Pandemic pushing bicycle boom in New York City
NEW YORK - You can find more New Yorkers on two wheels these days, as cyclists are powering the latest transportation boom in the city with a 25% increase since last year.
The average weekday from July through October this year recorded more than 25,000 cyclists crossing the East River Bridge, one of the city’s main metrics for bicycle use.
October recorded 30% to 40% more cyclists compared with the same time last year, and CitiBike recorded its highest monthly totals ever in September.
With many mass transit riders taking their commute into their own, bike shops are running out of inventory.
Get breaking news alerts in the FOX5NY News app. Download for FREE!
This success story comes with a danger, however. Cyclist deaths are up significantly in the city. Between 2019 and 2020, the city is \ seeing the highest death totals since 2007.
Advocates say Mayor Bill de Blasio must do more to make sure the roads are safe for everyone.
NYC making its streets more bike-friendly
New York City has seen a tremendous uptick in cyclists since the coronavirus pandemic began. Officials have noticed, and are initiating its Open Streets Program which aims to convert 100 of the 8,000 city miles cars get into streets shared with pedestrians and cyclists.