From Crain’s Insider:

An unreleased study of bicycling fatalities has led to friction among
the three city agencies compiling it. The police, transportation and
health departments analyzed the deaths of 200 cyclists over 10 years
and found that only one of them was in a bike lane.

An insider says DOT Commissioner Iris Weinshall didn’t conclude that
lanes are the answer. Instead, because the accidents often involved
head injuriese, Weinshall wants to call for a law mandating helmets.
But the NYPD isn’t eager to enforce a universal helmet law and the
health department isn’t ready to call for one.

Last summer, transportation officials cut the annual creation of bike
lanes and routes to 20 miles from 30. A spokeswoman for the DOT says
the agency is committed to increasing the pace of bike lane
installations.

Cycling groups say that other cities’ helmet requirements for adults
have reduced cycling by 25% or more, which raises the danger for
remaining bikers. Advocates believe that the emphasis should be on
preventing accidents, not on mitigating injuries.