Preliminary state police figures indicate that cycling and passenger deaths ballooned, while motorcycle deaths and pedestrian fatalities fell last year in New Jersey.
The Record reports cycling deaths jumped 64 percent to 18 last year. That's the most since 2008. Statistics show that passenger fatalities rose nearly 19 percent to 95.
Legislators approved a bill this week that would create a commission that cycling and walking advocates say would recommend strategies to make improvements to road design, laws and behavior that normally favor vehicles over people.
Figures show that motorcycle deaths dropped to a record low 49 and pedestrian fatalities fell to 163. But that's still higher than the previous 10-year average of 152.
Overall road deaths fell by less than 1 percent to 554.
