What is Project GreenWave?
Project GreenWave is New York City’s comprehensive initiative to make cycling safer and more accessible, driven by a commitment to sustainability and safety under Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Vision Zero initiative. The project aims to increase the number of cyclists while reducing fatalities and serious injuries through infrastructure improvements, targeted enforcement, and education.
Key Components of GreenWave:
1.Infrastructure Expansion: The project aggressively expands the city’s bicycle lane network and upgrades existing lanes, enhancing cyclist protection across neighborhoods.
2.Enhanced Enforcement: In collaboration with the NYPD, the plan calls for stricter enforcement of traffic laws, focusing on holding dangerous drivers accountable to reduce risks to cyclists.
3.Public Education: GreenWave includes efforts to raise awareness about cycling safety and the shared responsibilities of all road users.
4.Legal and Policy Support: The plan advocates for the passage and strengthening of local and state laws aimed at making streets safer for cyclists, such as those addressing speed limits and road sharing.
5.Collaboration and Community Involvement: GreenWave requires ongoing collaboration between city agencies, elected officials, local businesses, residents, and advocacy groups to continually improve cycling infrastructure and policy.
6.Supporting Initiatives: Complementary efforts like the expansion of the Citi Bike program, implementation of the Better Buses initiative, and the Central Business District Tolling Program are integrated into GreenWave’s objectives to create a holistic, citywide approach to safer, more efficient transportation.
Goals:
•Reduce Cyclist Fatalities and Injuries: Address the recent rise in cyclist fatalities by implementing immediate and long-term safety measures.
•Promote Sustainability: By encouraging more cycling, GreenWave supports NYC’s goal to be a sustainable, green city.
•Increase Accessibility and Cyclist Numbers: Provide resources like bike parking and promote safer cycling conditions to encourage more residents to cycle.
GreenWave acknowledges that achieving these goals will require sustained effort, resource allocation, and adaptive strategies. The plan is structured to evolve over time, based on community feedback and the city’s changing needs, with the long-term vision of making cycling a safe, practical, and integral part of New York City’s transportation landscape.
Part 1: Bike Fatalities and Injuries
Project GreenWave notes that 2019 experienced a sharp increase in cycling fatalities, which had run contrary to the long-term trend of improving cyclists and overall safety citywide.
2019 Bike injury and fatality data
In 2019, New York City Department of Transportation recorded 61,281 total injuries and 220 fatalities from pedestrian, bicyclist, and motor vehicle occupant incidents. Among these fatalities, 124 were pedestrians, 28 were bicyclists, and 68 were motor vehicle occupants. Brooklyn had the highest number of injuries (19,175) and fatalities (75), particularly impacting cyclists, with 17 cyclist deaths—the most among all boroughs. Queens and Manhattan also saw high numbers of pedestrian and occupant injuries and fatalities. In contrast, the Bronx and Staten Island reported lower injury and fatality counts overall, with the Bronx recording no
•The NYC Open Dataset reported 33 bicyclist fatalities resulting from motor vehicle collisions, compared to the Department of Transportation’s data, which indicates 28 bicyclist fatalities.
•Cause of injuries/fatalities
•Driver Inattention/Distraction: This is the leading cause, accounting for 946 incidents when there was an unspecified reason for the second vehicle involved in the collision and an additional 339 incidents where both drivers were distracted. Combined, these cases reflect the critical impact of distracted driving on road safety.
•Failure to Yield Right-of-Way: Responsible for 533 incidents, this factor highlights issues with drivers failing to observe traffic rules, especially in interactions with pedestrians and cyclists.
•Unspecified Causes: 640 incidents were reported with unspecified causes, indicating potential gaps in data reporting and highlighting the need for improved incident documentation.
•Pedestrian and Cyclist Errors: Pedestrian or cyclist error/confusion contributed to 248 incidents, underscoring the need for improved road-sharing awareness.
•Improper Lane Usage: Improper lane changes led to 191 incidents, further emphasizing the need for stricter lane discipline enforcement.
2019 Crashes by Borough
In 2019, there were 4,964 crashes across New York City’s boroughs, distributed as follows:
•Brooklyn: 1,934 crashes (39% of total)
•Manhattan: 1,624 crashes (33%)
•Queens: 865 crashes (17%)
•Bronx: 467 crashes (9%)
•Staten Island: 71 crashes (1%)
This data shows that Brooklyn and Manhattan had the highest number of recorded crashes, indicating these boroughs may benefit most from targeted safety interventions.
2019 Bike Injuries and Fatalities Map according to NYC open data
Targeted Truck Initiatives
1.According to Project GreenWave, in 2019, 30% of fatalities involved a truck; there has been an uptick in truck related fatalities in recent years. (53% in 2019)
2. 45% in Brooklyn, 29% Manhattan, 13% Queens, 10% Bronx, 3% Staten Island
3. 58% occurred on designated truck routes
In response to these statistics, the DOT will launch a targeted truck program to address the 30% of bike fatalities involving trucks. This effort includes working closely with the trucking industry to minimize conflicts between trucks and bicyclists.
Motor-vehicle collisions, involving Bicycles, and trucks according to nyc open data
Targeted Truck Initiatives Progress Report
Yearly Breakdown
•2019 (180 Incidents):
•Most Common: Pick-up Truck – Bike (76), Box Truck – Bike (49).
•Notable: Dump Truck – Bike (5), minimal e-bike involvement.
•2020 (165 Incidents):
•Most Common: Pick-up Truck – Bike (60), Box Truck – Bike (33).
•E-Bike Increase: Box Truck – E-Bike (10) and Pick-up Truck – E-Bike (7).
•2021 (168 Incidents):
•Most Common: Pick-up Truck – Bike (55), Box Truck – Bike (40).
•New Vehicle Types: USPS Truck – Bike, Fire Truck – Bike (1 each).
•2022 (168 Incidents):
•Most Common: Pick-up Truck – Bike (59), Box Truck – Bike (35).
•Consistent E-Bike Trend: Increased e-bike interactions, e.g., Dump – E-Bike (3), Box Truck – E-Bike (5).
•2023 (198 Incidents – Highest):
•Most Common: Pick-up Truck – Bike (74), Box Truck – Bike (44).
•Sharp Rise: E-Bike – Pick-up Truck (17), Bike – Box Truck (18).
•Unique Combinations: Bike – Taxi – Pick-up Truck (1), Bike – Tow Truck – Wrecker (1).
•2024 (as of October) – (163 Incidents – Decrease):
•Most Common: Pick-up Truck – Bike (52), Box Truck – Bike (32).
•Positive Reduction: Decline in pick-up and box truck incidents; fewer multi-vehicle interactions.
Key Insights:
•High Risk from Pick-up and Box Trucks: These vehicles dominate incident types annually.
•Increased E-Bike and E-Scooter Involvement: Notable rise from 2020 onward.
•Peak in 2023: The highest accident count, possibly reflecting increased traffic or specific external factors.
•Improvement in 2024: A reduction in incidents suggests effective interventions, though risks remain high with certain truck types.
