Since its launch in May 2013, New York City's bike share program, sponsored by Citibank, has declared that there have been no rider deaths, despite the congested NYC atmosphere.
Experts say that no fatalities have been recorded in any U.S. public bike share program since 2007, the year in which the first one was created in Tulsa, Oklahoma, reports Yahoo! News. Because of its success, there are now programs in 36 cities, as well as plans for new services in other cities.
The safety record, an outstanding number of 23 million riders left unharmed, was confirmed by three alternative transportation experts: Susan Shaheen, co-director of the University of California at Berkeley's Transportation Sustainability Research Center; Russell Meddin, founder of the Bike-Sharing World Map; and Paul DeMaio, founder of MetroBike, the nation's oldest bike-share consultancy, according to Yahoo! News.
When Citibank launched its program, it received a lot of criticism and morbid predictions for bicycle users, some of which included novice riders who were just beginning to familiarize themselves with the pedals.
City Comptroller John Liu tried to enforce the use of helmets back in 2013, but his efforts had failed and were mocked by critics and late-night TV show hosts. "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart said that the bike share program allowed him to come up with a new business idea called "Jon Stewart's Street Brain Removal Service."
New York does not provide helmets, but the company is looking to change that in the future. Some cities, such as Boston, even have helmet vending machines.
Despite the lack of protection, only 40 people have been hurt and needed medical attention, a representative from Citi Bike said.
"The bikes are heavy, with a very low center of gravity, wide tires, drum brakes that keep the braking system dry even in inclement weather, and the bikes are geared so it is difficult to gain considerable speed," Shaheen said, according to Yahoo! News.
Users have referred to the bikes as "tanks" due to their "phenomenal" composition.
