NYC's Bike and Pedestrian Crashes Are Now Mapped

Using data compiled by the New York State Department of Transportation, Transportation Alternatives has released CrashStat, a map of pedestrian and bike crashes in the city, spanning the years from 1995 to 2009. It's searchable by neighborhood, precinct, and street address, among other options. You can also filter based on details of the crash, type of vehicle involved, and contributing factors. The most dangerous spot in the city is at Park Avenue and 33rd Street, where more than 163 pedestrians have been injured over the last 15 years. Also bad is E. Houston and the Bowery, where 41 cyclists have been involved in crashes. Closer to home, there's been at least one pedestrian killed very near Village Voice HQ.

Transportation Alternatives explains of the site, "More than 220,000 pedestrians and cyclists have been injured and over 2,000 have died in the years of crash data displayed on CrashStat. We believe that the City of New York should develop a comprehensive plan to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries. To achieve this Vision Zero policy, there must be a culture shift -- inside city government and among all New Yorkers -- to stand against continued traffic violence in New York City. The more people that see this site and begin to understand the breadth of traffic violence, the more people will believe it is time to change the way we have engineered our streets and the way we enforce against dangerous driving behaviors."

The walking pedestrian and the cyclist icons indicate fatalities. The red and blue dots can be clicked near for a year-by-year summary of the crashes at that particular intersection.

Interesting (if morbid) to note is this:

In case of a crash, speeds over 20 mph exponentially increase the likelihood of fatality:

* Hit someone at 40 mph, there is a 70 percent chance they will die
* Hit someone at 30 mph, there is an 80 percent chance they will live
* Hit someone at 20 mph, there is a 98 percent chance they will live

New Website Maps Dangerous Intersections for Cyclists, Pedestrians [NBC NY]
CrashStat.org

[JDoll / @thisisjendoll]

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