Throughout the city of New York, there are hundreds of people who make their living riding bicycles. These commercial bicycle riders primarily offer delivery service for various bike messenger companies and employers throughout the city. Unfortunately, all of these drivers are at risk of becoming injured in bicycle accidents. 
Recently, the New York City Department of transportation announced in Press Release $13-09 that it had teamed up with delivery.com to equip 1,500 commercial bike riders with safety equipment. Our Manhattan bicycle accident lawyers know that safety equipment can make it easier for drivers to see bicycle riders and can help bicycle riders to avoid serious injury if a crash occurs.
Safety Equipment from the DOT Protects Riders from Bike Accident Injuries
The DOT has undertaken a number of different initiatives in order to try to improve the safety of bicycle riding in the city and to help bike riders and drivers to better share the roads. For example:
- DOT held 17 forums last year to educate business owners and commercial cyclists about bike safety laws.
- DOT gave out more than 2,000 safety equipment kits last year.
- DOT distributed more than 75,000 bicycle helmets to people throughout New York City.
- DOT inspectors have visited 3,530 businesses since July, informing businesses that employ cyclists about their obligations. Businesses that employ bicycle riders for delivery must provide well-equipped bicycles; helmets; vests; ID numbers and other upper body apparel. Businesses must also have a bike safety poster up at work. If a business fails in any of these obligations, the business may be fined between $100 and $250.
DOT found that 57 percent of inspected businesses were already in compliance with the requirement to have a bicycle safety poster in the workplace. DOT also found that there were a growing number of bicycle riders wearing appropriate visibility gear so they could better be seen.
The DOT’s new initiative aims to increase the number of commercial riders who wear appropriate protective gear. Working with delivery.com, the goal is to provide free retro-reflective vests; bike lights and bells for 1,500 commercial cyclists. The safety kits containing this equipment will be handed out at commercial bicyclist forums and will be given directly to commercial riders who attend the forums.
Forums will be held throughout Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn. A series of 18 were scheduled so that many cyclists will have the opportunity to attend. Bike riders who come to the forums will not only receive their free safety equipment but may also be given a chance to ask questions about bicycling laws and will be given a lesson on safety rules for riders.
Because many accidents happen as a result of drivers not properly seeing bicycle riders, hopefully the new equipment from DOT will help make it easier for bike riders to make themselves seen and heard. This could reduce the number of situations in which a careless or negligent driver doesn’t see a bicycle rider and causes a serious injury-crash or even a fatal accident.
The Law Offices of Nicholas Rose, PLLC offers free consultations to those who have been injured in a bike accident. Call 1-877-313-7673.
Additional Resources:
Queens Injury Lawyers Encourage Safe Spring Cycling in NYC, New York Injury Lawyer Blog March 28, 2013.
NYC Traffic Safety: Tips for Biking and Walking in Winter, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, January 8, 2013
