Hundreds of cyclists hold 'die-in' in New York City to protest deaths

Three cyclists were killed in one week: ‘People are literally dying on the streets because they’re not being adequately protected’

Lauren Aratani in New York
Wed 10 Jul 2019 14.27 BST Last modified on Wed 10 Jul 2019 14.57 BST

New York City cyclists have staged a “die-in” protest after three cyclists were killed in a span of a week, bringing the total number of cyclist deaths in the city this year to 15.

As a memorial for those killed, hundreds from the local cyclist community gathered in downtown Manhattan’s Washington Square Park to participate in the demonstration on Tuesday night. Participants of all ages laid in the park, many with their bikes lying next to them, for five minutes in silence. Some held signs that read “New York to cyclists: drop dead” and “reckless driving kills”.

The protest encapsulates the growing frustration riders have toward their city government for failing to act on promises to make the streets safer for cyclists. While 15 fatalities may seem low relative to the city’s population of more than 8 million people, advocates see it as an alarming increase to the 10 cyclist deaths – a historic low – the city had in 2018.

“People are literally dying on the streets because they’re not being adequately protected,” said Joseph Cutrufo, communications director of Transportation Alternatives, a city pedestrian and cyclists advocacy group that organized the protest. “Fifteen people have been killed just by getting where they need to go … [Biking] shouldn’t be seen as a dangerous behavior.”

-snip-