusion

Over the last decade, 19 New York City cyclists lost their lives in accidents on average per year. Statistics show that most of the collisions involving riders are caused by negligent motor vehicle drivers.

If you or your loved one got into a crash while riding your bike in NYC and 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. Under New York’s comparative negligence rules, you may still receive compensation even if you share partial fault for the accident.

Insurance companies often try to minimize payouts, but a committed New York City bicycle accident lawyer can advocate for your rights and help you secure maximum compensation. Contact our team for a free consultation, and we’ll provide you with the best legal support you deserve!

Sources

Bicycle Crash Data Reports:

• 2013
• 2014
• 2015
• 2016
• 2017
• 2018
• 2019
• 2020
• 2021
• 2022
• 2023
• 2024

Other sources:

• As NYPD’s Criminal Crackdown on Cyclists Expands, It Grows More Absurd: Victims
• Bicycle helmets – To wear or not to wear? A meta-analysis of the effects of bicycle helmets on injuries
• Bicycle Ridership Over East River Bridges Reaches All-Time High for Fourth Straight Year
• Bike Network and Ridership
• Consumer Alert: The NYS Division of Consumer Protection Reminds New Yorkers to Wear Their Bike Helmets
• IIHS: Fatality Facts 2023 — Bicyclists
• Helmet use among cyclists in New York City
• NHTSA: Traffic Safety Facts 2022 Data — Bicyclists and Other Cyclists
• NHTSA: Traffic Safety Facts 2023 Data — Bicyclists and Other Cyclists
• NYC OpenData: Motor Vehicle Collisions
• NYC Streets Plan
• NYC Streets Plan: Protected Bike Lane Tracker
• PeopleForBikes’ 2025 City Ratings
• Priority Bicycle Districts
• Statista: Number of people participating in cycling in the United States from 2018 to 2024
• Transportation Alternatives
• Vision Zero in New York City
• Vision Zero View

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