On Wednesday October 20, DOT staff, joined by volunteers from the Five Boro Bike Club distributed nearly 1000 sets of bike lights to promote safety and nighttime visibility as daylight savings time comes to an end.

According to law, all cyclists must use white headlights and red taillights when riding at night. Being seen is a major component of cyclist safety. While the overwhelming majority of cyclists ride during daylight hours, 45% of cyclist fatalities occur at night. Lights can change this equation.
This year DOT has partnered with local bike shops and cycling organizations, including Bike New York, Transportation Alternatives, 5 Boro Bike Club, NYC Cycle Club, Weekday Cyclists, Upper Green Side and Team in Training, to spread the word that bike lights are a bright idea and required by law.

If you’re still riding without them, pick up a set at your local bike shop today!

LunchNYC is a television documentary series being aired this fall on NYC Life. The series invites viewers to explore a healthy New York City. Experts and organizations offer quick and inexpensive ways to eat healthier and get more (and more effective) exercise. LunchNYC helps New Yorkers live healthier lifestyles one lunch at a time.

The Bicycle Program is featured as part of the episode "On the Go" all about ways to sneak exercise into your daily routine. They share the spotlight with Bike New York's bicycle education classes.

NYC Media, the official television, radio and online network of the City of New York, is airing the LunchNYC series during Fall 2010 on NYC Life (Channel 25).
Watch the clip.

In late September DOT staff set up shop on Columbus Avenue between 77th and 95th Streets to educate cyclists, pedestrians and motorists about how to share this newly configured street, safely. DOT recently added a parking protected bike path to this stretch of Columbus Avenue, and though the lane got a lot of press attention before it went in, that didn't mean that people knew how to use it once it arrived.
Cyclists were encouraged to ride in the same direction of traffic (the Columbus Avenue lane is one-way only), stay off the sidewalk, stop for red lights and yield to pedestrians.
Pedestrians were reminded to watch for cyclists when crossing and not to stand and linger in the bike lane.
Drivers were educated about the "mixing zone"—the areas where drivers' turns cross the paths of cyclists. DOT staff also answered questions about how the floating parking lane works.
DOT staff spoke with over 1,000 people over the course of two days. They also went door-to-door to restaurants in the area that employ delivery cyclists to distribute the Commercial Cyclist poster and to provide other educational material aimed at encouraging better behavior and safety.
DOT conducted similar outreach on the newly installed separated bicycle paths on 1st and 2nd Avenue in Manhattan, adding additional information for interacting with the new bus lanes, this October.

Get Your 2010 NYC Cycling Map

The 2010 New York City Cycling Map includes more than 70 new miles of bike lanes. It's available for free while supplies last. Call 311 or pick one up at your local bike shop or library. The map is also available online.

2010 Cycling Map Poster

Tired of flipping over the Cycling Map as you plot your route from one borough to the next? The Cycling Map Poster features the entire city on one side. The poster is free, but supplies are limited. Contact 311 to request a copy.

New Bicycle Routes

See upcoming bicycle projects. Want to learn more? Check the DOT calendar to find out when we give public presentations about these projects.