Abreu questions DOT on cyclist fatalities and vehicle size
Abreu returns to DOT and asks about the discrepancy between record-low overall fatalities and an 86% increase in cyclist fatalities. Flynn says traditional cyclists are trending down while e-bike and scooter fatalities are up. Abreu asks about larger, heavier vehicles; Flynn says DOT advocates for smaller vehicles and shifting freight to cargo bikes, rail, and waterways.
So this administration has touted its Vision Zero progress, citing record lows in overall traffic fatalities.
However, traffic fatalities are up 86% for cyclists.
How does the administration explain this discrepancy?
Are streets getting safer for car drivers but more dangerous for cyclists?
Thank you, Chair.
So I guess just to be clear, we're seeing an overall downward trend for traditional cyclists, where we've seen that growth this year is for e-bikes and stand-up scooters.
And that, as you know from the last hearing, is a big area of focus for us.
Generally speaking, what we've been seeing is...
Crashes and fatalities from what you
might call traditional users have been trending in the right direction.
And then as the industry evolves and things change, we have to keep evolving in response to those new challenges.
Recent trends in vehicles, such as larger hood sizes and heavier overall weight, make cars safer for those driving them, but more deadly for other road users.
What is DOT doing in terms of advocacy, education, or other investments to address this issue?
I know we can't regulate size of vehicles in the city, but...
The harm to folks on our streets is it's pretty big.
It's really alarming, Chair, yes.
And I know the New York Times, for example, did a really good article on this topic a few months back where they visualized the growth in the average vehicle size over the last few decades.
This is very much on our radar.
As you mentioned, it's something we have a little less control over, but we want to use our position to
advocate and to see where we do have some policy levers to really incentivize safer vehicles, which in general are smaller vehicles.
And just to add, in terms of what's under DOT's control, obviously, you know, we're concerned about the role of the wear and tear on our assets as it relates to milling and paving and other repairs that need to be done.
So we're thinking a lot about truck usage.
So we are.
We have a freight unit, and we are investing their work to help shift freight from large, heavy vehicles to other safer modes, such as cargo bikes, rail, and waterways through initiatives like the Blue Highways,
and working with organizations such as IAHS to develop federal safety standards for freight vehicles as well to prioritize vulnerable road users.