As you are likely aware, there is an ongoing conflict occurring on the streets of New York City. The players in this battle include the police, bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists. And a recent tragedy has given rise to even more complaints among these groups.
The event in question occurred in Williamsburg, where a bicyclist was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver. But the outrage among bicyclists was elevated the next day. Reportedly, as cyclists rode up to the intersection where the accident occurred, they were greeted by police officers who handed them cycling safety pamphlets. Additionally, neighborhood bicyclists received tickets for violations for such infractions as running red lights.
Yet, according to sources, this crackdown on cyclists may be misplaced. It is argued that motorists are often the culprits in serious bicycle accidents. A representative of a transportation advocacy group stated that recent ticketing was a case of victim-blaming and that driver violations are being overlooked by police.
It should be noted that 11 bicyclists have been reported killed in New York City so far this year, which is a sharp increase over the five who had lost their lives by the same time last year. However, recently the city has put forth an effort to act against drivers who fail to yield to bicyclists or block bike lanes.
But not everyone sees bicyclists as totally innocent victims in the present state of affairs. There have been complaints about bicyclists made by pedestrians and motorists. And as more people share the city’s crowded streets and sidewalks, it is quite likely we will see a continuation or even an increase in such accidents.
As this story shows, there are many potential ways for an individual to be seriously injured on the Big Apple’s streets. And sometimes sorting out liability and holding the responsible party accountable can be very complicated. If you or someone you love is struck by a motor vehicle or bicycle, a personal injury attorney may be able to carry out an investigation and work in an effort to get you appropriate compensation.
Source: Metro, “Cops ticket bike riders after cyclist hit and killed in Brooklyn bike lane,” Cristabelle Tumola, July 8, 2016