By Carol Tannenhauser
An Upper West Sider who recently spoke at a Community Board 7 Transportation Committee meeting about the increasing dangers to pedestrians posed by e-bikes was hospitalized last Sunday, after being struck by an e-bike rider as she crossed West 72nd Street, between Broadway and West End Avenue.
Renee Baruch, 74, said she was headed for Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal’s shredding event at around 12:30 pm. Baruch said she was walking on the north side of West 72nd when she spotted the shredding truck across the street and — like many a New Yorker — figured what the heck. She looked both ways, she told West Side Rag in a recent telephone interview, then stepped off the curb, starting across 72nd Street, about a third of a block away from the intersection. “The next thing I remember is waking up in an ambulance,” Baruch said.
“I know I was in the wrong,” because she was jaywalking, Baruch told the Rag, but she added that the proliferation of heavy e-bikes in the city, and lack of enforcement of traffic rules on them, increases the risk of serious injury. Police arrested the driver of the e-bike that hit her and charged him with “one count of leaving the scene of an accident with an injury,” but did not cite any other traffic violations, according to an NYPD spokesperson. The driver was 52-year-old Adrian Leon-Tavia of West 139th Street, said the spokesperson, who gave no further information about him.
The police report characterized Baruch’s injuries as “minor.” When the Rag informed a police spokesman they included three broken bones in her face, multiple deep lacerations, and swelling at the base of her neck causing nerve pain in her hands, the officer explained, “If they’re not life threatening, they’re considered minor.”
Baruch left the hospital Thursday night. “I have someone here 24/7,” she texted. “I am sure I will get back to life in 2 weeks. What is important is most accidents like this aren’t reported. These e-bikes must be licensed!”
That area has always had limited visibility due to Fed Ex and UPS trucks parked on opposite sides of the street, in addition to the dining sheds and dumpsters. Even the crosstown buses have near misses with bikes weaving in and out of traffic. Last year I was knocked down by a cyclist in the intersection of 72nd and B’way and seconds later someone was hit in front of the Fed Ex office across the street. It happened so fast that I was never sure if it was the same cyclist. Sadly, very few people have ever taken this problem seriously. Wishing a speedy recovery to Ms. Baruch.
This has nothing to do with e-bikes, bikes, or scooter or this never-ending crusade against progress let by an older generation of UWSers; no one should be jaywalking in the first place … I hope she recovers fully and quickly!
It doesn’t require jaywalking to be hit by a bike/moped/ebike since most of them a) go through the red lights at full speed no less and b) against traffic. Be CLEAR; this is not a ‘jaywalking issue’. If the ‘younger generation’ of UWSers believes progress and accountability are mutually exclusive we are all in trouble.
Oh, please. Be real.
Many e-bike drivers illegally use cellphones and surf the web while in motion.
Websurfing is much harder on a peddle bike, even the e type.
So it very well could have been that the e-biker was breaking the law, but it would be a confluence to 2 parties not paying attention.
That’s just absurd and out of touch to pretend people don’t jaywalk. I think I’d pass out if I actually saw people waiting 5 minutes on every street corner for the light to change. It’s an easy scapegoat but even when crossing with light people aren’t safe and I’ve had to constantly dodge bikes and cars breaking the law. I think pedestrians act foolishly all the time- looking at phones when crossing, standing two feet off the curb etc but this lady looked both ways and wasn’t reckless.
Wrong! E-bikes, scooters, skateboards or whatever even ride on pedestrian sidewalks. There is no respect or order anywhere. Any moving vehicle that is motorized or electric should be required to have a license and receive fines if they don’t comply. I’m sure you have jaywalked. Maybe that block needs a light in the middle of it so the elderly or disabled who live there. They do in other places.
They constantly run throught red lights with no respect for walkers nor traffic laws. Both the delivery guys and other riders run the red lights making it unsafe to use crosswalks when the light is green for the walker to cross the street.
The UWS with the bike lanes has become unsafe!
There is no evidence (yet) that the E-bike rider had been commiting any violations. The inured party was.
Clearly you haven’t been nearly hit or actually hit by a cyclist passing lights or traveling against traffic. Just as autos have to defer to pedestrians so should any moving vehicle!
BTW; if she looked both ways and stepped down and woke up in an ambulance, that alone suggests the ebike was going well past the speed limit for bikes Time for massive fines for speeding, wrong direction, going through the light. This will be especially impactful for the delivery drivers when a days salary gets wiped out for endangering other people.
Yet all empirical evidence would support they likely were. I’m sitting here in a coffee shop on the UWS, as I’m looking at the intersection and replying t this post I’ve seen ebikes going against traffic and through the light, and some idiot on a moped doing almost 40. Whether or not this situation was the victim’s fault, it isn’t jaywalking that is the danger. I was escorting my elderly mother to a doctor’s appointment last week, on CPW, standing in the car park lane so we could hail a taxi on the uptown side. We were narrowly missed by some idiot doing 30+ on a motorized bike going downtown, USING the parked car lane to boot, and screaming at us as he almost hit us. No sir, jaywalking isn’t the issue.
Person looks both ways, crosses in the middle of the block (against the law) and is hit by a moving bike. That’s all that’s known.
Of course jaywalking is part of the problem! We live in a (largely Democrat) city filled with idiots! Tons of people mindlessly cross city streets while staring down at their phones, not even bothering to look for oncoming traffic! I see it all day long as I ride around Manhattan on my non-motorized bicycle. In many if not most cases, both riders and pedestrians are to blame. Again, this is a city of idiots, regardless of income level.
One question: Do republican bike riders stop at all red lights and stop signs?
The e-biker was charged with leaving the scene of the accident that had caused injury. So that’s a violation after the collision.
Lisa Banes was killed crossing with the light and in the crosswalk leaving Julliard.
Brian,
Actually my kids have been hit by bikes.
Folks of all ages are unhappy about bikes.
No reason to assume “older generation “
Thank you.
Thank you. No matter how much we warn our kids to look both ways and to be careful, they will have lapses. And that goes for all of us who can be momentarily preoccupied. New Yorkers shouldn’t have to behave as if they are in a war zone, dodging bullets, but that’s exactly what it feels like these days.
Of course, jaywalking places a person in jeopardy and is illegal ( Section 1152 of the Vehicle and Traffic Laws). Worse is the near-complete non-compliance of e-bike riders (not just delivery people…!).
The law requires that cyclists must obey the same traffic regulations as cars and trucks. So why are they not liscensed and why is there no traffic control? What are our local politicians doing to protect their constituents?
I am sooooo tired of dodging bikes and cars just to cross the street. That’s what traffic lights are for. Whatever happened to pedestrian right-of-way?
Pedestrians should not have to take their lives into their hands just to cross the street. Tickets and consfiscation of bikes would go a long way toward protecting everyone.
So the bike that hit her just left the scene of the accident on its own? But wait you said it had nothing to do with the bikes etc. themselves. That would mean that the rider was responsible for leaving the scene of the accident a violation of the law. I take by “progress” you mean the freedom to injure someone else and then just take off. Or do you mean progress in the sense that the people who ride these machines constantly ignore “No Bike Zones” and the like because they are so special. My personal view of progress will be when bikers take responsibility for their actions and obey the relevant laws instead of whining like petulant school children that have been told they can’t throw the baseball in the apartment.
So, I was hit on the sidewalk of West 72nd and Broadway by a e-bike drive a year ago.
He had a clear view of me about to enter the sidewalk from the crosswalk, where I had the white, but he decided laws didn’t apply to him.
I was not harmed, and could have pushed him over, but decided not to so because I couldn’t see who was on the other side of him on the sidewalk.
This event, stems directly from Linda Rosenthal doing nothing to fix the 2019 law that legalized throttle e-bikes.
Piece of advice, don’t jaywalk without assuming there’s a e-bike/scooter driver not paying attention.
And ALWAYS look both ways. I was run over at the start of the pandemic by what I think was a regular bike going very fast THE WRONG WAY.
This has nothing to do with my post, since I was about to step up on to the sidewalk from the crosswalk, and was well aware that the e-bike driver had made a legal turn off the avenue on to W72nd.
That he then decided to drive up on the sidewalk, though there were 20+ people behind me in the crosswalk, and many others on the crosswalk, has nothing to do with me having looked both ways.
He drove into my path on the sidewalk.
Get well soon Renee, and so sorry this happened to you. I live on that block and jaywalk all the time. Don’t feel bad. Everyone does. These cyclists are so careless and reckless and this should not have happened to you. I wish. you a speedy recovery.
Why can we only Thumbs Up a comment? I want to Thumbs Down this one. Everyone shouod not jaywalking. This story shoukd be a PSA against jaywalking. Had the eBike rider stopped instead of fleeing the only story would be “jaywalking in bad for your health “
What makes the bikes SO dangerous is 1) they are flying between 20 – 40 mph, 2) they make no sound, and worst, 3) they are 2 feet away from the damn sidewalk!!! When you get hit with that force, the bike and the driver a total weight of 250 – 350 pounds going 30 mph, you go flying and your head hits where it hits. This insanity has to stop immediately. Why are we put into these insane situations? We are like fish being shot in a barrel. Nobody thinks it’ll happen to them or their kids and so it goes. I am in my late 50’s. I see many elderly people walking these streets. The other day I crossed broadway with the light and was almost hit twice by bikes, once on the east side of the broadway divider and then again crossing the west side. Both bikes were going in the wrong direction. If I hadn’t stopped I would’ve been ran over literally twice in the same street crossing!
At the start of your comment, you name 3 good reasons why e-bikes have become such a threat. But it’s your final sentence that contains my biggest complaint- bikers going in the wrong direction. On CPW, the white arrows (recently refreshed) clearly designate one direction, but bikers brazenly speed both ways. And no one monitors this.
Thank you Frankie. Wrong way bikers are a the main problem, especially when they use one way bike lanes. Was the bike who hit this woman going the wrong way?
I’m sorry Ms. Baruch was injured. E-bikes and the drivers who don’t follow the rules are a real problem. I hope this case isn’t cited as an example of these issues since Ms. Baruch was jaywalking.
You never have Carte blanche to hit a pedestrian – even if they are in the wrong. You are expected to be able to stop your vehicle. Including motorbikes.
That isn’t realistic. Lets say I’m driving a car at 25 mph and someone steps off the sidewalk right in front of Me I can’t stop immediately. It just defies the laws if physics. The same is true, although a shorter distance would be required, for an eBike or a conventional bike. The cyclist should try to avoid the pedestrian but they shouldn’t put themselves in harms way either. If a car is coming in the ither direction thr cyclist can’t swerve into oncoming traffic.
Jaywalking across 72nd St with 4 lanes of traffic is dangerous. Don’t do it.
Obviously no one’s behavior was perfect in this incident. Hitting someone with an e-bike is emblematic of many biker’s attitudes. Whether she was in the wrong or not, leaving the scene of an injury accident is illegal and really, really bad karma. Just like, “I just hit a 74 year old woman but I’m running late for a meeting so I gotta jam”. Complete lack of empathy and regard for the safety of others.
The worst things De Blasio did was legalize E bikes and create the green highways of death.
DeBlasio did so much damage to the City on so many levels, it’s impossible to determine what’s “worst!” Now Adams says they’re “here to stay,” so let’s hope for some enforcement…
MINOR 😳😳😳
Pretty simple. I visited Bogota last year. Despite the rep about crime there, ALL motorcycle type vehicles MUST be registered, drivers MUST have a license, license # in huge letters on a bright neon-colored vest so you can see them 100 meters away and they MUST wear it or they get arrested. Not rocket science. Anything not life threatening is “minor” by the cops here sums up the official NYC attitude, politicians are scared to offend someone, would rather have someone’s brains bashed in then be perceived as somehow anti-minority. I had a scooter guy come straight at me on the sidewalk, like playing chicken but I flinched and jumped out the way. I caught up with him after he stopped and he yelled me “Hey, I’m working” as if that’s an excuse to maim someone. Just enforce the damn law. Period. Rosenthal, I’m talking about you: at this point I’d rather vote for a ham sandwich.
How are so many people having so many close calls with bikes in these comments? You’re new yorkers, we pride ourselves on our awareness don’t we? look at your surroundings. It’s not that hard to see them coming if you keep your damn eyes open.
The only story here is “jaywalking is a bad idea”.
I was eight months pregnant. Waited for the cars to stop at the red light. When the pedestrian signal turned white, I checked twice both ways. As soon as I stepped off the pavement, an e-bike almost slammed into me.
No matter how aware I am, I can’t prevent or control the behavior and attitude of someone breaking the law.
I can’t believe your comments, these e-bikes, bikes and scooters have no problem going through a red light when you are in the middle of the road or almost on the other side, while in the crosswalk. It has nothing to do with looking both ways. They are wrong and should be fined. It has nothing to do with being a New Yorker.
Because they go the wrong direction and THEY look at their phone trying to follow directions. Maybe you just don’t walk much…
And because they come whizzing around a corner without slowing down while an elderly person (moi!) is crossing with a green light. No way of seeing them coming no matter how carefully you check.
Get back to us the next time you walk out of a building lobby and a two wheeled motor vehicle on the sidewalk misses you by inches.
Yes, in this case the jaywalker is at least as culpable as the bike operator. However, whenever this happens with a car the “advocates” tell us that it’s the driver’s fault and anything else is victim blaming.
What’s the difference?
This comment is ludicrous. The problem has nothing to do with jaywalking. People are getting knocked off left and right without jaywalking. You talk about the pride New Yorkers have being “aware” and yet you haven’t noticed all this time that e-bikers do not observe the rules and are going/coming from both directions and crossing red lights?
I was almost hit by a delivery guy. My friend and I were crossing the street and a bike came out of nowhere. The guy didn’t stop but my friend went after him. We later called the restaurant and spoke to the manager. Hope Ms Baruch recovers fully. She might have made a mistake but some of these cyclists don’t stop at the red light and have no regard for pedestrians.
again – why is it his fault that she stepped out suddenly? would you have the same reaction if she was hit by a car?
seriously – this story is not about his actions – but hers!
Read my comment again. I’m not defending her actions. I was not jaywalking but was almost hit by a bike. It can happen to anyone. These bikes are much faster than a pedestrian and some of these riders won’t stop. And btw, if you want to talk about actions, even though she was jaywalking, why didn’t the cyclist stop to help her? It just shows you how much they care.
Scott, Anyone who is frequently a pedestrian on the UWS has had multiple close calls with ebikes racing through our streets—and, with increasing frequency, taking over our sidewalks. (Ebikers reduce speed—slightly—when zooming along on sidewalks—I’ll give them that.) And anyone who had been a pedestrian before the advent of ebikes knows that the obviously increased danger on our streets and sidewalks does not, NOT come from pedestrians suddenly having become incompetent at walking. Notwithstanding the annoyed tone of your comment, even you probably know this.
All the bike riders look to blame pedestrians. Never heard of a pedestrian hitting a bike and doing any damage.
The bikes make very little noise. I do not think they go 40 miles per hour as some of the comments say. What surprises me is how often at night the delivery riders are wearing all black: black jacket, black pants, black hat, black bike.
Agreed Stevie. I had a close call almost hitting a biker I couldn’t see when I was driving at night. We must make it illegal to bike at night without a headlamp and a taillight. We require them on cars, now it’s time for bikes. And this means a bike licensing system for enforcement.
How about we require lights on the pedestrians at night too? that would make everyone safer!
Not sure why I got censored for a post that was completely in line with what everyone else is writing – expressed empathy for the injured but questioned whether there is really much fault by the rider here. Your censorship rules are really inconsistent. Could you please post my prior post? Otherwise you do a great job!
The same thing happened to me. Wasn’t jaywalking and the ebike was going the wrong way. I wonder how he even got arrested. No one was arrested for my accident and I hit my head. And yes the NYPD told me “unless there is a loss of life, there’s nothing we can do”. 🫠
Clearly e-bikes go too fast. The victim did her due diligence – looked both ways before crossing. Jaywalking is minimally relevant here. The same thing could have happened to a driver getting out of a car in the middle of the block who checked first to see if anyone was coming and then WHAM.
The burning question is: what happened to her all shredding?
Sorry – where are you getting these facts? from the woman who admitted she wasn’t paying attention? did we get a quote from the rider? if not, dont assume the woman was in the right.
I hope she recovers quickly.
I can’t help to note though that has she been hit by a speeding car or truck, of which there are far too many on the UWS, not only would she have been blamed for being fully at fault for jaywalking, she would have been far more seriously injured, if not killed. But as she was hit by an e-bike, commenters here are quick to blame the e-bike rider for causing the crash, even though the article and the police report doesn’t say that the e-bike did anything wrong to cause this incident, while Ms. Baruch clearly admits she had jaywalked. (“These cyclists are so careless and reckless.” “Why are we put into these insane situations? We are like fish being shot in a barrel.” “Some of these cyclists … have no regard for pedestrians.” “Hitting someone with an e-bike is emblematic of many biker’s attitudes.”)
Of course that doesn’t excuse the cyclist leaving the scene, but that was after the crash.
When I ride my bike (not electric) around the UWS, I see as many motorists and pedestrians breaking traffic laws as cyclists. Pedestrians often walk right in front of me without looking when I have the light or right of way, putting themselves and me in danger. Yet it seems the mobs with pitchforks only care about bikes.
You’re wasting your breath with this bunch – cyclists are the cause of everything wrong in the world. That being said – I Citibike and dodge cars, motorbikes and pedestrians wandering in the bike lane successfully so far. What I am really concerned about are the unlicensed electric motorized motorbikes and Vespa type scooters – which are 70% none delivery people _ roads and bike lanes – riding wrong way, running red lights etc. they are easily traveling at 40 plus mph. I gather that the majority are illegal according to NYC law – but no action is taken
@UWSer @Paul
When people on cars, e-bikes, and regular bikes run red lights, they can run into other people and hurt or kill them.
When people jaywalk or walk through a red light on their own two feet, they are not going to hurt or kill other people by running into them.
This is why the pedestrian always has the right of way. If pedestrians annoy you, move to the suburbs where there aren’t any.
Respectfully, you have this totally backwards. When jaywalkers and bike riders running lights get hit the anti car advocates always blame the drivers. Always.
And if you point out the culpability of the jaywalker you’re accused of victim blaming.
And yes, drivers break rules. But as often as pedestrians and cyclists?
I’ll put it this way, in every walk or bike ride of 20 minutes or more I run more red lights than I have in 53 years as a car driver. And I think I’m a pretty average person.
Paul,
That is spot on.
Invariably the bicycle lobby blames vehicles whenever a bicyclist is hit, even when the bicyclist ran a red light etc.
But the bicycle lobby is silent or minimizes when bicycle riders hit pedestrians.
Many, not only go way too fast, occasionally in the wrong direction, most it seems don’t even have lights as to better see them at night!
I ride my non-motorized bike all over Manhattan. And pedestrians not paying attention while crossing the street is a major problem, be it crossing the bike lanes or, even more stupidly, crossing the car lanes, with a red light, and with cars and/or trucks fast approaching! I see this all day long throughout the city. Many of these fools are crossing busy Manhattan streets while staring down at their smartphones! Seems, as the smartphones get smarter and smarter, people unfortunately get dumber and dumber! Wake up, and wise up, people! It just might save your life one day!
A bike should NOT BE GOING SO FAST such that it cannot stop for a pedestrian. There is a reason why cars and motorcycles are registered vehicles!!! Why the hell are these ebikes not registered vehicles!!! Enough with the victim blaming here. The streets and sidewalks were not designed to have motorized vehicles flying 2 feet from the sidewalk! What’s wrong with you people?? No wonder these things and things like this continue.
It’s ridiculous to act like ANYONE doesn’t jaywalk in Manhattan on a daily / hourly basis. The problem is the e-bikes and scooters zipping up out of nowhere —you can plan for a car or bus passing by, but the e-bikes/scooters are a total menace. Especially at night. More than cracking down on shoplifting and even guns (which fortunately are not too much threat on UWS—yet), I would like to see crack downs on the very real danger of these rogue riders. PLEASE 🙏
Drivers should be licensed after taking written and practical tests. The vehicles should be registered and insured. These are motor vehicles and should be treated as such.
Any bike, scooter, etc. that has a motor or is electric should be required to register and pay for a license and wear a helmet or be fined!
And to make speeding e-bikes even more dangerous, many delivery guys don’t even have lights on the bikes!
I might have missed it but I haven’t seen anyone mention that people ride bicycles, e-bikes , and all— kinds of motorized vehicles, including. motorcycles, on the sidewalk! It is ridiculous.
Hardly an hour goes by that someone doesn’t mention that.
New York has a No-Fault Insurance law so that a jaywalking pedestrian in the wrong can still get medical bills and lost earnings paid by the insurance company of a driver who was not at fault. But wait – motor vehicles are insured. That includes cars, trucks busses and motorcycles . But e-bikes that can zig and zag and in Manhattan break all the rules to go faster than alot of cars, busses, trucks and taxis are considered bicycles. they get special bike lanes, and use them unless they are in the middle of the street or on the sidewalk. They have no license plate requirement, no driver license requirement and thus no insurance requirement but they can cause serious injury even if not life threatening.
They should be required to follow the same rules and pay the same penalties as anyone who is not using their own muscles to make their vehicles move.
Even when a pedestrian HAS the right of way, these e-bikes fail to yield. They don’t slow down. They’ll mow you down. Walking on the sidewalk also is dangerous with these vehicles going fast even on the sidewalk with no regard for pedestrians. When is the Mayor going to start enforcing the traffic violations for e-bikes. And yes they should be licensed . And insured.
Given the length of some streets between avenues, it’s completely unrealistic to expect pedestrians to walk from mid-block anywhere, to a corner, then back to mid-block on the other side. Especially older pedestrians. Doesn’t make it right, it’s just unrealistic. The greater problem is the total disregard of basically all laws of traffic and decency by motorized vehicles that can exceed the city speed limit but aren’t required to be licensed, insured, overseen or held accountable in any way. When did it become ok to ride bikes and anything motorized on sidewalks? Oh, I know when: when DiBlasio disintegrated all quality of life laws.
E-bikes and riders should be licensed and insured. Also, like most streets on the avenues, W 72nd St. between Broadway and West End is very long and should have a crosswalk with traffic lights somewhere near the middle, just like what was done on W 57th St between Fifth and Sixth Avenues!
New Fexoffice opened at Broadway and 81th Street and trucks are double parking all day long . Difficult for pedestrians to cross and traffic jam where it was none before. Only one line left and buses , cars and other trucks fighting for space.
It’s not only ebikes. There are scooter, vespas, skateboards with motors and without. Nobody pays any attention to signs or lights. It’s dangerous and getting worse.
I was within feet of being hit by a man on a motorized scooter yesterday up at 77th St. I had the light. I was in the crosswalk. The man just ignored it and then called out to me when he nearly hit me. Am I not allowed to cross the street legally without risking my life? YOU TELL ME!
And now, because I take taxis rather than ride in the hell hole that our subways have become, I get to see the latest from the TLC, “The NY Twist.”
When a taxi reaches our destination, we are supposed to stick our heads out the window and twist them to check if a bike, e-bike, or scooter is whizzing by, as 60’s rocker, Chubby Checker serenades us. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEEqUud8YaI
It’s getting a bit tiring to have to cater to the whims of these riders, most of whom go through red lights, ride on the sidewalk, and rarely go in the direction of the one way street. I, like so many others, have been struck by a Citibike rider who didn’t stop. I can’t imagine the damage an e-bike could have done.
The city wants more of our tax dollars? Require licenses for e-bikes & e-scooters and drivers’ licenses for the riders.. And fine those who get reported for infractions.
Nearly hit 20 minutes ago. The guy was running a red light while zipping along, and I was entering the crosswalk at an angle. He had a clear view up Broadway; it was daylight.
This occurred not because I was entering the crosswalk differently, but because he was breaking the law. Laws that Linda Rosenthal, Gail Brewer, and the NYPD refuse to make any effort to enforce.
The NYPD is definitely enforcing the laws this year on this (as they are finally allowed to) but they are so minor of an offense, a simple summons is not much to deter this. Especially when some give a false name and address to the officers. Go ask the Captains of each precinct and you’ll hear all they are doing. It’s the current elected officials who have known for a year how dangerous our streets and sidewalks are who have done nothing to change things.
Jay, It’s not only a matter of enforcing the law. Our brilliant representatives at City Hall and Albany need to change some laws. These vehicles need license plates and insurance and they should not be allowed on the street until they have that. If they have an accident their insurance rates will go up – the insurance companies become enforcers as much or more than the cops – just like with cars. And if you drive a motor vehicle without plates or insurance you lose the vehicle. If it can happen to a car or motorcycle owner let it happen to an e-bike owner too. Poeple will have to become more responsible.
JHB:
No, the laws on the books regards e-bikes and bicycles are very clear. They are not to drive/ride the wrong way, drive/ride on sidewalks, nor run reds, even if the drivers have stopped for the red.
The laws that forbid driving gasoline powered motorcycles without real license plates and insurance are also very clear; it doesn’t matter if they’re the size of scooters.
But the NYPD chooses not to enforce these laws, or do so a very little bit, eg averaging 20 citations citywide per week.
Anyhow this particular crash happened in the middle of the street, where the pedestrian shouldn’t have been, and we can only speculate that the e-bike rider/driver was websurfing or yakking on his phone, both are illegal activities while in motion, even if the yakking was “hands free”.
No, the NYPD isn’t, or is just barely doing so. 20 citations per week citywide is a joke.
These are NOT minor offenses. That you claim so, means you are not a regular pedestrian.
Seizing the machines on the spot will deter further law breaking.
The captains aren’t doing much, except convincing you that they’re serious.
You’re correct, the State could revise the 2019 law that allowed e-scooters.
So that’s one point you have. But I already made it.
Wondering if there is a way to confirm that this is how NYPD data is categorized?
“……officer explained, “If they’re not life threatening, they’re considered minor.”
Really getting tired of folks blaming victims here.
Let’s say, I’m driving a car.
Someone jaywalks , so what do I do as a responsible driver?
Well, this happens almost every other block that someone’s jaywalking….
And I SLOW down or come to a STOP. .
Respect pedestrians.
Understand that maybe kids and/or the elderly might have misjudged the light or how long it takes to cross the street!
This used to be an incredibly safe city to walk. Where individuals, whether they were driving in a car, or on a bike, or on a scooter, would respect pedestrians.
Folks, we need to really speak up here and demand that pedestrians are respected as a priority!
This woman did not misjudged the light. She was not at a light. She stepped off the curb mid-block and apparently into the path of the eBike. She can’t remember the accident. We don’t known if it was possible for the eBike to stop in time.
Yes, in this case the pedestrian was jay walking. But we need to consider what we are now facing. A pedestrian can wait for the light and walk sign, and still has to evaluate if it is safe to cross, and many times it is not because of the proliferation of bikes, scooters and motorcycles which speed through against the light or going the wrong way on a one way street, and ignore the pedestrian’s right of way. So why wait for the light and the crossing sign? The most logical response by a pedestrian — who certainly should not just stand there like a dummy and wait for the traffic rules to be obeyed or enforced which is clearly not going to happen — is to size up the situation as best they can and simply cross when they think they can make it. Is this what we want to be the guiding light of living in NYC?
Why wait for the light? You and others are acting as if this accident took place in a crosswalk. It did not. As the article says “stepped off the curb, starting across 72nd Street, about a third of a block away from the intersection. “. While this might be fairly common in a small one way street it is incredibly reckless on 72nd St withbtradfic in both directions. Cross at the corners.
E-bikes and scooters are a menace. They are endangering the lives of all citizens. You must be an absolute idiot if you don’t see what’s happening. The bikers ride without regard for lights, pedestrians, or laws, Often riding the wrong way and on sidewalks. This is the hallmark of lawlessness. The opposite of progress. Where is Adams? And the idiot DA, Bragg, who would rather let loose criminals than protect law abiding citizens? Driving a vehicle is like having a weapon — you have real obligations to ride one. And people seemed to have stopped acknowledging that responsibility. You can end someone’s life and destroy families forever as we have seen with the numerous injuries and deaths from e-bike and scooter collisions. It’s even happening in Central Park. Bikers want respect from car drivers but many don’t seem to know the basic laws of the road or, worse, have no interest in respecting the rules. It’s simple – enforce the rules and punish those who endanger citizens.
What an idiotic metric “not life threatening”. What if her limbs had to be amputated? Still “minor injuries”? Stop downplaying this situation police, this is not just e-bikes it is bike LANES. Non e-bikes still whiz around at 30+mph, against the traffic, against the light. NO one is citied, no one is ticketed, no one is arrested. They need to put traffic cops/units at random intersections and ticket every person speeding, using a moped and, on any mode of transportation at all going through the red light or against traffic.
The police do not decide what is called “life-threatening”. It is the laws that do. They have to follow the definitions in the laws, not their own interpretation.
You and many others posting have valid points in general but they have nothing to do with the accident this article is about. The eBike wasn’t in a bike lane because there isn’t one on W 72nd. Putting a cop at the intersection wouldn’t have changed anything since the accident did not occur at an intersection. A woman made the decision to cross a street with 2 travel lanes in each direction in the middle of the block. That is from her own words. There is no indication thr eBike rider did anything wrong to cause the accident. He was wrong to leave the scene.
So any injury that isn’t “life-threatening” is considered “minor”. Kind of makes one wonder about the thinking of a certain city agency.
These E Bikes must be banned!
How many bldgs were burned down due to
the e bike batteries?
What does our city need to wake up!!!
There are safer batteries, requiring that the drivers have licenses and insurance, + the machines have real plates would be a start.
Everyone of these commenters should be writing and calling their City Council person, their community board, the Mayor’s office and the DOT. It’s inexcusable that this problem persists long after it started. And part of the reason for that is the power and influence on the City Council and the Mayor of well funded lobbyists like Trans Alt who are holding sway! Trans Alt leader who is from the financial industry and supported by the delivery companies, the bike rental companies and the car share companies! Rumor has it that this is why the police are doing nothing to do any enforcement and why regulations aren’t coming. The Mayor and the DOT are either incompetent or captured by this corporate power house. In fact what is happening is an expansion of e-vehicles to our parks AND our buses and subways!! If there is not a persistent outcry of pedestrian protest, little will happen. And something suggested by another commenter on this subject is if you can pick up your own take-out!! Vote with your feet! If there’s less demand there will be less e-bikes. If you risk other people’s health and safety then expect a response from those people!
I love “Vote with your feet.” Or “Vote with your legs.” Brilliant! The police were told to back off from ALL quality of life crimes, but bikes zoom away and police do not have the time to chase them. This has been a problem since before e-bikes when speedy messengers were on racing bikes. It has nothing to do with money or who sponsors what. No one wants or likes these ebikes other than the restaurant industry. or other messenger services. They have nothing to do with “green” and certainly not exercise. They are a public disaster. They need to go away completely. No one has even mentioned the disastrous FIRES they cause.
Yes pedestrians must be mindful and should cross at the corner.
But on a related topic…
Concerned about:
Uptick in high school students on Citibike, skateboards and Razor scooters who are 1) going through red lights, the wrong way, with friends sitting in baskets and 2) on sidewalks.
Uptick in parents letting young children – under 6 – cross streets on Razor scooters yards ahead of parents/without parents holding the scooter . Unbelievable.
Parents hold hands of kids when crossing – same is needed for kids on scooters.
I agree with you Lin but it’s not only kids. I have seen adults on Citibikes, Delivery drivers with their backpacks on souped up e-bikes, all of them and at night many have no headlights so you can’t see them coming until they are very close. But I don’t think you’re ever going to see any parent holding the hand of a high school student on any bike, skateboard or scooter, motor or not.
Jaywalking is totally irrelevant to e-bikes. They do not follow any traffic rules anyway, and if no cars or bikes are visible, that’s all that matters when crossing the streets of Manhattan. With a full street empty, there is NO reason the e-bike should have hit her, and certainly no reason to flee the scene. She needs to sue the biker, and his/her restaurant. These bikes are deadly, her injuries are serious, and the riders reckless and uncaring. Many times they are flying while checking their cell phones and paying little attention to pedestrians. E-bikes must be totally revoked as they were in Paris, and two wheeled bikes licensed. The City Council was RIDICULOUS to allow these previously “un-road-worthy” vehicles to become legal.
I read somewhere that what’s happening with the e-bikes riding in the city unregulated IS illegal but someone from the bike lobby thought of a loophole! Welcome to NY!! I have been wondering if it’s not time to bring a class action lawsuit against the city for dereliction. I’m not an Attorney. But find this lack of regulation and enforcement so egregious that it may merit a legal response. How many have to be injured or even die before this is regulated? And what about all those who have died in fires caused by the batteries from e-bikes?? This is not an act of nature. It’s happening over and over again. Pretty soon the insurance industry will decide they no longer want to insure buildings in NY like is happening on the West Coast where State Farm pulled out of the market due to the staggering costs from fires and floods. This is a very real possibility.
There’s no loophole, they’re breaking well known laws.
The NYPD is doing next to nothing, I’ve read 20 citations per week across the city, and I don’t think that includes the utterly illegal driving of unlicensed gasoline motorcycles the size of scooters.
All of these machines can be seized, should the NYPD suppose to do it’s job. The gas powered ones can just be seized without a cop/camera having to witness any law breaking, simply parked they’re illegal.
There are safer batteries, insurers and the City of NY can require them. The City should also require that new electric cars/trucks also use these safer LFP, as opposed to Li -Ion, batteries.