New York City Transportation Department Reports Second Consecutive Year of Record-Breaking Bicycle Use

New Yorkers are cycling in record numbers, according to the city Transportation Department’s annual cycling report. The report indicates that the average number of cyclists per weekday on the city’s East River bridges has increased to 25,943 in 2023 from 24,445 in 2022. Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez attributes this growth to the city’s efforts in building a record number of protected bike lanes. The report also shows an increase in the average number of riders crossing 50th Street in Manhattan during a 12-hour window, with 39,001 riders this year compared to 38,229 last year. Additionally, the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey reported a rise in bike rides in New York City from 550,000 in 2021 to 610,000 in 2022. The report also indicates a 94% increase in bike rides per day in the city since 2012. While much of the DOT data is gathered through automated bike counting machines, e-bikes have become a significant portion of city bike lane traffic and are a concern due to a disproportionate number of fatalities from crashes.