Our bicycle accident lawyers explain what’s happening on Delancey Street
Bicycle accidents remain a major safety concern across New York City. While the city continues to promote cycling as a sustainable and healthy mode of transportation, many intersections remain dangerous, especially for riders near the Williamsburg Bridge in Lower Manhattan.
According to a report in Streetsblog, drivers routinely run red lights at Delancey and Clinton Streets (the Manhattan entrance to the bridge), creating daily hazards for cyclists and pedestrians. Yet rather than focusing on reckless drivers, NYPD officers have reportedly set up checkpoints to issue criminal summonses to cyclists instead.
Drivers ignore red lights (without consequences)
New York City cyclists interviewed by Streetsblog said they’ve learned to wait several seconds after a light turns green because they know at least one car or truck will blow through the red light. In just ten minutes of observation, reporters saw more than a dozen drivers speed through the intersection against the signal.
This reckless behavior isn’t rare. From 2020 through 2023, red-light running killed 101 people in New York City, according to the Department of Transportation (DOT). Last year alone, 29 deaths were linked to drivers who ignored red lights. That's more than double the city’s average from the previous decade.
Despite these alarming numbers, enforcement remains minimal. City data show that the NYPD issued fewer than two speeding tickets per precinct per day in 2024, and red-light tickets were even rarer. At the Seventh Precinct, which covers the Williamsburg Bridge intersection, police wrote just 1.5 red-light tickets per day.
To curb this pattern of dangerous red-light running, the New York City Department of Transportation has confirmed plans to install a red-light camera near Delancey and Clinton Streets, after repeated community requests for stronger enforcement.
Cyclists are ticketed while drivers speed free
Meanwhile, the same intersection has become a target for NYPD’s crackdown on cyclists, especially those riding e-bikes. Officers have reportedly set up checkpoints to issue criminal summonses for minor bicycle infractions as part of a citywide enforcement initiative launched earlier this year by Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
While drivers of 3,000-pound vehicles speed through red lights with little consequence, cyclists have been pulled over, ticketed, and in some cases required to appear in criminal court.
“Ticketing cyclists there is the ‘fish in a barrel’ theory,” said Jon Orcutt, director of advocacy at Bike New York and a former DOT official. “It doesn’t deter reckless behavior – it just penalizes people trying to navigate one of the most awkward and unsafe intersections in the city.”
A design problem years in the making
Traffic experts have long criticized the Manhattan entrance to the Williamsburg Bridge as one of the worst-designed intersections in New York City. The protected bike lane on Delancey Street splits sharply near the bridge, forcing cyclists to make a 90-degree turn up a small ramp bordered by narrow bollards. Many riders, struggling to maintain momentum on the incline, instead head straight into the car ramp, putting them directly in conflict with vehicles.
With more than 11,000 cyclists crossing the Williamsburg Bridge on a single day last summer, this bottleneck has become both crowded and dangerous. Federal funding — about $18 million from the Safe Streets and Roads for All program — has been approved to redesign the area, but the city doesn’t expect the project to be completed until 2029.
Why this matters for cyclists
For now, the danger remains very real. Cyclists injured in collisions near Delancey Street or anywhere in New York City often face unfair blame, even when a driver’s negligence clearly caused the crash. Police reports may not always reflect the full story, especially when enforcement is inconsistent.
If you were hurt in a bicycle accident caused by a red-light runner, a distracted driver, or unsafe street design, you have legal rights. An experienced NYC bicycle accident attorney can investigate the scene, gather video footage, interview witnesses, and hold negligent drivers accountable.
Get justice after a bicycle accident in New York City
At Giampa Law, we fight for injured cyclists and pedestrians throughout Manhattan, the Bronx, and all five boroughs. Our accident attorneys understand how devastating bicycle crashes can be and how easily the system can unfairly target riders rather than protect them.
We’re proud of the verdicts and settlements we’ve obtained for clients. We know what it takes to stand up to insurance companies and expose negligence on dangerous streets like Delancey and Clinton.
Don’t wait if you’ve been hurt. Contact us today for a free consultation. Our New York City bicycle accident lawyers can explain your potential legal options, protect your rights, and demand the maximum compensation you deserve.
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