Pedestrian-cyclist injuries more common than previously thought

A new study shows that the number of pedestrians hurt in collisions with bicyclists in New York City is higher than previously estimated.

The New York Times says:

More than 500 New York City residents are injured badly enough to be seen in hospitals after being struck by bicyclists each year, according to an analysis by Hunter College professors. The number, while small compared with the number of pedestrians injured by cars, is a much higher figure than an earlier study by the same researchers found.

A new state law reaquires that bike accidents be reported and tabulated beginning Oct. 1. Statistics on bicycling accidents have not been kept by the city in the past, The Times says.

Seth Solomonow, a spokesman for the city's Department of Transportation, said in a statement:

There are nearly 10,000 people who visit the hospital citywide each year after being struck by cars, so this is actually a pretty low number — one that’s been kept low because of our safety investments. We still have to drive it down further and will continue to work with N.Y.P.D. to enforce the law for everyone on the road and install bike lanes to separate vehicles from cyclists and cyclists from pedestrians. These make streets safer for everyone who uses them and have helped make the last four years the safest in the city in a century.

The new study was prepared by Peter Tuckel and William Milczarski.