A 43-year-old man who crashed into a 77-year-old pedestrian in Central Park on Monday afternoon has died from his injuries, according to police.
The 43-year-old, Manhattan resident Charles Cheeseboro, “was operating a pedal initiated, battery powered, hand throttle controlled E-Bike northbound on East Drive when he collided with the 77-year-old male pedestrian, who was crossing westbound in the crosswalk at 74th Street,” police said in a statement. The crash occurred around 3 p.m. and police found Cheeseboro unconscious on the ground with head injuries.
The pedestrian suffered minor injuries and was taken to the hospital in stable condition, police said. The crash remains under investigation.
There were several crashes involving bicycles on Monday near that same location.
Yesterday at 7:45 am I was crossing CPW at 95th St. Two cyclists riding abreast came straight toward me running their red light. At the last moment they parted and one went behind me through the intersection and one crossed directly in front of me. I am beyond furious at this behavior and find it difficult to be saddened by reports like this one. I do realize that there is no mention of this being case in this story; so I am just commenting on my experience in general with a specific recent event.
I love sport biking but that’s not what we’re talking about here. For any/all biker apologists, there is a LAW that bikers must yield to pedestrians under all circumstances. This applies to all recreational and traffic venues. The tour de france spandex crowd have to extent been correctly circumscribed in Riverside Park to set paths (big improvement!) yet must still remain adherent to said law. In city parks if you hit someone you’re either not looking out, going too fast or not using your bell to alert people in your path (ahead of time! not as you’re running them over). And never mind ‘it’s pedestrians’ responsibility..’, etc. The law says otherwise. Bike racing is not for the ADHD crowd & they need to look out for US, particularly when not using their bell, which is often the case. That was a brief summer looking forward to spring. Be well all.
You shouldn’t get in the path of people coming towards you, in a car, bike, boat …
Exactly! You are responsible for your own safety. It is not a hardship to be aware. Make it a habit to look around you before you step into any traffic regardless of whether you have the right of way.
Seriously? What if you’re crossing with the light and a bike comes out of nowhere speeding though the middle of an intersection? I’ve been hit by cyclists on 3 different occasions. The first was the delivery man in the intersection on 72 and B’way, the 2nd time the bike came off the street and on to the sidewalk on Columbus. The 3rd time was a tourist in the park trying to keep up with her group and she lost control of her bike. I was walking two dogs at least 15 feet away but she panicked and swerved in the opposite direction and plowed right into my leg. No matter how aware you are of your surrounding s*** still happens!
CommonSense said what now? Was that meant to be humorous?
god forbid someone wants to cross the road while expecting others to respect traffic laws
A real shame. I think everyone agrees that e-bikes and e-scooters should be banned from Central Park. But, we shouldn’t use this accident as justification to punish all other users of the park. What this event demonstrates, however, is that both cyclists and pedestrians are equally at risk for injury when an accident occurs. Indeed, cyclists are arguably more prone to serious injury in these situations (there are principle of physics at play that we won’t get into). That is why 99% of cyclists are very careful when they ride; THEY are at risk of getting hurt.
I walk the park every day and sit and watch the traffic on the drives, and what most comments assert as “blowing through red lights”, “nearly hitting me” and “reckless riding” is hyperbole. What you have during the day are tons of tourists and recreational riders and pedestrians meandering around the drives. Neither sticks to their side of the drive. Many often stupidly suddenly stop in the middle to take pictures or wait for their friends. The cyclists often roll through red lights, at (ridiculously) slow speeds – most huff and puff up the many hills. The pedestrians often run across the drives in the middle, without looking. You then have a number of faster, more accomplished riders and joggers, who can handle the hills, who do NOT stop aimlessly on the drives to take pictures or whatever. The cyclists ride around the slow/stopped traffic, and frankly — as I watch them — do it safely and in full control. Just like the fast runners who I watch running around the slow walkers. Do they go through the lights? Usually? Do they come close to others? Often? Is it reckless and dangerous? Rarely, though I imagine that if you are elderly, timid or not used to being around a mass of humanity in the park it can be startling to have a bicycle suddenly pass right by you.
Yes, you have cyclists who are reckless. And the cops should be ticketing them! Cops should also give tickets to reckless pedestrians and joggers who wear headphones and jaywalk and don’t look when they cross against the light. But it is a HUGE waste of taxpayer resources to have police sitting, giving tickets to cyclists (and pedestrians) who may be riding or walking against the light, but when doing so is completely safe and not reckless. The same reason we don’t have cops sitting and giving tickets to drivers who simply happen to be driving at 65MPH in a 55MPH zone, when it poses no risk to others.
We all need to have our wits about us, be aware, be courteous and respectful to others, and we’ll all be fine. Reckless behavior — real reckless behavior — should be punished. But the hyperbole we all spew about is not helpful.
As a rider, drive and walker I can attest your missive is spot on.
@Stanley
That’s probably one of the best posts I’ve read in ages. Thanks for pointing out the real deal in cp.
@eveyone else
I’m a cyclist, I put in around 200miles a week in CP and do run red lights, but only if it’s clear to do so. I swerve through the chaos (peds/runners/tourists/dogs/raccoons/rickshaws/etc) like water down a rocky mountain.
I am one of the “tour de france wannabes” that so often get ragged on throughout all the media boards because we ride fast and disregard lights.
But I’d like to point out, how many of us are dying on the streets, how many of us are hitting pedestrians/dogs/strollers?
very few, because we are experienced, we can handle a bike, we anticipate possible outcomes as we ride and we are completely aware of our surroundings at all times.
While it may look like we could hit you, we won’t. We are in control, we don’t want to hit anyone, we don’t want to crash anymore than you want to get crashed into. We see you, just know that. Sometimes people/animals pop out of nowhere and we have to react to avoid a disaster just like you, so it may look a bit dangerous, but we’re on it, we don’t want to go down or hit anyone.
The park during the hours of 8am to 6pm can be utter chaos. So for all you walkers, joggers, dog walkers, casual park goers, just keep your head up and be aware of your surroundings, look both ways, put the phone down, use 1 earbud instead of 2, it’s really quite simple. You are entering a public space for everyone to use and you need to be aware of the environment, just as you do while crossing a street.
Like Stanley said, “Reckless behavior — real reckless behavior — should be punished” I agree completely, because this behavior puts everyone in jeopardy.
Most of my miles are done between the hours of 5-7am where runners and cyclist have a great symbioses and I have yet to hear of any injuries during those hours. I also go out in the afternoon for some easy laps and that’s where I’ve have seen it all, including the “unaware” accidents involving tourists/selfies/self centered ppl/dogs off leashes/etc….etc.
Just be alert, cp is not your personal backyard, it’s shared with everyone, so be prepared for anything.
“I swerve through the chaos (peds/runners/tourists/dogs/raccoons/rickshaws/etc) like water down a rocky mountain.”
You are exactly as justified in doing this as I am going into the park with a crossbow and expertly aiming arrows three inches from your head.
Rarely, though I imagine that if you are elderly, timid or not used to being around a mass of humanity in the park it can be startling to have a bicycle suddenly pass right by you.
That’s what you call “startling?” The point is, a bicycle is not supposed to “suddenly pass right by you” when you have a green light to cross the road. It’s supposed to stop and let you walk, limp,use a walker or do whatever it requires for you to get across. I am elderly but by no means timid, and perfectly accustomed to being surrounded by masses of humanity (is the B train massive enough for you?) I have begun to carry two Nordic poles for exercise while walking in the park, and while I have not yet weaponized them, but I shall be very tempted to next time I am being threatened or bullied or “suddenly passed by closely” by a non-law-abiding cyclist.
I too use the CP and Riverside Park and never not once have I seen a cyclist stop for a red light. ABSOLUTELY NOT ONCE. Go for a run and cross Riverside Drive. The racing folks speed down that street like they are in the Tour de France. Delivery guys pay no mind at all to directions of bike lanes making them yet a new pedestrian obstacle to navigate beyond the cars. And the Citi Bike folks seem to be unaware that there are actually rules of the road. If you are riding a bike the lights are for you too. Apparently bike riders don’t seem to be aware or just don’t give a damn.
Well said. Unfortunately, most will ignore your comment and continue with the ridiculous hyperbole that plagues this site. People continue to blame everything on “spandex-clad” cyclists and deny that pedestrians share some of the blame.
The park is crowded. Everyone should behave prudently and exercise caution.
Back in the 1800s, the city used to arrest riders of “velocipedes” in the park, until they appeared in such numbers that it was decided that they had equal claim to the park, provided they stay on the roads and obey the law.
I used to ride in the park several times a week, but a few years ago, having just recovered from some serious injuries, I was cycling in the park when a confluence of events caused an accident, of which I was the only injured person. A tourist on a Citi-bike turned into me without checking to see if I was there. I turned away, into an empty stretch of road, at which point a pedestrian on their phone wandered into my path, and caught one end of my handlebars. I went over them and tore up my leg. This happened right where this collision happened.
I think the combination of dangerous idiots on bikes (usually not wearing helmets) and dangerous idiots on foot (often buried in their phones or deaf from headphones) is the cause of all this nonsense. My bike’s tires have been flat for years because I’m not willing to risk death to do something I enjoy, or at least, I used to enjoy.
Treat Citibike riders as one does taxicabs/share driver when on road; give them a very wide berth. *LOL*
A good number (but not all) Citibike users have not ridden a bike in years or decades.
While it is true once you’ve learned you never forget, many Citibike riders decide to take their first bike ride in ages on crowded NYC streets or parks.
Much like Uber/Lyft drivers these tourists don’t know where they are going, are on unfamiliar roads/streets, nor seem to comprehend applicable laws regarding bicycle riding.
No, Virginia, there are NOT “good people on both sides”.
First of all, your conclusion that pedestrians and cyclists are equally at risk are not borne by the FACTS.
The FACTS are that in 2018 in NYC, 303 cyclist/pedestrian collisions were reported (emphasis on REPORTED). In those collisions, 270 pedestrians were reported injured, and 55 cyclists were reported injured. By those numbers, pedestrians were 5 times more likely to be injured in a collision with a cylist than the cyclists.
Second, your pathetic snarkiness that one has to be old or timid to perceive danger from reckless behavior from cyclists is its own weak hyperbole.
I am neither old nor timid, but I observe foolhardy, reckless, beligerent, DANGEROUS behavior on the part of cyclists every day; behavior which endangers the lives of elderly pedestrians, pregnant pedestrians, children walking with their parents, dogwalkers and dogs alike.
I suppose that one could conjecture that a young person (without the wisdom that age and experience confer) might not perceive the danger from a cyclist passing at a high rate of speed within feet of one’s face.
Experience keeps a dear school, but a fool will learn in no other Don’t let that fool be you.
You are using these “facts” to make your own conclusions that may not be true.
We know that there were 270 pedestrian injured and 55 cyclists injured, but we don’t know if any or all were injured in the same incident. You don’t know who the responsible party was. It could have been caused by the pedestrian. You don’t know, nor do I.
Again, you ignore that pedestrians are 40 times more likely to be injured by cars than a bicyclist (over 10,000 pedestrian injuries involving cars). So, why are you so focused on bikes when cars are the real threat?
Cars are not allowed in the park bikes are so this is the only remaining threat to pedestrians
Frankly, I fear I might be older than you. But based on my many years of watching and experiencing, I stand by my assertion that while there is certainly plenty of reckless behavior that needs to be punished and stopped, much of what folks like you consider to be reckless just isn’t. I remember my days as a runner, and the unnecessary glares I would get when I closely passed by much slower runners and pedestrians. I see the looks of fear some folks have when a cyclist riding at, maybe 6 MPH, approaches. Like deer in headlights. I understand the fear — its a bike, they can cause injuries if they hit you. But don’t call them reckless when its your subjective fear.
I am with you. Lets get the reckless folks — those wearing headphones or on their phones while they ride — off the streets. But lets be rationale.
And the facts you cite mean nothing, when we dont have full actual data of all accidents and injuries.
Stanley, what you are saying is well thought out, reasonable, and true. The others in this conversation just want to hate on bikers, and aren’t listening.
Your statement was: “What this event demonstrates, however, is that both cyclists and pedestrians are equally at risk for injury when an accident occurs.”
This is demonstrably untrue.
Pedestrians are injured at a higher rate in a cyclist-pedestrian ‘interaction’.
Pedestrian injuries are also likely to be underreported, as cyclists tend to get up and ride away, and injured pedestrians are left to limp home the best way they can.
You are of course free to deny and dismiss the statistics, but then don’t come telling me that the streets are “safer” for pedestrians because of bike lanes based on some fake study by cycling advocates that doesn’t even begin to capture the reality of the situation.
Cyclists are out of control, and are a danger both to themselves and to pedestrians.
Instead of placating feral cyclists and fostering reckless attitudes, the city needs to crack down hard on aggressive, dangerous cycling behavior.
I could not agree more; “it’s the cyclists, stupid.” I walk briskly in the park several days a week, stay in the pedestrian lane, and observe traffic lights when crossing to exit or enter the park. There is not a single day that I do not see dozens of cyclists speeding, biking in pedestrian lanes, riding the wrong way on one-way lanes, ignoring traffic lights, talking on the phone/taking photos/listening to headphones, and other dangerous behavior. They are a threat to walkers and other cyclists. When I calmly inform a cyclist that s/he is in the wrong lane or going the wrong way or ignoring a light, I’m usually cursed at. It’s hard to find a solution–bike license plates to facilitate reporting illegal cycling?–but at the very least there should be random police checks and ticketing of and fines for illegal behavior. Perhaps once cyclists start having to pay for risky acts they will be more mindful.
A park should be for people using their legs and feet. No vehicles of any sort. This is not Victorian times with those large slow “penny bicycles”, but people who think they’re on the Tour de France. For everyone’s sake, enough is enough.
I disagree! I used to ride my bicycle in Central Park since I was a kid! That’s why they have roads in park closed off to car and bus traffic except for the transverse! It’s used for bike riding! The parks are filled with pedestrian paths! Just be aware of your surroundings regardless if on foot or bike riding! Personal Responsibility is key!
Except Central Park nor any of the great European public parks it was based upon were any such thing.
By design CP as the others was designed to accommodate bicycles, horseback riding, and horse drawn carriages, along with “promenading”.
When horses were replaced by motor vehicles many parks moved to accommodate both. But the decline in horseback riding in urban areas meant for most part cars won out, until now.
Too many cyclists are extremely arrogant and go way to fast and run red lights. They are a danger to everyone, including themselves. Why pedestrians can’t be safe to stroll in Central Park is a terrible shame on the policies of this city.
@stanley
I implore you to go sit in front of Tavern on the Green, in front of that stoplight, and tell me that the bikers go through that stoplight (while coming downhill) at ridiculously slow rates.
Please report back your findings about how you feel after watching that for about 10-15 minutes.
I have been there hundreds of times. That area — and even more so, the intersection of west drive and the crosstown drive — is a mess for many reasons. Its a sea of humanity. People turning left, going straight. Stopping. Crossing. Going backwards. And yes, after you huff it uphill to the light, the path descends downhill around the curve. And, based on laws of physics, you pick up speed. But that means nothing. The large majority of people manage to jog, walk and ride safely. Again, the fast runner may whiz by you, or the faster cyclist will weave around you – but they are, in the very large % of cases, doing it with awares and safely. The small % of reckless hooligans should be ticketed.
Back in my running days, I used to get glares when I would weave around the slow runners. But there was no risk that I would hit them. Sorry to say, if you are going to use the drive, then you should expect that some folks will pass you by. The reckless — for example, those who “blow” through red lights at high rates of speed when there are folks crossing the intersection, should be punished. No question. But the rest of us should be left alone.
As to the use of the parks. Yes, the miles of walkways, gardens, paths and meadows are not meant for bicycles. The drive – yes. If you want to meander and stroll and contemplate life without a runner or cyclist passing you by and startling you, keep off the drive and stay on the pedestrian paths.
The idea that cops could or should separate the “reckless” from folks simply breaking the law but in an “aware” manner is a little ridiculous, no?
And the idea that all bikes are going, at most, 6mph or that one can somehow magically avoid the drives – one of the worst crossings I encounter is the one just west of the Delacorte Theater – I’ve yet to see a cyclist pay any attention to the red light (which is very short anyway even though there’s plenty of foot traffic) but I do see plenty of spandex, fixed-gear weekend warriors barreling down that incline. I’ve survived in this city by NOT trusting that someone will gracefully pass me with an inch or two to spare if I just keep moving.
RIP to the cyclist
However maybe now this problem with the bikes vs. pedestrians thing will be closely looked at both by the NYPD and the city.
These discussions about who is right vs. who is wrong when it comes to the bikers is getting redundant. Something just needs to be done, and soon.
The spot where that news piece was shot is a wild three-way intersection – 1 eastbound cycle lane merges in between both a westbound and a northbound lane. Many cyclists are too often passive and tourists are oblivious to hazardous areas like this one – yeah some people will always disregard common courtesy but IMO SPEED BUMPS and SIGNAGE leading up 100-200 feet before this and other similar convergence areas in the city – would reduce accidents.
That will never happen. Way too many sanctioned races in the park. Speed bumps would pose a huge problem.
Use removable ones.
Any cyclist who doesn’t wear a helmet is asking for trouble.
I felt safer in CP when cars were allowed, as their presence slowed down the bikers and having cars in the park made the ‘walking pedestrian’ more alert. I’d rather get hit by a car than a speeding biker!
Its safe to say that the City Hall is pro-bike, but bikes and walkers can not exist. What happened in CP will soon be happening along the Avenues with the bike lanes. The city does not have the manpower to enforce bike laws, they can barely enforce vehicular laws.
You read it here first. Wheeled vehicles, including bikes, e-bikes, and scooters, will be banned in CP – First during ‘peak hours’ and then entirely by 2030!
It’s time to acknowledge vision zero and road diets are killing people
https://allaspectreport.com/2019/08/26/its-time-for-cities-to-acknowledge-that-vision-zero-and-road-diets-are-killing-people/
Central Park is one of the largest and most popular tourist destinations in the world!!!!
It is not a velodrome and race track for reckless wanna-be Tour de Francer’s. Period end of story.
Stop criticizing the pedestrians and the tourists (Thank God for them and their visits to our beautiful city) or older folks, kids, or dogs, etc.
The only people misusing the intended purpose of the park are the Spandex laden dudes who think they are professional cyclists.
Do guys playing football on the Great Lawn wear full pads and helmets?? Let’s be intellectually honest here. Central Park is our communal backyard. Let’s treat it, and each other, with respect. Thanks in advance.:)
What is it you and others have against Lycra? If cyclists wore corsets and petticoats, or a morning suit would it make a difference?
I’m surprised B.B., you are usually pretty quick on the uptake around here. Not on this topic I guess, judging from you other comments.
The Park was not built for professional sports training to take place along side of tourists and residents enjoying a public park. We don’t have hardball baseball games on the Great Lawn or competitive figure skating at Wollman. This is NYC, it’s crowded, and we all need to coexist…safely.
When these guys put on their Spandex costume, it is not for safety it is for SPEED (gotta make up those 6 or 7 seconds). These guys are literally racing through the park…for time. And you know what that means.
Imagine if automobile drivers were decked out in racing gloves and NASCAR jumpsuits, wearing helmets. And racing around our streets in suped-up race cars…next to cars and cabs just trying to get from point A to point B, and pedestrians and yes, bikes. How long do you think that would be allowed to go on?
Also, we point out the Spandex because we want to be clear about who we are talking about here. Not tourists on Citibikes, not leisurely local riders trying to enjoy themselves or commute, not delivery guys, not pedicabs trying to make a living, and on and on.
These speed racers are a very unique group and subculture. Their costume, that most of us find to be silly and inappropriate, makes it easy to identify them without any confusion as to who we are talking about.
And by the way, I’m pro bike lane!!! And pro bikes in general. These Tour de France role players are a different story. Just my very informed opinion though.:)
I hate to break it to you, but the large majority of accidents in the city involving bikes do NOT involve the “Spandex” crowd. Those folks (as a group) are probably the most experienced, with the best bike-handling skills, of all. Most accidents involve cyclists who are less experienced and brazen — deliverymen, bike messenger types and reckless recreational cyclists.
The “costumes” they were are worn primarily because they provide a much increased level of comfort – which is important when you are riding 1000s of miles a year – often 40-50 miles at a shot on a regular basis.
Drives are not closed during sanctioned bike events. Participants are expressly and explicitly told to remain to right; that is in the lanes that are for bikes. well one was is for motor vehicles but as they have been mostly banned….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s8fHeESI-g
https://www.crca.net/dave-jordan-central-park-classic
Joggers, pedistrians, and others using left lanes (where they are supposed to be anyway), are perfectly free to use the loop/drives.
Very, very well said.
Clearly you have no clue. First, there are sanctioned bicycle races in the park — all taking place before your are even awake. Just like there are sanctioned softball games in the park and sanctioned hockey games in the park rinks. And the drives are closed to pedestrians during those races. No one “races” during the day. The few cyclists who do try to time themselves around the drive during the day are jerks, but they are the vast minority’s of serious cyclists (most of whom ride very early, late or ride over the bridge to NJ). And the “suits” they wear is not to “go faster”. But rather for efficiency and comfort (special pads are built into the shorts) and to allow you to store stuff in built in pockets – particularly when you are riding 30+ miles. Sort of the same reason hikers wear special high-top boots and cargo shorts for comfort and efficiency.
I’m sort of confused but thank you for making both of my points for me.
1) Sanctioned races when the Park Drive is closed are great! That’s not what is being discussed here. During an organized (and insured) event, nobody is put in danger by the speeding and weaving racers. Except, of course, the riders themselves and that is their choice.
2) The Spandex is worn for comfort and efficiency, NOT speed, according to you. But isn’t the point of racing on these bikes to go as fast as you can? Either against others or against your own personal best times? “Efficiency” in this context translates to faster, easier, more comfortably…it’s all the same. It’s about enhancing performance! and that performance is about cutting time and/or increasing distance.
As far as the pockets thing and your hiking boot analogy, I’m not even going to address those. Give me a break.:)
Anyway have a great (and safe) holiday weekend!
Was biker wearing a helmet?
No he was not…
I’m really disappointed that there are almost no comments here regarding e-bikes. IMHO, motorized pleasure seekers whether on bikes, roller blades or skate boards should be banned from the park just as cars are. It requires no muscle power to use motor-assisted recreational transport. The park’s pathways should be used by those of us who are interested in maintaining a fit and strong body, not for those hoping to break the sound barrier with their new electronic toys.
The problem seems caused by poor, if no, city planning. There is no overall policy governing bicycling, nor is there any overall care taken in terms of paths on city streets or in the parks. It beginning to feel lie a free for all. Every man for himself. Bicycles should treated like cars and given rules and regulations that are legislated and monitored. Licensing bikes would also add a measure of responsibility to cyclists. The lack of civility with which they treat the rights of pedestrians, nor to mention the language they use, is really scary and reinforces a Trump-like rude sense of entitlement.
Well now we have lots of bike lanes. Unfortunately the cyclists are more reckless than cars.
Lights mean nothing, delivery motored bikes speed around not watching for pedestrians. Everyone says poor bikers let’s give them more roadway. At least cars stop at the red! We should say poor pedestrians.
Ban Bikes In NYC
This is a walking subway city!
The only surprise here was that the pedestrian wasn’t badly injured and the cyclist died – would have expected the opposite. E-bikes are a huge menace for pedestrians, more than the cyclyists, but now we know it can go the other way. We need laws and regulations.
There are plenty of pedestrians with earplugs and headphones as well as people just looking at their phones and paying NO attention to crossing the street and act as if they’re invincible. Likewise, there are plenty of bike riders who I see run red
lights nearly every time I’m out walking. Both need to pay attention to the larger world outside their own little universe and understand they impact others.
I see everybody on bikes with earphones on and speeding down the streets with no care to pedestrians or traffic and NOT in the bicycle paths swerving in and out of traffic….
We should all stop ordering food deliveries and see how quickly the biking problem goes away.
The bike rider died of head injuries, yet the report makes no mention of whether he was wearing a helmet. Given that the elderly pedestrian with whom he collided survived, the rider’s lack of head protection was probably the chief reason he died of his injuries.
WSR does not mention whether or not cyclist was wearing a helmet; however other sources do, and he was not.
https://pix11.com/2019/08/29/cyclist-dies-days-after-collision-with-pedestrian-in-central-park/
In this report in Westside Rag does not say he was wearing a helmet or he was not wearing a helmet but on the news it said he was NOT wearing a helmet.
Bicycles are out of hand and they’re out of control!!!!
This formerly avid bike rider –in the UWS, in Central and Riverside Parks — is one no longer. The unconscious walker- bike rider nexus is bad enuf! Add to the mix those horrible electric bikes and the wrong way delivery guys and the racers 2 to 4 abreast –now BTW also flooding streets and sidewalks in Washington Heights–and more and more collisions of all sorts are inevitable.
Let’s start by BANNING “electric” bikes in ALL residential and heavily commercial neighborhoods in all 5 boroughs: NO EXCEPTIONS. Let’s simultaneously lobby via both Cty Bds and Borough Reps for viable separate bike lanes for all multi lane streets and for all Parks in all 5 boroughs. And let’s NOT FORGET to pressure the police to get out of their cars and start ticketing scoff laws v. only showing up after it is too late to prevent a horrible accident.
So sad and so frightening that these kinds of accidents, whether involving bikers, car drivers, or pedestrians, are so frequent these days. One cannot be too alert and careful when driving, riding or walking in the City.
A car has to slow down while approaching a crossing area, bikes should do the same! Central Park and most intersections are becoming a real highway, I need to run for my life every morning while taking my dog out. It’s time for NYC to implement educational ways of riding, we all share the park and roads, let’s think safety first before it’s too late. I cannot imagine what it feels to kill someone, even if it’s an accident, it must be horrible to deal with.
Anything motorized with wheels should be required to have a license and registration just like a car and to follow the same rules. Bikes lanes are not reliable because riders go in any direction and not according to the costly painted arrows on the pavement and many do not observe the traffic lights. As a pedestrian and car driver I have personally experienced this and have had near misses if I was not as aware as I am. I worry for our children trying to learn the rules when they are not followed and we must tell them not to trust anything they see and protect themselves from people who ignore the rules, in the park or out. What a way for them to live.
I heard that there was some discussion in Albany about banning motorized bikes in Manhattan. What is the status of that?
Yesterday I saw an d unregistered person driving a motorized small motorcycle in traffic.
If he would hit somebody he surely has no insurance, he can pick up and leave with no recorded plate number,
and surely if there was an accident the driver of the auto would be blamed.
ENOUGH
Actually other way around, lawmakers in Albany recently passed legislation to allow “E-Bikes”. However far as one knows governor has not signed the bill into law.
https://ny.curbed.com/2019/6/17/18681910/new-york-micromobility-escooter-ebike-legalization
Believe it or not e-bikes have become the latest “woke” issue. Since a majority of those using the things are immigrant (legal or otherwise) delivery persons there is a movement that considers any sort of ban discriminatory. Indeed recent action by NYPD to confiscate such things have caused a furore in some quarters.
Oh please! Is anyone with even half a brain surprised by any of this ? It’s not possible to have bikes in NYC where cars and pedestrians represent a serious challenge to anyone’s safety. Get real. It ain’t Amsterdam for goodness sake.
We need rules that everybody can agree upon that will make everybody safe. As a biker, I abide by the following rules:
Bike riders do not ride on sidewalks.
Mounting and dismounting of bikes occurs on the street not on the sidewalk.
Curb cuts at crosswalks are not for bicycle use.
Riding in crosswalks or white stripped areas is prohibited.
Hovering in crosswalks is not allowed while waiting for a light to change.
Bikes should not stop in crosswalks when waiting for lights to change.
Bike riders must respect other bike riders who stop for lights and pedestrians by not passing them.
Pedestrians in crosswalks have the right of way.
Passing a pedestrian must be in front, visible and no closer than three feet.
If there is a protected bike lane use it.
Bikes should stay in the green part of a protected bike lane.
Pedestrians should stay off the green lane when possible.
Do not listen to music or text on your phones while riding a bike.
Wear helmets at all times while riding your bike.
— “As a biker, I abide by the following rules:”
So *you’re* the one!
I bike for work through all five boroughs, visiting people with dementia. MTA and walking would limit me to half the visits I can make by bike in a day. I wear ordinary street clothes, bright colors, use bike lanes when available, yield to pedestrians and other cyclists, never “blow” lights or stop signs, stay where I belong.
Reckless cyclists and clueless pedestrians scare me, but I keep it in perspective. It was a recklessly driven SUV that shattered my leg when I was stopped at a red light in Bay Ridge.
I’ve asked cops why they don’t enforce the law against throttle ebikes; they say they can’t catch them; but one cop could call ahead to another cop who could be ready with a net. Yet after a fatal crash, sometimes cops will ticket-blitz the area and go after people whose bikes don’t have bells—as if that will lower fatalities. Seems they need to get their priorities straight.
Bikes are a wonderful part of the transit mix. Vienna, Austria, where pedestrians and cyclists stick to their dedicated lanes and obey traffic signals, shows how it can be done right.
In Vienna the people obey traffic laws and posted signs. Only in this country are signs routinely ignored. Take one hour of your day sitting outside the Jackie Onassis Reservoir, and just count the people walking their dogs on the jogging path, pushing strollers and some even riding bikes, even though there are signs EVERYWHERE that BANS them all from that jogging path!
Like all other WSR commenters, I to travel responsibly as I walk, slowly like a turtle, through this city. I use hand signals when walking to indicate to fellow walkers of my intent. When I try to walk past someone I will say “excuse me good sir/madam I am passing on your left” to be polite. It is nice to finally find a community of people here that also do everything correctly like me. I look forward to a time when cyclists are fined, educated, and then banned entirely from this city. Until this happens I will continue to angrily shake my fist at them from my window.
I think bikes should be licensed and riders over 16 should have to take a safety course just like motorists. They should all be required to wear helmets. It is clear that they are constantly running red lights and weaving around pedestrians on sidewalks and walking paths. This takes place in Riverside park on city sidewalks and in Central Park. E Bikes should be banned in the parks altogether.
Cut the cyclists some slack. How are they supposed to know the light is red when the street is one way in the other direction?
Central Park and the City need to take aggressive actions recognizing the reality of how Central Park is used!
1. Ban ALL motorized vehicles from the park including bikes, scooters, mopeds etc
2. Recognize that more intensive training/exercise activity takes place during early morning hours and establish a time period for that to occur. Then, declare the rest of the day to be for “recreational” activity
3. Declare Exercise/Training hours between daylight and 8am. Then put all traffic lights on “blink” with the road side being yellow and the cross-walks being red
4. Put up comprehensive signage. At all crosswalks say “Training Session Daylite-8AM. Look both ways for joggers and high-speed cyclists”
5. Declare all other times as “Recreation Time” with significant signage saying “Cycling Speed Limit 10 MPH during 8am to Sunset” on the roadway.
6. Add significant signage at crosswalks etc saying “Look Both Ways Before Crossing Roadway”
7. Establish a dedicated NYPD or Parks enforcement team to enforce motorized vehicle ban and reduced speed limit for cyclists during Recreation Time
When I was new to the city, I assumed that everyone, including bicycles, obeyed the traffic lights. But after nearly being hit by both a car and a bike, both not obeying traffic lights, I now look all around before crossing any street. Fallible humans abound!
I would choose a number of different words instead of “fallible”.
Some observations from a part time UWS’er:
1) Most of the people in CP are tourists.
2) Most of the ones who flaunt road rules
are locals. Pedestrians and cyclists.
3) Most everyone stops for a baby carriage.
4) Most of the above are well reasoned and
appropriate, on both sides.
5) Cyclists who enjoy higher speeds do so
on early weekend mornings in well
coordinated, and spaced groups.
6) Most podcasts are not worth risking
one’s life. Make that all podcasts.
7) Most locals tolerate dangerous behavior
but only complain about it afterward.
8) NYC is still statistically one of the
safest cities regarding auto fatalities.
9) Ever see cyclist bring their ride on the
subway? Smart folks those.
10) Central Park today is better than it
ever was, given it’s popularity and use.
No one has all the answers to a
population that permits “me, not you”
as a way to determine what’s correct.
I wish my neighbors and all visitors only a
happy experience and outcome when in CP. But LUCKY BEATS SMART in that little green world.
Good luck!
I think we can all agree that e-bikes are very dangerous and are often driven recklessly. I’m sad to hear this man lost his life while riding one.
The crossing at 96th and Riverside desperately needs enforcement and speed bumps. Bikers never stop for lights and come down the hill around a blind corner at Mach 3. It’s a matter of time until we have a fatality.
I live a few blocks from that intersection and pass it daily. Any cyclist that runs that red light has a death wish. The traffic coming off the West Side Highway is too great a risk. The bigger problem are the cyclists on Riverside between 116th and about 104th Street. There are numerous playgrounds in that range and a lot of families crossing from the park. Most ride slowly in packs, but there are a few close calls that I have seen over the years.
All motorized or motor assisted vehicles should be penalized for speeding or reckless behavior and their vehicles confiscated on the spot. How about requiring licensing for all motorized vehicles?
Read this and weep:
https://nypost.com/2019/08/31/nyc-bicyclists-are-killing-pedestrians-and-the-city-wont-stop-it/
Sob, sniffles, weep… I’m glad the tabliod of record used Hindy Schachter’s quotes. They just happened to leave out who she really is.
https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2019/05/14/cyclists-are-not-the-enemy-says-a-widow-whose-husband-was-killed-by-a-cyclist/
Read this and learn.
If you look at NYPD stats they have issued over 65,000 tickets this year to cars just in the north side of the city. But only 18-19 thousand tickets to bikes in the whole city. If i were a cop i could write 1,000 tickets a day just on the upper west side to bikes so there is a lack of enforcement end of story
Well it’s the wrong story.
>>”But Deputy Inspector Timothy Malin, commander of the 20th Precinct, strongly suggested that bicyclists are not the problem. There have been 693 collisions year-to-date in the precinct, he said, and 97 percent of them involved automobiles. Only 3.3 percent involved bikes, and his officers had written 3.07 percent of their summonses to cyclists.
“I’m very comfortable where our enforcement is now,” he said.”>>
https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2019/06/12/cpw-gets-protected-bike-lane-yay-and-loses-400-parking-spaces-yay/
BTW, I’m pretty sure they have some requirements to be a police officer/commander of a precinct.
Let’s go to the video tape!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5puUS6mLt_o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kJvRmzYyRQ
You can see from these two vids alone the “loop” is hardly the unsafe free for all some posters are painting.
Yes, there are incidents, but that comes with territory.
Another thing; the city has created this monster in CP.
BdeB and his administration has bent over backwards promoting bicycles; fair enough. However in the process Central Park has become full of tourists, residents, and others all crammed on same “loop” but riding bikes for different purposes.
See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s8fHeESI-g
Just as when walking on sidewalk I don’t want to be stuck riding my bike behind some transplants or tourists curb crawling on those wobbly Citibikes as they “do the loop” complete with camera/phone coverage.
I think it’s insane that NYC bicyclists are permitted to ride around the city without helmets. In suburbs where traffic is minimal, residents are required by local ordinances to wear helmets. What is it about NYers that allows them to think that headgear is unnecessary for them, and for sissies only?
Helmets are required for those aged 14 and under, but not over.
That being said there is nothing stopping city from mandating all cyclists wear helmets on their property. Rockland and Eire counties have such local laws on their books.
https://www.dot.ny.gov/display/programs/bicycle/faq
I have only seen one cyclist in central park stop at a red light in 28 years in the city. That is not hyperbole. That is my actual experience. Whether they are tourists, hardcore cyclists or just people enjoying the weather on a bike, they don’t stop. And guess what? It’s still breaking the law. Yes, you get laughed at flipped off, or yelled at if you say anything but it is law breaking and sometimes, thank goodness not too often, people die. Cyclists usually have a million excuses why the law is wrong, or their judgement’s better or other rationalizations why they break the law, but that’s what they are doing breaking the law.
The bike lobby holds protests when a motorist kills one of them but they are no where to be found when a young cyclist tragically runs a light in Staten Island and perishes. They are no where to be found when a cyclist hits and elderly man, seriously injuring him, and the cyclist too is injured fatally.
It’s not this way everywhere. In Colorado a huge percentage of cyclist follow the rules of the road. I have seen parents teaching their children in bike etiquette in Crested Butte.
The mentality of the NYC cyclist seems little different than that of the person who hugs your bumper on the Henry Hudson or the Hutch. Same rationalizations and sadly, same tragic results all too often.
And guess what – most pedestrians in NY also fail to wait for a green light to cross when they can safely jaywalk. And jaywalking is a crime! And, pedestrians in most other cities wait for the light to turn green even if no traffic is approaching.
Whats your point exactly? That NYers are an impatient bunch?
Believe that is what I alluded to in my post. Yes, NY’ers are known for being rather impatient. It is a fast paced city and we move with the dollar baby! *LOL*
@BB
There is truth but not excuse in what you say about New Yorkers. I can see the Westside Highway from where I live. Almost everyday there’s a significant collision during the evening rush. That may reflect the NYC attitude you refer to but I doubt its much comfort to the injured or dying.
You’ve answered your own questions so to speak.
Behavior of “some” cyclists isn’t from their activity, but merely the often set of character traits that make up “New Yorkers”.
We’re not known as a terribly patient lot, nor always for bothering with polite formalities. New Yorkers certainly relish or at least like operating under illusion certain laws/rules do not apply to themselves. Well not all the time anyway.
Cyclists don’t stop at red lights. Pedestrians jaywalk and otherwise carry on as if they are only ones who matter. Welcome to the Big Apple!
Midwesterners and cyclists
https://chi.streetsblog.org/2019/08/08/cyclephobia-fears-of-reckless-bike-riders-may-be-overblown-but-empathy-is-still-needed/
I asked Joe Ferrari, a DePaul psychology professor who studies social interactions, about my hypothesis that noncyclists like the Dickens residents may be unduly afraid of being struck and injured by people biking. “Fear of being hit is a legitimate and real fear,” he says. “It’s fine if it makes you cautious, but don’t base your fear on perceptions or misconceptions, base it on facts.”
BTW, vehicular speed bumps don’t work for skilled cyclists. It’ll likely trip up people on foot, runners, and people on bikes looking around. Better infrastructure and clear separation does. It also helps to be aware of your surroundings on the main drives. It’s less than 5% of CP in area, pedestrians have the other 95% to look up in the sky, birds, flowers, fountains, etc.
https://jralong.com/2018/06/28/time-to-take-stoplights-out-of-central-park/
Was he wearing a helmet??????????
Head injuries???????