The Green Wave Safety Plan: Is It Effective? 
On July 25, 2019, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio released the $58.4 million “
Green Wave: A Plan for Cycling in New York City.” Just four days later,
Streetsblog New York City reported the death of a 30-year-old bicyclist near the intersection of Third Avenue and 36th Street. It was the 18th cyclist fatality of the year. It was also one year after the
New York Police Department (NYPD) reported that 24 bicyclists were killed in crashes involving motor vehicles.
The Green Wave Plan for Cycling Safety
The plan stated that since adopting Vision Zero in 2014, New York City increased the miles of bicycle lanes to 1,243. That includes 83 miles of protected lanes. An average of 62 miles of bicycle lanes were added a year for the past three years was the largest increase in the country. The Green Wave plan calls for 30 miles of protected bike lanes to be built annually. An increase from the current rate of approximately 20. The plan also seeks to build 75 miles of bicycle infrastructure in 10 Bicycle Priority Districts. Seven in Brooklyn and three in Queens by 2022. And to have one of every 10 New York City trips by bicycle by 2050. The plan states that the Department of Transportation (DOT) will install more than 20 miles of protected bike lanes in all five boroughs in 2019. There will be a goal of 75 miles total in Bicycle Priority Districts by 2022.
The Green Wave plan also called for immediate actions, such as doubling the current Citi Bike service area by 35 miles. Tripling the number of bikes to 40,000 by 2023. The plan stated that Citi Bike is the largest bike-share system in the country. It has seen 82 million Citi Bike trips and a record of 85,000 daily trips since its launch. The borough-wide dockless bike share on Staten Island will be launched in 2019. The city will increase its annual target of protected bike lanes (PBLs) from 10 PBL lane miles to 30 PBL lane miles. Overall, the city seeks to install more than 80 miles of protected bike lanes by the end of 2021. The name Green Wave is derived from the event in which traffic lights are coordinated to allow people to pass over multiple intersections without stopping because of multiple green lights. But such light patterns are customarily more tailored to motor vehicles traveling at much faster speeds than bicycles. The DOT will experiment with a green wave for bicyclists that may help reduce the number of red-light crashes in the city. The plan also states that DOT will implement traffic calming treatments at 50 intersections. The NYPD will also extend elevated enforcement of blocked bike lanes and hazardous driving violations. Cyclists will no longer be ticketed after fatal crashes.
Were you hurt in an accident as a cyclist in New York? If so, you could be compensated significantly if a negligent motorist, defective bike part, or defective road condition caused your injuries. To get the full compensation you're owed, contact
Hach & Rose, LLP at
212-779-0057 to speak with one of our experienced
NYC bike accident lawyers immediately.