Study Examines Pedestrian-Cyclist Collisions
A new study released by two professors at Hunter College looks at the data of cyclists colliding with pedestrians. The report explored how often collisions occur, where they occur, and what kind of pedestrians are likely be a part of these collisions.
Data of 4,121 individuals was provided by the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS) under the state’s Department of Health.
The study concludes that pedestrian-cyclist accidents are far more common than expected and public health officials should take note of these occurrences.
Approximately 1,000 patients are involved in pedestrian-cyclist accidents every year, and the number of accidents appears to be decreasing over time. This is an underestimation, according to the professor, as many pedestrians will not go to hospitals after a collision, or are simply uninjured.
Most accidents occur in the summer,—June, July, and August—and the fewest happen in winter months.
Brooklyn has the highest number of victims, especially in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, followed by Manhattan, Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island. The ranking for pedestrian deaths follows this order as well.
Victims of these accidents tend to be younger and minorities, especially Hispanics.
More Arrested in Financial District Protest
Seven protesters were arrested in Zuccotti Park on Tuesday, making a total of 16 arrested since protests began on Saturday.
The Occupy Wall Street protesters were arrested on charges of using bullhorns without a permit, disobeying police orders to disperse and remove a tarp that violated sanitary regulations, and resisting arrest, according to the New York Times.
A video of the arrests was posted on YouTube. In the video, a large group of officers tried to remove the tarp, while one of the officers dragged protester Jason Ahmadi by one leg and handcuffed him on the spot.
Ahmadi complained about the lack of circulation in his hands from the tight bonds and appeared to be bleeding on one hand.
Another protester yelled for help and told the officers he had trouble breathing while he was held to the ground. Both protesters were put inside a police van, accompanied by officers.
Occupy Wall Street was organized by AdBusters, Anonymous, and other Internet groups with a mission to “shut down Wall Street”on Saturday. The reason for the protest is their dissatisfaction with the current financial system and corruption.
Irene Costs City $55 Million
Hurricane Irene’s damages total up to at least $55 million, according the Office of Emergency Management.
The figure includes storm preparation, damage repair, and equipment needed for recovery, said spokesman Chris Gilbride, according to Associated Press.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the state will provide aid money to the city and will cover more than 87 percent of the costs.
The tally is only a preliminary estimate and is likely to increase in future calculations.
