30 cyclists died in car accidents last year, New York City Department of Transportation sends helmets to promote

On October 5th, the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) held a bicycle helmet giveaway event in Chinatown, with the aim of promoting safety awareness and decreasing accidental injuries. Locals received free, safety-compliant helmets, while informational booths were set up to educate attendees on proper helmet usage and share essential traffic safety information. The initiative attracted significant participation from community members.

The event, organized by the Safety Education & Outreach division, is part of DOT’s Vision Zero program, which seeks to minimize road traffic accidents by enhancing public awareness of traffic safety and providing critical protective gear, especially for cyclists, in pursuit of a goal of zero fatalities.

Recent statistics highlight that last year was the deadliest for cyclists in New York City since 1999, with 30 fatalities reported—23 involving electric bike users. Furthermore, 395 cyclists suffered serious injuries, including 79 electric bike riders.

Analysis indicates that most fatalities occurred when cyclists collided with vehicles in areas lacking dedicated bike infrastructure. Nevertheless, as of 2022, the death and injury rate per ten million cycling instances was around 16, a notable decrease from roughly 34 incidents a decade ago.

City Councilmember Christopher Marte attended the event and emphasized, “We take residents’ traffic safety very seriously, especially on the busy streets of Chinatown. This helmet giveaway not only equips the community with essential safety gear but also raises awareness about traffic safety. Our hope is that these efforts will effectively reduce the occurrence of traffic accidents.”