NEW YORK (WCBS 880) -- Mayor De Blasio has been urging New Yorkers to walk or get on a bike if they need to get around during the coronavirus outbreak—and it appears a lot people have taken him up on that.
But Danny Harris, the executive director of Transportation Alternatives, believes less crowded streets may be an invitation for drivers to stomp on the gas.
Streets Blog reported bicyclist injuries were up by 43 percent last week, compared to the same time in 2019, according to NYPD data.
In response, de Blasio urged drivers to use caution on the roads.
“They should see it as the opposite,” Harris said. “They have responsibility to drive slower and be much more cautious."
Advocates are asking that some streets be closed off to cars to keep bicyclists and pedestrians safe.
"Our streets can be closed down. Even just putting up cones to designate to drivers that the streets are closed and they’re open for children and for residents who do want to go out," Harris said.
These days, many of the bicyclists on the streets are providing crucial jobs in health care, transit and food delivery.
"There are 40,000 food delivery workers that are now on the front lines of this crisis," Harris said. "They are helping to keep New Yorkers fed and we need to do our best to protect them on the street."
In response to the pandemic, City Council Speaker Corey Johnson has signed onto the idea of closing certain streets to cars as people continue to practice social-distancing, even while getting much-needed fresh air.
“Now is the chance when we need to accelerate and connect more New Yorkers, especially those who do not have access to transit or are afraid to use it at this stage,” Harris said.
