Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Study: Cyclists Ignore Traffic Laws, Surprising No One (Again)
By
John Del Signore
Published May 19, 2009
Modified May 19, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published May 19, 2009
Modified May 19, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A recently-released study [pdf] conducted by Hunter College students posits that—are you sitting down?—"a large number of cyclists routinely disobey many traffic laws." But wait, didn't these Hunter kids already alert the public to the scourge of cyclist scofflaws back in November? Indeed, they did, but according to City Room this new report is "a rigorous and scientific version" of the previous observational study, which monitored 3,000 cyclists chosen at random at 69 locations. The new version used a wider sampling compiled of 5,275 observations of riders at 45 randomly generated intersections across Midtown from First to 10th Avenues and 14th to 59th Streets. According to the study:
- 37% of the cyclists observed blew through red lights
- 28.7% of riders paused and then ran the light.
- 10% rode against traffic
- Only 29.8% of the riders wore helmets.
- 91 percent of the riders observed were male.
- 3.7% of the cyclists were observed riding on
sidewalks. - 29.3% did not use the designated lane when there was one.
The release of the study happens to coincide with the launch of Biking Rules, Transportation Alternatives' campaign to promote "civic-minding riding" on NYC streets. On National Bike to Work Day, the group handed out thousands of booklets to cyclists, introducing a new 'Street Code' encouraging riders to yield to pedestrians and respect traffic laws. The group says they've got 250 volunteers who'll help promote the campaign directly to bikers in all five boroughs.
And just like last year, Transportation Alternatives spokesman Wiley Norvell was not impressed with the Hunter College study, telling City Room, "They picked probably one of the only areas of the city that is bereft of bike lanes. It makes no mention of bicycling infrastructure. It’s like we’re talking about this in 1995 and they haven’t been paying attention for the last five years."
Tagged
bike
biking rules
cyclists
hunger college
law
riders
safety
study
transportation alternatives
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC looks to grow involvement in Open Streets as applications open for 2027
The Mamdani administration bolstered funding this year and is asking applicants to suggest infrastructure upgrades.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 15, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. ET
New Yorkers are paying $300 million for natural gas they don't even use
A new study found that nearly 2% of the city's natural gas is leaking into the air and causing climate pollution.
By
Rosemary Misdary
News
New Yorkers are paying $300 million for natural gas they don't even use
A new study found that nearly 2% of the city's natural gas is leaking into the air and causing climate pollution.
By
Rosemary Misdary
Early Addition: Eric Adams did not convince a Wisconsin town to build a data center
By
James Ramsay
Hit-and-run driver arrested trying to flee to Uzbekistan after deadly crash, NYPD says
By
Brittany Kriegstein
NY measles outbreak more widespread than official count, health officials say
By
Caroline Lewis
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .