Select NYC Bicycle Accident Statistics | 2026 Statistical Analysis

Between July and December 2025, our research team conducted a comprehensive study analyzing bicycle accident data specifically within New York City’s five boroughs. 

This report aggregates data from the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT), New York Police Department (NYPD) traffic databases, Vision Zero initiatives, and public health surveillance systems to provide the most current insights into cyclist crash trends, fatality rates, injury patterns, and dangerous locations affecting bicyclists on NYC streets.

Key Takeaways:

• NYC cyclist fatalities dropped to historic lows in 2025, with only 7 traditional bicycle deaths through the first half of the year (down from 24 in all of 2024), representing a 71% decrease and the safest period for cyclists since records began.
• Despite declining fatalities, serious injuries to cyclists reached record highs, with 356 bicyclists suffering life-altering injuries in the first three quarters of 2025, a 16% increase since 2022.
• Brooklyn leads NYC in bicycle crashes, accounting for 1,485 cyclist injuries and 8 deaths in 2024, representing 29% of all citywide bicycle injuries despite having only 31% of the city’s population.

Disclosure: The settlement ranges and case outcome information provided on this website are for general informational purposes only. All data has been compiled from publicly available sources, industry research, and third-party reporting. This information is not based on the outcomes of cases handled by our firm and should not be interpreted as a promise or guarantee of any specific result in your case.

The following table presents comprehensive bicycle fatality and injury data for New York City from 2019 through 2025, revealing dramatic fluctuations in cyclist safety outcomes.

Key Research Insights:

• The 2025 cyclist fatality count of 10 represents a 58% decrease from 2024 and a 67% decrease from the 2023 peak of 30 deaths, marking the most dramatic safety improvement for cyclists in NYC’s recorded history.
• While fatalities plummeted, cyclist injuries continued rising to an estimated 5,250 in 2025, the highest annual total in the data period, indicating that more crashes are occurring but with less severe outcomes, likely due to protected bike lane expansion and reduced vehicle speeds.
• The divergence between declining deaths and rising injuries/serious injuries suggests that while infrastructure improvements prevent fatal crashes, the absolute number of bicycle-vehicle conflicts continues to increase as cycling volumes grow citywide.

Geographic analysis reveals significant disparities in bicycle crash rates across NYC’s five boroughs, with certain areas experiencing disproportionately high cyclist injury and fatality counts.

Key Research Insights:

• Brooklyn leads the city in both absolute cyclist injuries (1,485) and fatalities (8), accounting for 29% of all injuries and 42% of all deaths despite representing 31% of NYC’s population, highlighting infrastructure gaps in high-traffic cycling areas.
• Manhattan has the highest per-capita cyclist injury rate at 81.5 per 100,000 residents, 42% higher than the citywide average, reflecting the borough’s extremely high cycling volumes and dense traffic conditions where crashes are more frequent but less often fatal.
• Staten Island experienced zero cyclist fatalities in 2024 and has the lowest per-capita injury rate (14.7 per 100,000), approximately 76% lower than the citywide average, attributed to suburban development patterns, lower cycling rates, and less congested roadways.

Analysis of police-reported crash data identifies the primary causes of bicycle crashes throughout New York City, with driver behavior accounting for the majority of incidents.

Key Research Insights:

• Driver inattention and distraction account for nearly one-third (30.1%) of bicycle crashes, with over 1,500 incidents during the 2024-2025 period, making distracted driving the single most dangerous factor for NYC cyclists.
• Failure to yield right-of-way, which includes dangerous left-hook and right-hook turns, accounts for 12.6% of crashes but is disproportionately represented in fatal crashes, as turning vehicles often strike cyclists at higher speeds and vulnerable angles.
• Dooring incidents (when a parked car door is opened into a cyclist’s path) account for 108 reported crashes (2.1%), but this likely represents significant underreporting, as many minor dooring incidents go unreported; NYC DOT studies suggest dooring may actually cause up to 7% of all cyclist injuries citywide.

Temporal and geographic patterns reveal when and where bicycle crashes are most likely to occur throughout New York City.

Key Research Insights:

• Evening rush hour (4pm-8pm) accounts for 33.7% of all bicycle crashes, representing the most dangerous time for NYC cyclists as heavy traffic combines with peak cycling commute volumes and reduced visibility during winter months.
• Nearly two-thirds of all bicycle crashes (64.6%) occur at intersections rather than mid-block locations, emphasizing that conflict points between turning vehicles and cyclists remain the primary safety challenge despite Vision Zero improvements.
• Morning commute crashes (20.1%) occur at roughly half the rate of evening commute crashes (33.7%), likely because morning traffic tends to move more slowly and predictably. In contrast, evening hours see more aggressive driving behavior and darker conditions that reduce cyclist visibility.