Gothamist: Bicycles Are So Hot Right Now. Bicycles.

Little Big Chris

Mon, 26 Jun 2006 07:51:07 -0500

Can't believe I'm the first to comment on the obvious and much-appreciated throwback to ZOOLANDER that this article title is! "That Hansel's so hot right now. Hansel."

interlard

Sun, 25 Jun 2006 19:38:14 -0500

While I'm glad to read of improved popularity and safety of biking in NYC, I still won't risk my life on one; even though I'd love to get a bike (especially one of the new chain-free ones). My best urban biking experience was as a tourist in Marin, after I biked out of San Francisco. A driver rolled out of his driveway about 20 yards in front of me. When he saw me coming, he reversed back in, so I didn't have to swerve into the (empty) road. I was so surprised by the nice gesture I nearly fell off!

Gwin

Sun, 25 Jun 2006 17:45:08 -0500

mirrored balls: ?? all kinds of people participate in Critical Mass. I, for one, commute to work via bike and have participated in CM several times.

lover boy

Sun, 25 Jun 2006 08:31:58 -0500

bike rock!, cars suck hummers suck even more

mirrored balls

Sun, 25 Jun 2006 00:25:49 -0500

People commuting to work had nothing in common with Critical Mass.

T.A. staffer

Sat, 24 Jun 2006 21:42:18 -0500

The express misquoted Noah. THere are 3,000 reported bike injuries per year in NYC.

Brightliner

Sat, 24 Jun 2006 21:41:13 -0500

Don't be silly, Dan. Of course you can underreport fatalities. I'm willing to bet some motorists say, "Oh, that biker ain't dead, officer. He's just taking a rest in the middle of the street." As for the 3000 figure, a quick look at those TA stats shows it's just another slight misstatement from the Express. That's for injuries. There were only 13 fatalities citywide in 2001. So unless there's been a major jump in the fatality rate caused by something akin to "Death Race 2000," somebody misunderstood. I doubt it would even be 3000 nationwide, since the most heavily populated metropolitan area in the US should account for more than just 0.4% of the country's bicycle deaths.

Dan DeLuca

Sat, 24 Jun 2006 19:02:08 -0500

Yeah, hmmm, seemed high to me (a big, big cycling advocate, btw). A one-minute google exercise produced the link below from the US Dept. of Transportation -- bicycle fatalities in motor vehicle accidents (which must be the majority of bicycle fatalities) -- latest data was for 2000, under 700 fatalities nationwide. And I do think that while cycle accidents are vastly, vastly under-reported, fatalities probably aren't. http://www.bts.gov/publications/transportation_statistics_annual_report/2001/html/chapter_06_figure_01_160.html

IlseM

Sat, 24 Jun 2006 17:51:59 -0500

Since the TA stats are only on reported injuries the true number must be much higher.

garth

Sat, 24 Jun 2006 17:42:35 -0500

I'm pretty sure that's nationwide. But it isn't as crazy as it sounds. Take a look at some of the TA stats and see for yourself.

rechargerthedog

Sat, 24 Jun 2006 17:30:17 -0500

3000 fatalities per year? Nationwide or in this city alone? Something doesn't jive about that statement