Number of Bicycle-Related Fatalities So Far in 2016 Exceeds Last Year’s Count

The recent death of a 78-year-old bicyclist has raised this year’s number of bicycle-related fatalities to 16, which now exceeds last year’s total of 15, according to the New York Daily News.

On August 24, Michael Schenkman was riding his bike going eastbound on Northern Boulevard in Bayside at approximately 6:30 a.m., when he was hit by a 25-year-old male driving a black Chevrolet Impala near 223^rd Street. That intersection has been listed by Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Vision Zero Action Plan as one of the most dangerous intersections in the city for pedestrians and bicyclists. The driver faced no immediate charges.

The Vision Zero initiative was implemented as a way to cut down on traffic-related injuries and fatalities involving bicyclists and pedestrians. This included lowering the speed limit to 25 miles per hour, adding more protected bicycle lanes and redesigning some of the major roadways by disallowing left turns at certain intersections. Research by the city found that senior citizens were most likely of all age groups to be killed or severely injured by a left-turning vehicle.

Bicycling advocacy groups have complained that, despite the implementation of Vision Zero, cars are still speeding down the roads and are either unaware or not considerate of bike riders on the roads. The de Blasio administration, meanwhile, said it is in the process of installing a record number of bike lanes and is cracking down on violators.

If you or a loved one has been injured or a loved one has been killed in a bicycle accident, please contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at Sakkas, Cahn & Weiss, LLP. For a free initial consultation, please call (332) 244-3995, or email Sakkas, Cahn & Weiss, LLP, today.