As the weather grows warmer, the streets will invariably fill up with more pedestrians, bicycles, pedicabs, and other modes of transportation. The following are safety tips, specifically for bikes and pedicabs this month.
Bicycle Accidents
- Always be prepared to take defensive, evasive actions if you see a bicyclist. Although they are supposed to obey the same traffic laws as a motorist, they often pass through red lights, stop signs, travel the wrong way on one-way streets, make sudden unsafe turns, pass vehicles on the right side unsafely, and commit numerous unsafe and illegal acts.
- The number of accidents involving bikes has spiked with the cost of fuel. Many people now use bicycles as their primary source of transportation.
- Always respect bike lanes and a bicyclist’s right to the same streets you travel on.
- Black cars, medallion taxis, and vehicles for hire may be targeted for fraudulent claims by bicyclists. Always call the police and make a report if you are involved in an incident or an accident with a bicyclist. Do not leave the scene or you can be arrested for leaving the scene of an accident, even if you know that your vehicle did not make contact with the bicyclist.
- If you are involved in an accident with a bicyclist working as a delivery person, please obtain the name of their employer.
- Always check your side view mirrors prior to unloading or loading a passenger, for bicyclists attempting to pass in a narrow area.
- Always remind your passengers the importance of carefully exiting a vehicle. Most bicycle accidents occur when passengers open doors. Always be on the lookout for passing bicyclists and pedestrians before opening a car door. Please make sure your rear and front doors include the proper caution label, so your passengers are aware of this risk:
Pedicabs
- Always anticipate unsafe actions by Pedicab operators.
- Pedicabs frequent bus lanes, and often ignore traffic signals.
- Always anticipate a pedicab will make an unsafe maneuver to respond to a potential passenger.
- Use special caution and be prepared to use your defensive driving skills in areas frequented by pedicabs, such as Times Square and Central Park.
- Remember: You must treat pedicabs like pedestrians and bicycles, yielding at all times, regardless of the circumstances.
