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32-Year-Old Man Dies When his E-Bike Collides With a Bench on the Henry Hudson Bike Path

February 22, 2023 | 12:23 PM
in NEWS
66

By Carol Tannenhauser

A 32-year-old man on an e-bike lost his life on Tuesday after colliding with a park bench on the Henry Hudson Parkway bike path near W. 94th Street.

When police arrived at the scene at around 5:15 p.m. following a 911 call, they found Jacobo Villano Pardo lying unconscious within the bike path, an NYPD spokesperson said. “Further investigation by the NYPD Highway Districts Collision Investigation Squad determined that [Mr. Pardo] had been operating his e-bike with pedals within the bike path when he collided with the bench.” He was taken to Mount Sinai Morningside hospital where he was pronounced dead.

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Jason G.
Jason G.
2 years ago

Very sad; was probably speeding to make a mere few dollars in tip delivering food to a wealthy and impatient UWsider. …

13
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Jamie
Jamie
2 years ago
Reply to  Jason G.

Jason, I read your comment as caring and compassionate. I think some people just want to be offended by something or cause an argument for whatever reason. I agree that it’s very sad, and there’s nothing wrong with you thinking he could have been a delivery driver. I just don’t even understand how that’s an insult to anyone. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family!

2
Reply
Ericac
Ericac
2 years ago
Reply to  Jason G.

I wish people would read more carefully. Your comment is clearly sympathetic to the man who lost his life.

2
Reply
Janie
Janie
2 years ago
Reply to  Jason G.

Really insensitive, and unlikely that a delivery person would be on the bike path. AND delivery folks are under great pressure to make ends meet in the most expensive city in the USA.

3
Reply
Eric
Eric
2 years ago
Reply to  Jason G.

How about a little compassion. Nasty, nasty. A man lost his life.

9
Reply
Brandon
Brandon
2 years ago
Reply to  Jason G.

Jason, your comment is both mean and almost ceratinly wrong, As others have pointed out, he was on theHH bike path which would be out of the way for a delivery driver. Also the police report says ghe was ” operating his e-bike with pedals”. Doesn’t thiis mean he was pedalling, not using the automatic features to go at top speed? It sounds like he was one of our neighbors getting some exercise when he had an accident.

18
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Sal Bando
Sal Bando
2 years ago
Reply to  Jason G.

At that location it seems unlikely to be a delivery guy.

8
Reply
Bob
Bob
2 years ago
Reply to  Sal Bando

Pictures from the scene suggest a wrapped Arrow bike, which is a common delivery bike. He may not have been on his way to make a delivery, but those guys do have to get to and from work as well. I definitely see them out on the greenway — I’m not sure it’s a great idea for them to be there, honestly, but they do definitely ride there.

10
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caly
caly
2 years ago
Reply to  Jason G.

I have to say that I’m really fed up with reading snarky comments on this forum. To begin with a man has died, show a little respect! I’ve been in NYC 40+ years and I’ve never known of anyone to call a restaurant (or use an app) and demand that the food be delivered immediately. Who does that?! If a person isn’t being paid a decent wage then look to the company who employed him.

Condolences to this man’s family.

41
Reply
Jason G.
Jason G.
2 years ago
Reply to  caly

Caly; I am not sure whether you did not understand my comment or purposely decided not to. I was assuming it was a delivery guy and was commenting on how dangerous their working conditions are…

10
Reply
Ish Kabibble
Ish Kabibble
2 years ago
Reply to  Jason G.

Yeah, not really Jason. Nice try.

2
Reply
EricUWSNYC
EricUWSNYC
2 years ago
Reply to  Jason G.

What makes you think he was a delivery guy?

4
Reply
Ish Kabibble
Ish Kabibble
2 years ago
Reply to  Jason G.

Or, he was riding for fun/exercise!

3
Reply
Danny
Danny
2 years ago
Reply to  Jason G.

What an unjustified and hateful comment!

15
Reply
Link Modeski
Link Modeski
2 years ago

I saw a police car by the tennis court today, maybe they’ll finally start enforcing the no motorized vehicle law.

8
Reply
OPOD
OPOD
2 years ago
Reply to  Link Modeski

Ebikes and scooters used to be illegal and the NYPD enforced the law. This like many other laws relating to quality of life and public safety were thrown out during De Blasio. Ebikes are now legal.

29
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Debbie
Debbie
2 years ago
Reply to  OPOD

Seems like nowadays so are shoplifting, jumping the turnstile, and assault.

17
Reply
V Doyle
V Doyle
2 years ago
Reply to  OPOD

I called the police about seeing MOTORCYCLES on the bike path and they said there was nothing they could do.

28
Reply
Dave
Dave
2 years ago
Reply to  V Doyle

Same. I was past by a legit motorcycle on the no bikes part of the greenway going about 40mph. Finally found a cop, he rolled up his window on me while I was talking to him. WOW. I took his badge and car number and reported that incident to 311, getting pretty sick of how difficult it’s becoming just to live in this my favorite town in the world

19
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Lisa
Lisa
2 years ago
Reply to  Dave

Dave please share that info with Mayor Adams.

0
Reply
MJB
MJB
2 years ago
Reply to  Dave

Thank you for doing something about the issue.

8
Reply
Accident witness
Accident witness
2 years ago
Reply to  Link Modeski

The difficulty of motorized vehicles reaching the esplanade was one of the biggest problems in having help reach this poor man. I was one of the witnesses to this horrible event – there were about 10 of us gathered, frantically calling 911, and we couldn’t get help to him until someone ran up to the highway and flagged down a police car that carefully came down the path.

We tried to help however we could, but it was clear that he was very gravely injured. I have been looking for news since yesterday evening, and this is the news that I was dreading to hear. I cannot imagine the devastation his family and loved ones are experiencing.

51
Reply
Helana
Helana
2 years ago
Reply to  Accident witness

I am so sorry you were one of the witnesses. I hope you’re taking care of yourself. Thank you for trying to help him

0
Reply
ALT
ALT
2 years ago
Reply to  Accident witness

This is a tragedy and very sorry for the person’s family.

Regarding emergency vehicle access (an issue given the increase in bicycle usage) I would note that a member of CB 7 had opined great displeasure on social media that NYPD vehicles were sometimes driving in Riverside Park. At that time, others reminded the individual that NYPD presence was needed in case of emergencies.

7
Reply
Jen
Jen
2 years ago
Reply to  Accident witness

Sad and horrifying. Thank you for trying to get help for this poor soul.

14
Reply
Steven Barall
Steven Barall
2 years ago
Reply to  Accident witness

What a horrible thing to witness. Was he riding a Citi Bike e-bike because those riders generally don’t wear helmets? Many times I’ve thought of how difficult it is to get emergency vehicles to the bike path along there. Horrible.

4
Reply
Accident witness
Accident witness
2 years ago
Reply to  Steven Barall

No, he had his own e-bike. He was not wearing a helmet.

As we waited for the ambulance, those of us there yesterday afternoon were sharing very grim conversation about what might happen to any of us should we be injured on the esplanade. I am on that path all the time, and it never occurred to me before this to think about how hard it would be to receive medical attention in a hurry.

If anyone does hear about a collection for this man and his family, please post the link here. I can only imagine the dire straits they are in right now.

18
Reply
Izzie
Izzie
2 years ago
Reply to  Accident witness

Hello, there is a go fund me, that was posted by the family, this is the link, donations would be greatly appreciated this is a very devastating accident, to him and his family.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/ayuda-para-la-familia-villano-ramirez?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1

7
Reply
Jamie
Jamie
2 years ago
Reply to  Izzie

Thank you for sharing the gofundme link! I’m so sad for his wife, children, and other family members.

1
Reply
Accident witness
Accident witness
2 years ago
Reply to  Izzie

Thank you SO much for posting this.

2
Reply
Sarah Jane
Sarah Jane
2 years ago
Reply to  Accident witness

I saw the blood and the bike on the pavement last night, around 6:30.
About 4 months ago I got into a pretty serious bike accident very close to where this man lost his life. I ended up losing a few teeth and hurting my chin and jaw but I thankfully had on a helmet. It was very very difficult to receive medical attention, I had to rely heavily on good samaritans to help the EMTs locate me. If I had been severely injured the delay in medical care could have meant life/death.
I’m so sorry this whole event took place and I wanted to thank you for being a Good Samaritan on the bike path, when I was at my most vulnerable on the bike path with my face completely smashed up it was the Good Samaritans that gave me hope.
I think there are many parts of the path that need to be more accessible to emergency services.

10
Reply
Common Sense
Common Sense
2 years ago

E bikes are motorcycles. They should require the commensurate license & registration.

42
Reply
Sal Bando
Sal Bando
2 years ago
Reply to  Common Sense

Not all of them. I think NY limits them to Level 2 ebikes with a 20MPH limit but once again, NOBODY ENFORCES IT. And you can buy fake stickers on Amazon that say your bike is Level 2 when it’s not.

7
Reply
Michael Zettler
Michael Zettler
2 years ago
Reply to  Common Sense

How, exactly, did the police determine he was peddling and not speeding, as seems to be the norm, at the time?

1
Reply
Kim
Kim
2 years ago

E-bikes do not belong on the bike path.

37
Reply
Kim
Kim
2 years ago

And I am sorry this man lost his life.

16
Reply
Steven Barall
Steven Barall
2 years ago

I don’t know what kind of bike this man was riding but here is just some general info on e-bikes.

As I understand it, pedal assist e-bikes are legal but throttle operated e-bikes are not. With pedal assist e-bikes the pedaling motion activates the electric motor. The electric motor is assisting the rider as the rider pedals along. Throttle operated e-bikes are just electric motorcycles. The rider presses a button and the bike goes. The e-bike Citi Bikes are pedal assist whereas the food delivery bikes are just electric motorcycles and are illegal.

Sounds like the man was not wearing a helmet which is horrible especially on an e-bike. Citi Bike riders generally do not wear helmets, delivery riders generally do wear helmets.

13
Reply
Kindly DrDave
Kindly DrDave
2 years ago

Such a tragedy. Also, easily avoidable. I post because I also had a “park bench header” at that site some time ago. I was on a standard bike, the path was icy/snowy and vision restricted. I hit a bench and catapulted over the bike onto my head. No bystanders in the dark and cold. I was knocked out, but my helmet saved my life. WEAR HELMETS EVERYONE, PLEASE! SAVE YOUR LIFE!

25
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Rob R
Rob R
2 years ago

When the Australian tourist riding a (non-motorized) bike was killed by a truck, it sparked sufficient outrage that the city finally installed a bike lane along Central Park. Today we have a similar situation: electrified bikes approaching or exceeding speeds of 30mph (faster than most city cars and trucks) are ridden daily by thousands of food delivery riders (and others) who usually ignore red lights and other traffic laws. We’ve all seen them silently blow past regular bike riders and endanger every pedestrian crossing the street (at least you can hear a real motorcycle). Sadly, I expect the city will do nothing until more pedestrians and non-motorized bike riders are killed by contact with these speeding machines. As for the latest tragedy, my understanding is that the only bike lane protected from pedal assisted and throttle bikes IS the West Side bike path (there are posted signs). PS: I love getting my Chinese food 10 minutes after I order it. But I’m pretty good waiting an extra 5 minutes if the delivery guy has to stop at red lights along the way. Kudos to our city council for doing nothing about any of this.

17
Reply
Rachel
Rachel
2 years ago
Reply to  Rob R

When I went to the ER after hitting my head from an ebike collision (he was riding the wrong way on a one way street), I asked how often they see pedestrian accident victims due to ebikes and the RN said and I quote “this happens all the time” without an ounce of shock on her face.

5
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Charlie
Charlie
2 years ago

Here’s the real info on what’s legal and what’s not in the e-cycle world. If it’s got pedals, no license or registration is necessary. If it doesn’t, both license and registration are necessary. I join in the concern that lack of enforcement is going to result in injuries and death. Apparently even Class 3 E-Bikes are allowed wherever other bicycles are allowed. That doesn’t seem very reasonable to me.
https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/bicyclists/ebikes.shtml#:~:text=Pedal%2Dassist%20e%2Dbikes%20(,allowed%20in%20New%20York%20City

6
Reply
Budget Bob
Budget Bob
2 years ago
Reply to  Charlie

My understanding is that NO motorized vehicles are allowed on the Hudson River Greenway
Not even Citi-Bikes. Here is a lengthy article about this:

https://www.nyuelj.org/2022/02/the-war-on-e-bikes-rides-on-exploring-the-hudson-river-greenway-e-bike-ban/#_ftn38

8
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Anya
Anya
2 years ago
Reply to  Budget Bob

I clicked over to that article and wonder about the author. It’s incredibly biased and one-sided in favor of e-bikes even though the publication looks like an academic journal.

2
Reply
Joey
Joey
2 years ago

This wouldn’t have happened if there were no benches on the bike path

3
Reply
Paul
Paul
2 years ago
Reply to  Joey

It’s a shared path, which is barred to ebikes AND in all events riders should exercise caution on every shared path.

2
Reply
Bill Barrows
Bill Barrows
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul

As I’ve stated a number of times in this forum, “shared path” is a NYC government propaganda term. It should not be repeated by the well-intentioned members of the public. What “shared path” really means is that there is no room for anyone at any time and that everyone needs to remain constantly
on guard.

4
Reply
Paul
Paul
2 years ago
Reply to  Bill Barrows

Going back to the 90s, I’ve used greenway scores of times a year, sometimes on a bike and more often on foot.
It’s a wide path with plenty of room for responsible people. The vast majority of irresponsible actors are bike riders, especially those ignoring the ban on e-bikes. But the notion that you can’t enjoy the greenway is absurd.

2
Reply
Div Waters
Div Waters
2 years ago

About a year ago I was near this same spot in Riverside Park when someone roared by on an actual motorcycle. There happened to be police officers near by. When I mentioned the motorcycle to them, they told me it wasn’t their job to follow up on this and I needed to tell a park ranger. No snark intended here, but are there park rangers on patrol in Riverside Park?

10
Reply
Boris
Boris
2 years ago
Reply to  Div Waters

If it’s not their job, then what are they doing driving around Riverside Park? Is it just a place where they can hang out and hide? It seems like police officers are all too eager to isolate themselves from situations that could potentially put them in any danger.

5
Reply
David S
David S
2 years ago

“…colliding with a park bench on the Henry Hudson Parkway bike path…”

Well, no. There are no park benches on the bike path. There are park benches adjacent to the bike path. If this individual had stayed within the painted borders of the bike path, he’d be alive today.

2
Reply
Boris
Boris
2 years ago
Reply to  David S

That’s a pedantic and unnecessary comment not knowing all the circumstances.

6
Reply
Ed Reed
Ed Reed
2 years ago
Reply to  David S

There are situations where a rider could be forced off the path, especially to avoid another rider who might be traveling in a hazardous manner. I’ve nearly been hit multiple times by riders coming too close to me.

6
Reply
Paul
Paul
2 years ago
Reply to  Ed Reed

There are a multitude of factors that affect how fast a person can ride in any circumstance and in a park those include the presence of pedestrians, toddlers, animals, etc. All these militate against speed.
Nobody should be riding so fast that a collision with a stationary object can kill.

3
Reply
Spencer
Spencer
2 years ago

I was the fifth person or so on the scene of this accident and held Mr. Pardo until the ambulance arrived. It seemed that he made a simple mistake and clipped a bench, but did so at speed and went headfirst into the corner of a bench. He was not wearing a helmet, and my impression was that the trauma was close to immediately fatal, with brain damage, and I now believe that the abdominal movements I and others saw was agonal breathing that was not supplying his brain or body with oxygen. At the time I mistook this for true breathing and an indication that EMS could have saved his life; I doubt that was possible.

I’ve been a cyclist for over 15 years and have experienced and seen many crashes, riding and racing, and this was the worst head trauma I’ve ever seen. I am fairly certain a helmet would have saved this man’s life, as it has saved mine multiple times. If you’re planning on riding on anything motorized or planning on going over 15 mph on a bike, please wear a helmet.

26
Reply
Bob
Bob
2 years ago
Reply to  Spencer

Can you tell if he was heading Southbound or Northbound?

The reason I ask is that I was near that spot the other day when I saw another person (going southbound) on an e-bike almost fall and crash. This is because there is a medium-sized pot hole about 20 feet north of the bench in question which could have been why Jacobo lost his balance and crashed into the bench. It’s only by chance that I happened to be there at the exact spot and witnessed an e-bike rider almost loose it, that this problem became evident to me.

I’m not trying to assign blame here to anyone, or entity, but the condition of the roadway in that spot could be a reason why this tragic accident happened. I hope someone is looking into this case to make sense of all of this.

2
Reply
Spencer
Spencer
2 years ago
Reply to  Bob

He was heading northbound (heading home from work – though he was a delivery rider). NYPD CIS is investigating. There are a lot of pretty crummy parts of the west side trail but honestly this spot is not one of them – it’s wide, it was daylight and it was not crowded. Seems like he was just unlucky.

3
Reply
Bob
Bob
2 years ago
Reply to  Spencer

Thank you

0
Reply
Matt H
Matt H
2 years ago
Reply to  Bob

I went looking for this pothole tonight and saw something, but it is way west, nearly on the water. Could have been a contributing factor but I’d be surprised.

0
Reply
Bob
Bob
2 years ago
Reply to  Matt H

Yes, you are correct, but that’s exactly where I saw another rider hit the pothole and almost wipeout. Going at 25 mph it wouldn’t be hard to veer into the benches.
In any event, that’s why I was wondering whether the driver was going north or south. (Seems he was going north, so my point is moot) Thank you for checking So heartbreaking all around.

1
Reply
Helana
Helana
2 years ago
Reply to  Spencer

I am so sorry for the trauma you must have experienced in this moment. I hope you are being gentle with yourself in the aftermath. Thank you for showing him such compassion

0
Reply
Spencer
Spencer
2 years ago
Reply to  Helana

Thanks

0
Reply
Nosheds
Nosheds
2 years ago

Not even e-bikes — full-on scooters absolutely whizzing by on the upper part of the greenway north of 96 st. Very dangerous. Someone is most definitely going to get killed and not just the rider. And I don’t get it — if they’re a poor delivery man just trying to make a buck, does that mean they don’t have to obey the laws?

0
Reply
Helana
Helana
2 years ago

Oh man… I left work late that day and saw the puddle of blood and police tape/police cars. When I got home I told hubby what I suspected. So sad I was right, so grateful I wasn’t a witness, and my heart goes out to everyone who saw this happen and to his friends and family.

0
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Matt H
Matt H
2 years ago

Legality notes, for reference, as there seems to be some confusion on this in the comments. And others are posting in an authoritative manner stuff that is, frankly, misinformation.

Source for much of this: https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/ebikes-more-english.pdf

Q: Are pedal-assist e-bikes legal in New York State? How about throttle e-bikes?
A: Yes and yes. For pedal-assist, the assistance is supposed to cut out at 20 mph. For throttle there are class 2 bikes, which can go up to 20 mph, and class 3, which can go up to 25 mph. Throttle-assist ebikes must have operable pedals.
Q: What was Mr. Pardo riding?
A: A throttle e-bike, one of the “Arrow” brand bikes popular with deliveristas. Hard to get hard data on their top speed but I think it is ~25 mph making it class 3.
Q: Should he have been wearing a helmet?
A: Yes, it is required for class 3 e-bikes, and also required if he was working at the time.
Q: Could he have been working?
A: Maybe. Sometimes the greenway is the quickest way to a pickup or destination, I do see working riders on the greenway sometimes.
Q: Are e-bikes allowed on the Hudson River Greenway according to the official park rules?
A: No electric devices are allowed on the greenway at all, including pedal-assist or throttle e-bikes. This includes e-assist Citi Bikes.
Q: In practice?
A: It is common to see such devices, as well as full on electric or gas-powered mopeds and light motorcycles which are entirely illegal in New York State parks.

If I can editorialize, I think that class 1, 2, and 3 ebikes mix fine with traffic on the greenway and I (as a frequent greenway runner and cyclist) am not offended by them. Sometimes I’m on an e-assist Citi Bike and I’m one of them. I don’t think the rule banning them is really sensible.

I have much bigger problems with full-on 30 mph+ mopeds and motorcycles on the greenway. The people on souped-up high-power stand-up scooters — often wearing, like, full-face helmets and body armor — are not my favorite people either.

And even if we were to say that Parks Enforcement Patrol and others should be working more to keep e-bikes off the greenway, they don’t even have a handle on the motorcycle problem! Hard too see how they’d then progress to e-bikes also.

RIP Mr. Pardo.

3
Reply
Josh
Josh
2 years ago
Reply to  Matt H

Many of those mopeds are gas powered to boot.

1
Reply
Chanel
Chanel
2 years ago

I was riding on the Hudson pkway tonight and saw the white bike. Shortly before I said to myself that I needed to get in soon bc the path was just sooo dark. Just to many blind spots which could easily have one right over di rocks or worse even. Not even 1/8th of a Mile later I saw the white bike. I stopped and read the msg. In Spanish, it was a delivery rider. The path is usually taken when ppl are going home from a delivery shift or going in bc it’s a faster way to get to the destination no traffic. Especially if not bringing your bike on the train. I was coming home from doing deliveries. Also the sun sets sooo early before March. That coupled with that dark area was a bad recipe. More Lights Over There Seriously .

Last edited 2 years ago by Chanel
1
Reply

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