By Kari Milchman

In the wake of all the spilled biker blood in past years, NYC has taken some steps to make its streets friendlier for those on two-wheels. A joint report recently issued by the NYC Department of Mental Health and Hygiene, Parks and Recreation, Transportation and the NYPD aptly titled Bicyclist Fatalities and Serious Injuries in New York City 1996-2005 revealed that, in the past decade, 225 cyclist fatalities and 3,462 injuries occurred. So, it was announced last Tuesday that the Department of Transportation and the Parks Department will add 240 miles of bikes lanes, complete with new signage for drivers (probably reading something like “BEWARE OF BIKER”). The safety study concluded that all but one of the 225 fatalities occurred outside bike lanes and 97 percent involved riders who were not wearing helmets. These findings have caused city officials to consider establishing a law that would make failure to sport a helmet illegal. Apparently, they missed a different study performed by Dr. Ian Walker of the University of Bath in the United Kingdom that found helmets actually increase a cyclist’s risk because drivers pass them more closely than they do protective headgear-negligent riders. Helmet or no helmet, it looks like Critical Mass might get their wish for a bike-lovin’ city, what with the Taxi and Limousine Commission looking to raise fare charges upwards of 11 percent. The plan would also establish a fixed rate of $45 for transportation from anywhere in Manhattan to JFK. The higher fares will be particularly evident under traffic conditions in which cabs stand idly. The NYC wait time fare is far below that of other major cities at only 20 cents per minute. Under the new plan, it would be doubled, leading the New York Post to report that cabbies will be less aggressive once they’re being compensated for idling. Well sure, less aggressive and all too happy to sit back, relax and dial up a buddy on their hands-free while the meter ticks away. All the more reason to dust off that rusty ten-speed.