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SAFETY73%decrease in risk ofserious cycling injuriessince 2000CYCLING SAFETYNYC CYCLING RISK INDICATOR400350369388Index of risk of serious injury tocyclists, taking into account bikevolumes and number of crashesinvolving serious injury to cyclists300250200NYC Cycling Indicator:Based on weekday 12–hour countstaken between April and Octoberat 6 key cycling locations, indexedto the year 2000 count150100100 1020200020012002200320042005200620072008 2009 2010 2011 2012CYCLING RISK INDICATORCYCLING INDICATORMayor Bloomberg’s 2007 PlaNYC sustainability program calledfor an increase in bicycle transportation. Converting most would–be cyclists into actual bike users requires streets designedwith cycling safety in mind. NYCDOT’s bicycle network programhas been tremendously successful in this regard, encouraginga rapid increase in cycling from 2007 to 2012 without anycorresponding rise in bicycling injury crashes. NYC’s expandedbicycle network also provided the foundation for the launch ofCitiBike in 2013. CitiBike has created another major increasein NYC bicycle use along with a salutary safety record during itsfirst season in operation.Because cycling has increased significantly while cycling injurieshave remained flat, the rate of crashes per cyclist and per milepedaled has fallen dramatically from 2000 to the present. DOTcalculates a 73% decline in the average risk of serious cycling injuryover this time frame.The City’s bike lane network itself is one prominent reason for thismajor gain in cycling safety. Corridor data from the City’s parking–protected bicycle lanes—pioneered on 9th Avenue in Manhattanin the Fall of 2007—show marked safety improvements in everycase, even where an older design of bike lane was in place prior toimplementation of the improved protected lane.Bicycle lanes, either protected or more traditionally–designed,also have a general traffic calming and safety effect. Total traffic28Chapter 1: Designing Safe Streets