It’s Our Phalt: Mapping Safer Streets, Byte by Byte

Cycling is one of the most sustainable ways to move through a city. More riders means safer streets and a healthier city for everyone. But for cycling to be accessible, it has to be safe.

Using Level of Traffic Stress (LTS), a framework developed by urban planning researcher Peter Furth, Our Phalt rates every street in NYC on a scale from 1 to 4 based on speed limits, number of lanes, and the presence or type of cycling infrastructure. Layered with NYC collision data and other public datasets, the project helps cyclists identify safer routes and highlights where infrastructure improvements are needed most.

Our Phalt is as much a map as it is a journalistic endeavor: a way to visualize the city’s cycling infrastructure gaps and shift the conversation around street safety.