Bicycle safety is improving as more New Yorkers are getting behind the handlebars than ever, according to a study released Monday by the city Department of Transportation.

The study found that while bike ridership has doubled since 2006, the amount of cyclists killed has stayed about the same, which would mean that the rate of deaths per cycling trip has plummeted.

City officials credit the numbers to the expansion of bike infrastructure around the city, including protected bike lanes and the launch of Citi Bike in many neighborhoods.

The study also found that areas underserved by bike infrastructure were much more dangerous to cyclists, with close to 90 percent of cyclist deaths in the last 10 years taking place on streets without a bike lane.

The statistic demonstrates something city officials and bike advocates alike acknowledge -- that there remains a long road ahead in achieving complete bike safety.

The city plans to further expand its cycling network and target underserved areas by creating priority bicycle districts.