A press release from Transportation Alternatives, an advocacy group for bicyclists in New York City, reacts to three crashes in one week and the death of two cyclist.s:

In the past week there were three serious bike crashes in New York
City, two of them resulting in the deaths of individual cyclists, Dr.
Carl Nacht and Derek Lake.

On Monday June 19, a taxicab driver opened his door and knocked a
cyclist into the path of a passing bus on 10 th Avenue in Manhattan. On
Thursday June 22, an NYPD tow truck driver crossing the Hudson River
Greenway hit Dr. Nacht as he was riding with his wife northbound on the
bike path. Dr. Nacht died Monday, June 26. On Monday June 26, Mr. Lake
was killed by a truck when his bike slid out of control and he fell
beneath the truck on Houston Street at LaGuardia Place.

All three crashes were caused by dangerous conditions that are
commonplace on New York City streets but should not be: drivers and
passengers opening car doors into the path of cyclists; drivers failing to yield to cyclists and hazardous street conditions that can send bikes out of control.

Like the Mayors of London, Paris, Chicago and other world
class cities that have recently unveiled comprehensive plans to make
bicycling safe and widespread, Mayor Bloomberg must get serious about
making New York City a safe place to bike. The City’s ‘Bicycle
Master Plan’ is ten years old and only 15% complete. It is devoid of
targets, timetables and design standards that cities like London and
Chicago are using to make cycling safe enough for all to enjoy.

To prevent future tragedies, City Hall must modernize New York
City’s bike plan to include targets, timetables, design standards and
other modern tools for making cycling a safe and viable mode of
transportation, including:

• A new updated "New York City Bicycle Master Plan"
• A timetable to implement this bike safety/encouragement plan
• Specific targets to increase the rate of bike riding and reduce the number of bicycle crashes
• Modern street design standards for the safest types of on- and off-street bike paths
• Heightened enforcement of laws against drivers who endanger cyclists
• Specific targets to put every New Yorker within a half-mile of a bike lane or path
• Increased street hazard inspection on heavily-cycled streets by bike-borne DOT inspectors
• Proactive safety measures like "anti-dooring" stickers in taxicabs to
  remind drivers and passengers to look for cyclists before opening their
  doors
• Adequate outdoor bike parking and bike access to buildings
• The reinstatement of a public bicycle advisory committee

Helmets reduce the risk of serious head injuries, but are only part
of the safety equation. T.A.’s Deputy Director of Advocacy, Noah
Budnick says, "Everyone should wear helmets, but helmets don’t prevent
crashes. Safety is better served by safe streets that encourage more
cycling because studies show that the more cyclists there are, the more
motorists notice us and the safer it is to ride."