By Eleana Donaldson
A 65-year-old Queens man, Bogdan Darmetko was the latest cyclist to have been struck and killed by a vehicle in New York City, making him the 25th cyclist this year.
In 2018, 10 cyclists died after being hit by vehicles. So far in 2019, that number is more than double.
Bicycles are very popular amongst New Yorkers as a primary form of transport. City data said that about 860,000 New Yorkers consistently used a bicycle in 2018.
“In addition to being enjoyable and a great low-cost way to keep fit, a bike is extremely reliable and this makes my commute time very predictable. NYC buses and trains are not very predictable, so unexpected delays can really foul up your travel times,” said Philip Papas, a New York resident who has been cycling as a primary form of transportation for the past 15 years.
In July alone, there were four different disastrous incidents involving a cyclist and a motor vehicle. Mayor Bill de Blasio proposed a $58.4M bike safety plan to decrease traffic-related deaths.
In a July press conference, de Blasio stated. “This crisis we’re going through is absolutely unacceptable and it needs to end … and we will keep doing all that we have to do to turn things around.”
The plan would add more protected bike lanes; increase bike lane enforcement by the NYPD, especially in the 100 most dangerous intersections; add more bike parking to increase convenience; and increase public education, especially to drivers, about bike safety.
“Those things are meant to change the behavior of motorists, which we have to do, there’s still so much work to be done,” de Blasio said. “I know we have changed motorists’ behavior in some way but we have so much more to do.”
However, many people are critical of de Blasio’s plan. Cyclists believe that the plan doesn’t go far enough to protect them from motor vehicles, and doesn’t address e-bikes and the potential danger they impose. On the other side, many drivers are wondering why they are the ones being scrutinized with tickets and traffic laws when many cyclists do not follow the rules of the road as they should.
“Cyclists should know what their responsibilities are in terms of following traffic laws. It’s not just about avoiding tickets; following rules and riding predictably can help save your life. The best helmets, disc brakes, high-powered blinkers and separated bike lanes in the world are pointless if you’re going to ride the wrong way against traffic or go through red lights and stop signs,” Papas added.