UPDATE: Tuesday, October 6 at 4:30 p.m.: The 71-year-old cyclist who died after falling off his bike Monday morning in Central Park did not collide with the runaway dog, police revealed in new details on Tuesday afternoon.
The cyclist was traveling northbound on East Drive near 84th Street when an unleashed Golden Retriever darted across the drive from east to west, police said. In an effort to avoid the collision, the cyclist “abruptly stopped,” which caused him to eject off his bike onto the pavement, police said.
He was rushed to New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, police said.
NYPD originally told West Side Rag, and other publications, that the cyclist and dog collided.
There are no arrests as of Tuesday afternoon, and the investigation remains ongoing by the NYPD Highway District’s Collision Investigation Squad.
By Gus Saltonstall
A cyclist died Monday morning after colliding with a dog in Central Park, a police spokesperson told West Side Rag.
The 71-year-old cyclist was riding around 8:15 a.m. on East Drive near 84th Street, when he collided with an off-leash Golden Retriever that ran onto the roadway, according to police and the New York Post.
The biker, who was wearing a helmet, was thrown to the cement and sustained head and chest injuries, police said. He was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to NYPD and multiple reports.
The dog owner stayed on scene, and the animal was not injured, police said.
Central Park has off-leash hours daily from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., but dogs are not allowed on the drives.
The identity of the victim has not been released pending proper notification of the family.
“We are heartbroken to hear of the fatal incident that occurred in Central Park this morning involving a cyclist and an off-leash dog. Our thoughts are with the family, friends, and loved ones of the cyclist who lost his life,” a Central Park Conservancy spokesperson said in a press release on Monday morning after the fatal incident.
“More than 40 million people share this magnificent 843-acre gift of green space each year. Every single one of us must accept the responsibility to keep it safe and welcoming for one another,” the spokesperson added. “Leash your dog, observe speed limits, and follow the rules of the Park.”
Last week, Richie O’Brien died after being struck by a bike on September 23 at almost the exact location on East Drive near 84th Street, as he was walking to work.
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If people cannot behave responsibly and train/control their dogs then the off-leash policy needs to go. Not that they will pay any attention to that or it will actually be enforced. The owner of this dog should be arrested for manslaughter at the very least.
The only way to enforce the unleashed dogs is for Parks Enforcement to actually give out tickets. Please write to the City Parks Enforcement to complain, as complaining here will not go very far. Also complain to the Central Park Conservancy as they can nudge the Parks Enforcement. We are dog owners but very fed up with the unleashed dogs running up to our LEASHED dog. There is no respect for other people in the parks!
how do you tell a dog not to go on the drive?
WITH A LEASH
If you cannot stop your bike in time to avoid an obstacle without going over the handlebars, you’re going too fast for conditions, and it’s YOUR fault.
Always. Doesn’t matter what the obstacle is.
The entitlement of bicyclists is maddening sometimes.
It’s not that simple. There is no reason to think that a dog would come flying out of nowhere. the conditions were likely fine until then. To fly over the handlebars, however, you would either have to hit the obstacle or primarily use the front brake (a known no-no). So in that sense it was his response to an unexpected obstacle that caused the ejection, not speed. That is not to say that there are not entitled cyclists. But there are also clueless pedestrians that step off the curb outside a cross walk without looking. I look for that all the time. And occasional dog owners who are oblivious to the environment. In the end, it was a tragic accident. Blaming all cyclists and all dog owners isn’t going to help.
> There is no reason to think that a dog would come flying out of nowhere. the conditions were likely fine until then.
Yes. That’s what happens in an accident. Otherwise it would be called “a planned event”.
> So in that sense it was his response to an unexpected obstacle that caused the ejection, not speed.
And in another, more correct sense, it was his *inability* to respond to the “unexpected obstacle” that led directly to the loss of control.
Ride for the conditions, or you risk losing control when unexpected things happen. Cycling 101.
Change the fact patterns slightly, and see how it affects your feelings: a man is driving down the road in a car. A dog runs in front of the car. The man swerves, because there is no time to brake due to speed, and hits a child.
The legality of the dog’s presence in the street is a distraction.
Yes, accidents happen. But you can’t plan for all scenarios everywhere. Unfortunately people step on to the drive without looking. Plan accordingly. Sometimes squirrels. I’ve never seen a dog do so, so wouldn’t expect it. And there wasn’t legality in the drive. The owner messed up (likely not expecting the dog to do so).
If you had to plan for every scenario, then cars should never drive more than 15 mph anywhere because a child might run out (yes, I’ve seen that). We all play the odds and occasionally that doesn’t work out. All I’m saying is that the cyclist may not have been speeding – he was 71 and had just finished ascending cat hill, reducing the odds. But he likely responded poorly (using front brakes) to a very unexpected event.
By keeping it leashed
Consistent Outreach to dog owners who use the park is ESSENTIAL.
Off leash before 9 AM is a great program.
And if you can’t properly control your dog, then make sure they’re on a leash!!
NY was one of the last states to change the laws to allow injured (or killed) victims to sue the dog owner for damages. The law was changed just a year ago.
Genuine question. Is that law dog-specific or does it cover all domesticated pets?
Good. The owner of the dog should indeed be sued.
I don’t think dogs should be off leash in any Manhattan park outside of the fenced in dog runs.
Those are enough, and nobody can guarantee their dog won’t bolt under any or all circumstances.
Being in a crowded city means giving up some luxuries, and the ability to let your dog run around as if you’re in the Pound Ridge Reservation is one of them.
AND? That having been said? There’s NO indication in any of the reporting on this that the owner disobeyed the rule. It’s possible she did but it’s also possible that the dog bolted.
This was off leash hours and no the dog should not have been able to run in road. Are you aware that a racing cyclist killed a pedestrian 12 days ago in the same spot. Blame the Central Park Conservancy and DOT. There have been hundreds of maimings and a death due to e bikes! Nobody seems to care. E bikes should be banned from nyc parks, red light cameras and walk signs should be restored. And yes Owners of dogs off leash and speeding bikes of any kind should be ticketed regularly.
Ebikes and escooters are actually banned from some bike paths, notably along the Hudson. It’s not enforced. Nor are the rules requiring pedestrians and runners to stay off the bike routes – they are a problem too. The e-bikes would be in much greater danger on the West Side Highway.
There are a lot of different valid uses of our public spaces – walking, cycling, e-bikes, off-leash dogs, and even, I’ll admit it, cars. We all have to work out how to share the space, because we all need to use it. If everyone followed the rules, that would be a start. When people don’t follow the rules – and pedestrians are probably the worse offenders (myself included, of course) – we need to be really sure that we are not endangering anyone (pedestrians often step in front of cyclists who are following the rules).
Not that any of this has any relation to the issue at hand.
E-bikes and scooters should be banned permanently and we should rip out the bike lanes!
The dog was in the street, no? Therefore the owner disobeyed the rule. Off leash dogs are not allowed on the road. The article clearly states this. Thus, the dog owner was not obeying the rule, whether purposely or not.
Tell that to a dog.
There are YIMBYs that want to ban dogs in cities.
If I may add to my earlier replies to Josh and Bill Williams, if you search the question whether New York applies strict liability in negligence for letting a dog bolt when off leash? you discover that there is ONLY if there’s prior history showing the danger.
So absent proof that the owner let their dog loose at or in the loop?
It’s not open and shut as others claim.
Seriously? As I noted above the article says nothing about the circumstances that led the dog to be on the loop. It gives no clue where the owner/walker unleashed the dog or the direction they were heading in, and no idea whether the dog bolted.
Therefore you cannot say “the owner disobeyed the rule.”
You failed to mention, that a man lost his life, who was probably otherwise healthy and active – because the dog owner had his dog unleashed in an area not permitted for this. Not sure of any mitigating “circumstances.”
Sincere condolences
Read my comments. I’m saying that dogs need to be leashed, IRRESPECTIVE of ‘negligence’ on the part of dog owners.
Because no dog owner can guarantee this won’t happen with their pet.
She disobeyed the rule by evidence of the dog bolting. They are supposed to be under your control at all times. Even if she dropped the leash and the dog bolted she is at fault.
The dog had the right of way, just like any pedestrian.
If you’re on a bike, you’re on a moving vehicle, and it’s your responsibility to maintain control. If you can’t emergency stop without GOING OVER THE HANDLEBARS, you’re going too fast.
Slow down.
Since you’re An Actual Scientist, please show proof of your assertions.
A real scientist would not have come to that conclusion. Where in ANY rules, regulations or laws does it say that a dog has the right of way?
And, in the process of hard braking and swerving to miss a collision and it is feasible to lose one’s balance and be tossed over the handle bars without “going too fast”!
Anyone who says they can 100% assure that their off leash dog won’t bolt is a fool or a liar.
Which is the main reason why I think dogs should always be leashed outside fenced in dog runs.
dog runs aren’t big enough for a good exercise!
That’s unfortunate but the reality of city living slows everyone down
(or should). When getting a dog think about its exercise options.
Dogs have been successfully kept in Manhattan for decades before any dog runs or off leash hours existed.
Perhaps the breeds that need more exercise than a dog run allows shouldn’t be kept in this confined borough?
…which is probably a good reason to NOT allow dogs in Manhattan which already has too many people!
Well, one solution to over-population would be for YOU to leave. I prefer a city of animals to people, so good luck with your suggestion, which I can’t believe you’re not embarrassed to have put in writing.
Hey! You could live in a zoo! People are always telling people to leave NYC if they don’t like it!
Allowed or not, dogs off-leash make no sense, either for the dog or pedestrians.
No, off leash is completely fine, away from roads.
This is sad. I love dogs and I’m in favor of off-leash time, but you still must control the dog and keep it nearby. It doesn’t mean that your dog has the run of the full park like a wild dingo.
Although this tragedy was caused by a reckless dog owner I don’t think we should let the opportunity slip by to make irrelevant comments about e-bikes, cyclists rolling through yellow lights and so on. As with the pedestrian walking into the bike lane in the dark last week we need to keep focused on blaming cyclists.
There’s a huge culture of urbanists who are obsessed with bikes who are arrogant and want to fundamentally control the way people live and want a world where they get to be worse than Trump.
This particular incident helps helps prove that in only 95% of cases is the cyclist at fault. Shame on you 100 percenters.
LOL!
Has to be a joke. Yes. I’m going with joke.
Seriously?
LEASH YOUR DOGS
and your children. leashes and muzzles for children please.
That is nuts
Were you leashed and muzzled as a child?
excuse me but are you telling me a child is going to maul someone to the point where i will need medical attention?
Thanks. It’s a crazy suggestion!
Lighten up, Francis.
Upvote from a fellow Stripes fan
Sure, Jan 🙄
Once again, another week, prayers for another unfortunate individual in Central Park and his family. Dog owners, bike owners, pedestrians – we all must work together to be better. Hopefully, it’s a long time before we see a sad story like this again. Unfortunately, I’m not optimistic that will be the case.
Dogs are not allowed off leash ever in certain areas of the parks incoyding the drives! This includes during the off leash times. This owner should be charged with reckless manslaughter.
Gotta wear a helmet and lower your speed people
This person had a helmet on and died. I’m curious what does the helmet actually do if people are still dying from head injuries while wearing a helmet
Gotta read.
He was wearing a helmet. Helmets also dont prevent coup-contrecoup brain injuries
“Police said the cyclist was not wearing a helmet”
“Gotta wear a helmet”
At this rate thats becoming good advice for pedestrians too.
I have never understood the need for off leash time. There are very long leashes made that give dogs sufficient room to run around yet still have them fully under control. I grew up with a dog in a suburban house. Granted, the dog had more room to run around our house than most dogs in NYC apartments do, but we never even considered letting our dog off leash when outdoors.
Of course, the only thing worse than off leash dogs at the permitted time are off leash dogs at non-permitted times. I have been seeing this more and more – people love to flaunt the rules. And many of the dogs that flaunt the rules are not well behaved and venture far from their owners. This not OK.
Most importantly, my condolences to the deceased and their family and friends. What a miserable way to go.
Very long leashes do not give you control over your dog at a distance.
Long leashes have a specific purpose during training. They are not meant to allow your dog to run around semi-free. They are also a danger to other people and dogs in the area, as dogs and people get tangled in them.
I go to Central Park every weekend. One thing I’ve noticed is more and more dogs off leash. Dog owners don’t seem to care about rules much. Just walked down to any sidewalk in Manhattan and you’ll see evidence of that. So this is not surprising As they seem to have taken over the park. It is unfortunate that a death resulted from something so careless and easily preventable.
Suburbanites move to the big city, act like they still live in the suburbs and refuse to adjust their behavior. Only way this changes is with a crackdown and enforcement. Dog ownership is a privilege, not a right.
Or you could get a civilized, well-behaved animal. Cats are lovely.
Yeah. In a perfect society, people could be trusted to act responsibly. We wouldn’t need stop signs, yield signs or even speed limits. But in reality those few idiots who seem to care about nothing other than themselves result in more and more laws, rules and warnings being imposed on the rest of us.
It’s a dog. How can anyone absolutely predict how it will behave. If I were a dog owner I’d be absolutely afraid I could lose it to an accident resulting from its erratic behavior. And now someone’s loved one has been killed because of this.
If you see something, say something instead of grinning. TELL these dog owners to BEHAVE!
The Central Park Conservancy needs to blanket the park with signs about where and when dogs can be off leash. Every post or article I’ve seen about this incident has comments stating that dogs are allowed off leash in Central Park. But off leash hours are not the entire day or the entire park! Dogs are never supposed to be off leash on the drives. As a runner, I’ve been chased or nearly tripped by dogs on the bridle path, which is supposed to be leashed dogs only at all times per the Conservancy website (https://www.centralparknyc.org/activities/guides/dogs). Since few people look at the rules online, it would be nice if I could point to a sign when this happens so the owner knows they are wrong. Of course, some people will still do whatever they want, but I think there are some who genuinely don’t know the rules.
What a terrible tragedy for all involved. But the biker would probably have lived if he had been wearing a helmet. I can’t, for the life of me, understand how people don’t do that. I wear one each time I ride.
Not sure it’s been said often enough so comment number 285: he was wearing a helmet. lol. People may read the article but apparently they don’t bother reading other peoples comments (or just enjoy piling on).
He was wearing a helmet, but he must have also been going very fast to not see a dog the size of a Golden Retreiver.
He was wearing a helmet.
Read the article. He was wearing a helmet.
I frequently have meaningful, kind, thoughtful, non-controversial posts censored yet WSR has several posts saying the exact same thing – it was very helpful to know he was wearing a helmet but repeating it over and over is clutter.
Your censorship policy makes no sense and is very frustrating – use some common sense and consistency. Otherwise you run a great web site.
Please do not censor this.
“The biker, who was wearing a helmet, was thrown to the cement…”
Read
Well, he was wearing a helmet but it’s pretty safe to conclude that he wasn’t riding with due care for the circumstances.
The speed limit on the loop is 15. He was riding into a semi-blind curve that culminates in a busy crossing controlled by lights (one of the few active lights left on the loop).
I am not familiar with the breaking power of that bike but as someone who rides that section of the loop with regularity? I can tell you that my Trek could be stopped on a dime, without me going over the handlebars, if I have to break in these circumstances because on this stretch of the loop I’m not riding fast enough for that to happen.
The same people who excuse riders in these circumstances brook no excuse if a 4 year old darts between parked cars and gets hit. And guess what? They aren’t wrong in such a circumstance. The wrong is in thinking that riders don’t have to exercise the same defensive moves.
The man is dead, killed by an errant dog, and you are fabricating stories about how he was not riding safely? Get real, man.
The man is dead because he went into an intersection at a speed too great to be able to safely avoid a crash.
I ride this spot regularly and I know what can happen at that spot (hint, someone was killed there 2 weeks earlier).
He should have been riding more slowly, with care in case of an emergency. Just like a car driver has to when driving our side streets.
The dog is a dog. While it was allowed off leash during the time period, it’s safe to say the incident was a collision of two forces that were both allowed to be in the park at the time they collided. If the bike rider was thrown at high speed off the bike hard enough to die after hitting his head, then perhaps his speed did weigh into the severity of his injuries. That said, I had a German Shepherd who lasted 16 years and 2-1/2 months in Manhattan, partially because he was never off lead in as busy and distracting a location as Central Park.
‘lasted 16 years’. if i loved my dog, i’d probably say it LIVED 16 years. it wouldn’t be like a couch or a car!
He was wearing a helmet.
It’s been widely reported that the biker *was* wearing a helmet.
He was wearing a helmet.
He was wearing a helmet. See NY Post article linked to in the WSR article, which has a photo.
How did you draw the conclusion that the rider who was killed was not wearing a helmet? The story here does not indicate whether or not he was, and other news stories state that he in fact was wearing a helmet (whether those stories are accurate is a another question, of course).
uh, did you read the article?
The Rag did not include an important piece of information, but it is in the NYPost article which you can reach via the hotlink. The man WAS WEARING A HELMET.
Read this article before pronouncing what it does or doesn’t contain. See the third paragraph.
What is your evidence that the cyclist was not wearing a helmet? There are no photos, nor does it say anywhere in the article that he wasn’t wearing one. Helmets do not prevent all head injuries. In fact, to be federally certified, they only need to be shown to provide a certain amount of force reduction when dropped directly perpendicular to the ground. I have witnessed many bike crashes over the years, but I do not think I have ever once seen a cyclist flip over and land vertically straight down to the ground on their head. One lab at the University of Virginia is actually the only place that rates bicycle helmets based on real world safety, but this is not required for certification.
if you read the article / paid attention to this story – you would probably see that the biker WAS wearing a helmet. and still passed away.
This is the UWS. I’m sure people are mostly happy it was a human and not a dog that died. It’s really simple. The law is — dogs on leashes. If someone’s dog is NOT on the leash (where/when they’re supposed to be leashed), there should be no warning — take the dog from the owner permanently. People MIGHT shape up then, but then again……
You didn’t read the article. The dog was off lead during the time period it is permissible.
Dogs must be leashed at ALL TIMES on Park drives, that is the law. (i’m a dog owner, so I know this!)
There should not be any permissible time. You must keep your dog on a leash!!
Maybe we should remember that all stop lights and safe crossings were removed this year. call Central Park conservancy to request them back to make our park safer.
Thanks Michelle. Excellent information and recommendation!.
We need tighter leash rules in Central Park! Leashes should be required at all times in Central Park. Change.org: https://c.org/kzG9xq8FwN
Need more park rangers and a higher NYPD presence. This year has seen an uptick in crime, and pedestrian e–bike accidents. Dog owners have to be considerate of everyone else sharing the park. Mr. Always smiling Mayor what are you going to do ?
Can you please provide a link to the data you are referring to?
Respondents all seem to dislike dogs. The dog owners who use the Park during off-leash hours are responsible citizens and dog lovers. Most of their dogs are well trained but occasionally dogs misbehave and run into the road. Owners are terrified that their dogs may be hit by bikes which race at high speeds on the drives. Dogs NEED off-leash times to play ball and exercise. Why blame owners when we should be more concerned with all the e-bike deaths and accidents.
Nonsense! There are large fields in Central Park in which dogs can exercise without endangerng a life..
Dog ownership is a privilege, not a right. There are plenty of disrespectful, inconsiderate dog owners in the city, and WAY too many dogs for density. We look significantly worse than Paris or London in that respect.
If your dog ‘misbehaves’, as a dog owner that is your responsibility to minimize the possibility of that happening. A man is dead because the dog owner didn’t do that.
If you need a pet, get a cat. They’re far better companions and cleaner
Turns out you’re wrong. There was NO collision. There was a guy who stopped his bike suddenly and flew off. Dog ownership is a right, not a privilege. Neither you nor anyone else is going to pronounce what kind of dog a person can own or whether or not anyone can own one. While all laws need to be adhered to, you need to get over your dictatorship fixation. YOU don’t get to decide what I can or cannot own. And I’ve had dogs, cats,and birds.
Bike ownership is a privilege, not a right. There are plenty of disrespectful, inconsiderate bikers in the city, going WAY too fast for density.
If you ride so fast that you cannot stop yourself without flying over the handlebars, as a rider, it is your responsibility to minimize the possibility of that happen. A man is dead because of that.
If you cannot do this, walk. It’s safer for everyone.
I hope this man’s family can find peace and that his memory will be a blessing.
I was walking through the park along the Lilac Walk from the West Drive up towards the Le Pain around 8 AM a few years ago. Dogs were playing on the grassy hill between the Walk and the Terrace Drive. Dog-owners were schmoozing. One large dog suddenly ran across the footpath a foot or so in front of me. No one called it. A second, even larger, dog ran full-tilt in pursuit of the first dog, colliding with me, landing me on the ground, scraping my arm and spraining my ankle. I was about 65 at the time. As I was prone on the ground a schmoozing dog-owner who had witnessed the collision pointed me out to the man who was obviously the owner of the dog that had pushed me over, and he simply shrugged and turned away. No one offered me help. No one asked how I was. I hobbled out of the park, saw my orthopedist, and was restricted in mobility for many weeks. I will never forget the indifference of the dog owners. I love dogs, but those dogs were obviously not in their owners’ control.
They dislike cyclists, too. Most accidents are caused by cars, do you see them objecting to cars? No.
A man was killed!
Blah, blah. Somehow bike riders always change the subject to cars. There are NO cars in this incident. I’m surprised you didn’t mention cats.
I heard dog may have run out into the chasing a cat. But it was not reported
There should NEVER be any off leash hours! Pretend Its A City!!!!
I am so sad for this man’s family and hope that their memories of him will be a blessing.
I’m a Central Park bike rider and a dog owner. I ride safely and I keep my dog on leash in the areas and times where it is required.
I have a highly trained dog who has near 100% recall. Notice the word “near”. She is leashed up before we approach the drive.
It’s not that hard, people. Neither is picking up your dog’s poop or not letting them pee on buildings. City dogs and dog owners need to obey city rules. This applies to small dogs as well as large dogs.
I love all animals. Many years ago I was walking to work through CP, cutting across a grassy lawn close to the east 69th street exit, when an off leash dog approached me aggressively. He/she showed his/her teeth while growling. I stopped in my tracks looking for the owner who was quite a distance away. I decided to ignore the dog and kept walking. Never show fear, never run and never stare into the face of any aggressive animal. The dog backed down and I went on my way. I love all animals so much that I often approach rather enthusiastically, without fear. This is very dangerous. Through the years I have learned to curb my enthusiasm.
You were lucky. Many people are not.. I feel terrible for the man’s family
Wonderful. People accept all this (human) dog misbehavior. It’s just like criminals — we have to learn how to behave around them in order not to be attacked. Why does everybody have to act like they LOVE dogs? Just to be accepted. Now we’re overpopulated with dogs. What will you do during food shortages? Feed your dog and starve humans? We waste water everyday cleaning sidewalks, only to have them peed/pooped on again in 5 minutes. UWS people are very intelligent: so, THINK!
https://www.westsiderag.com/2026/10/05/cyclist-killed-in-central-park-after-off-leash-dog-runs-onto-roadway-police
Interesting to see how the dog owner is held accountable. Hope we set a good precedent and they are criminally responsible
Dog owners in NYC act so entitled in every sense. Bringing their St Bernards into Whole Foods and not picking up their dog’s sh*t on the sidewalks. Now we can get killed by someone acting entitled about their dog? Good grief, y’all.
Every comment on this thread is from bicyclists whining about dogs, when, in fact, the bike rider was at fault. So yes, let’s talk about entitlement.
cyclists and ebikes also should not run red lights… if you are going that fast you need to behave as a car and observe the traffic lights.
I’ve witnessed two scary situations with dogs off leash in Central Park. In one, the doge bolted across the Park Drive to chase a squirrel. The dog could have been hit or a pedestrian in his path. Fortunately, none of this happened. In another incident, a small dog was frightened by something and bolted out of the park across Central Park West to his home. Easily, the dog could have been hit by a car or startled someone. I am sure that there are incidents like this that go unreported. Reports only come with the worst of circumstances.
Having dogs without a leash is a danger to people, cyclists, and people who run or walk
I’m a dog person and don’t believe in off leash unless in an enclosed area in the city. Even the best trained dog can still be spooked or will bolt given the right circumstance. I also believe that the drives should not be used as bike speedways. They are and never were meant for cyclists to use them for race training, which many cyclists do. Pedestrians risk their life trying to cross. R.I.P. to the victim.
Dog owners keep your dogs on a leash. This is horrible. I hope this family sues this dog owner.
Bicyclists, ride slower. This is horrible.
I skated through Riverside Park for over 25 years, commuting to and from work. My route was between 72nd street and 116th street. Over the years I was attacked by off leash dogs on several occasions. Once, after being bitten by a dog, I rolled up my pant leg and showed the dog owner that I was bleeding and the dog owner looked my square in the eye and said, my dog didn’t do that. The off-leash law is insane especially given there are so many fenced-in dog runs throughout the park. Keep in mind that if your dog is too unsocial to go into to a dog run it definitely should never be off the leash. Eventually I had to use the streets to skate to work. It’s sad to say but dealing with taxis, buses, bikers, and scooters is still a safer choice than unleashed, ill-trained dogs owned by nasty and disrespectful dog owners.
I currently have a dog, have been an owner for 30 years. I’m an avid dog lover.
I’m sorry to say that over the years, but particularly since Covid, I see on a daily basis so many dog owners- usually younger first-time owners but others as well- with little understanding of dog behavior, seem to feel that it’s not necessary to train their dogs & let them run unleashed wherever they want. The disregard for others, even those in the dog community is maddening. .
The sense of entitlement these days on the part of some owners (certainly. non owners as well) is mind boggling. .
There was a comment made about putting your dog on an extendable/retractable leash. They are awful. You have no control of your dog. Fully extended, they are dangerous to pedestrians, runners, cyclists. everyone. I got injured by one where the woman had no control of the leash. I was slashed on my Achille’s tendon at the back of my heel. It felt like a knife. M
Having said all this. I observe & experience most owners to be extremely responsible, respectful & understand that their animal has to be a good citizen in this crowded city. But seeing what goes on with some is problematic & dangerous.
Everyone has to do their part.
People should have to take a DOG WHISPERER class when they get a dog, before getting a license. People need training more than the dogs.
This is a terrible tragedy. I bring my dog to the park for morning off-leash time, but take care to keep her in areas away from the drives. Everyone needs to know and follow the rules — my dog and I were walking along a sidewalk well within the park yesterday and a guy on an eBike barreled right between us. He wasn’t where he was supposed to be, and he was going way too fast. I didn’t hear him until he was right there. Also saw a family with two young kids going the wrong way on bikes, with wannabe Tour de France bikers and others narrowly missing them (and yelling at them) until they got the message to turn around. Add in the pedicabs and runners and it’s pretty chaotic. How do we make things better? Public service campaign about dog rules and leash lengths, bike speed limits, and areas where bikes should never be? Also — for those against off-leash hours — there is no enclosed official dog run in Central Park.
How? By keeping dogs on a leash, and parents–and everyone else– should never be allowed to ride against traffic. What if cars did that?
The problem with dogs in NYC is the owners who bring them everywhere, including food stores and restaurants, buy Service Dog signs online, etc. Not th mention the people i see in Riverside park strolling ahead, with no idea where their dog is, while said dog is relieving itself behind them. I guess if you don’t see it you don’t have to pick it up.
Very sad that cyclist died but please blame the appropriate people… it is the fault of DOT and Central Park Conservancy for allowing our park to become a speedway for e bikes and all bikes and e scooters. No red lights. Walk signs covered. Allowing e bikes in park at all is DEADLY. TWO deaths involving racing bikes in 12 days at same exact spot are not a coincidence. E
biker in W 69s left Jean Kotler brain damaged this summer. Last Summet w biker died. There are SERIOUS crashes almost DAILY in Central Park. I have the photos. Most never reported. This is on the City and CP Conservancy!
There are red lights
Agree
How interesting. People automatically blame the dog being off-leash. And while that is certainly not a good thing, eyewitnesses say that the bicyclist was “racing” down the road and even ran a red light. If he had ben going at normal speed, and observed the light, he might have been injured but would probably not have died.
People should read ALL the facts before ascribing blame. Yes, the dog owner should have had a leash on their animal. But this is yet another case of a bicyclist going WAY over the speed limit AND running a red light.
The cyclist simply had to be gong too fast for conditions. I’ve never in my life gone over my handlebars while emergency braking, and I’ve done everything from road biking to mountain biking. The biker was not in control.
It’s a tragedy, but it’s mind-blowing to me that every comment here blames the dog. It’s almost like there’s a coordinated campaign…
Amazing that you scold about reading ALL the facts, yet you spread hearsay from supposed eyewitnesses. It has not been established that the cyclist was going WAY over speed limit, or was even speeding at all. But by all means use this as an opportunity to spread more anti-bike hate. BTW, I’m a runner, not a cyclist. I’ve been tripped & badly bruised twice by unleashed dogs on bridle paths (not allowed at ANY time), and have had countless near misses. Not a fan of the speeding cyclists in the early morning, but at least I know what to expect there & cross with caution accordingly. One cannot do the same with unleashed dogs that dart into your path before you have a chance to change course.
Central Park doesn’t have official dog run areas – fenced in and double gated. If they had those, dogs could run and be safe. And thet wouldn’t be running where they shouldn’t be. Just having off leash times is too dangerous – you could be far away from the roads, but the dog could bolt and reach the road. Central Park should have real closed in dog runs.
Just curious, is anyone else thinking what I’m thinking…… Is it maybe time to stop the bike riding in Central Park? I feel like every day someone is dying on a bicycle or getting hit by a bicycle or falling off a bicycle with a helmet on and dying. Maybe it was OK years ago but maybe now it’s time to retire? I don’t know. Let me know your thoughts.
I am an avid cyclist and a former owner of a rescue dog who was dog reactive. So my opinion is of course, like everyone else’s is a bit biased. It drove me crazy because many dog owners didn’t observe the hours of off leash dogs and I would have to yell at them that my dog was dog reacted. Please put your dog on a leash. Very few dogs can be trained to stay in a specific area. A lot of of these owners really really could care less after their dogs run out on the roads. There are plenty of dog runs so why is it necessary to have dogs off leash at certain hours? My deepest condolences is to that cyclist’s family and friends.
I’m also a cyclist and we have a reactive dog, so our dog is ALWAYS on leash. We are constantly asking owners to leash their dogs when their dogs run up to ours off-leash (and during leashed hours). Dog owners need to understand this is a SHARED park and is not their personal backyard!
There should not be off-leash hours. Dogs don’t speqak English. How on earth can you tell a dog to stay off the runway??
Yes, bicyclists can have an overwhelming sense of entitlement but so can dog owners. Definitely so can dog owners. I have seen off leash dogs in both Central Park and Riverside at all hours. And, just because it is before 9:00AM does not mean control and responsibility go out the window. Nor does it mean that the that the park is now a dog run. Also, the risk does not go away either. To throw away all responsibility, to assume that a cyclist will not hit your dog, is naive. Dogs are unpredictable. I have had many near misses in Riverside Park – both before and after 9:00AM. I had one guy tell me that I should not be biking on the shared path to the Hudson River Greenway. His dog was all over the road. I reminded him that this is shared space and he was doing a terrible job of sharing. He is putting his dog at risk, not me.
Accidents in Central Park have risen since ebikes have been allowed back in the park. If a dog is hit by an ebike, or even a pedal assist Citibike, there is a good chance that the dog is no more.
Why not make the off leash rules more specific? The rules should not apply to the road and its crossings. Also, put larger traffic signs at pedestrian crossings saying “Cyclists Slow Down”. Also, do you think the Central Park police could afford to have police stationed at these unsafe crossings and use radar guns to have cyclists slow down? Do it every now and then and give out warnings or tickets to cyclists that are going over the recommended speed limit.
What airline flies to your fantasy world?
My own personal “close call” on a bike happened a few years ago during the pandemic. I wasn’t going fast in the middle of the day (btw. The speed limit in CP is currently back up to 20 mph. The 15 mph for ebikes was temporary suspended by the courts), but I digress.
This instance also involved an off-leash Golden Retriever on the East drive north of the Met. A happy “friendly” GR off -leash walked in front of a small group of people crossing from west to east in front of my path not at a crosswalk (not a big deal to me). I just called out to them that it was WAY pass 9AM and the dog needs to be on leash. A blond woman ran in front of the dog (as to protect), annoyingly saying alright, alright… I didn’t feel the need to engage so I moved on with my life.
I don’t know if the following video has been posted here already, but here it is (again). It happened around 7:30(?) at the end of June 2026. Just a bit further north on the East drive.
https://youtu.be/7qMXL_2xuCA?is=-WHeKjyd7HrzYhYQ
This happens more often than people think. It never ends in a fatality (this might be the first time in CP history?), so bike crashes in the park normally don’t make it into the “news”.
There are no known discription of the dog owner for these 2 additional crashes. My condolences to the family and loved ones of the victim of the crash.
A multiple offender? IDK… This might be the reason the WSR rarely publishes a discription of the perps for local crimes.
*To the WSR: if this post does not meet your standards, please let me know what I need to remove. Thank you.
I just got back from the park. Dozens of unleashed dogs are playing next to the road.
I hear complaints everyday re: dogs. A lot of people don’t like dogs in the city. Maybe we could cap the dog population in NYC / UWS. I don’t know why everybody has to copy everybody else and have a dog just because it’s in fashion. Can’t anybody think for themselves anymore?
people should have to apply and pay for a dog permit IMO
I ride every morning in the park. I have an idea of about 3 or 4 people who this may have been but I haven’t seen a picture or a name. It isn’t a blind curve, and it isn’t a part of the park where any of the people who I have in mind would have been going over 15 mph (I am much younger, ride fast and I wouldn’t be able to accelerate to 15 mph there). E-bikers riding against traffic are our biggest fear. Off-leash dogs are a close second. We need better enforcement on both of these things.
Ban dogs! All dogs should have licenses and plates. These dogs are crazy, they don’t obey any traffic rules.
How come to identity of the poor guy that died has not been released? My condolences to his family & friends . I’m sure the owner of the Golden Retriever feels awful about this.
The dog owner should be charged with homicide.
I am 76 yo and have been a dedicated bike rider for decades. I had to give up riding in streets of New York due to the out of control e bikes, scooters, mini motorcycles, riders riding the wrong way on a 1 way street etc etc. I live 2 blocks from the Park and the 8 AM time is the sweet spot in the park. The packs of spandex clad bikers are gone, the tourists, pedicabs and horses are not yet in the Park. This incident has caused me to think it’s time to hang up the bike. While I can always go to the Hudson River trail it too has become dicey except early in the morning. It’s a shame that there is no enforcement whatsoever in the City. The APPS are being blamed for delivery folks riding on sidewalks but in my opinion the responsibility lies with the rider. Even walking in the City has become so much less enjoyable than it once was.
I get it. I’m in my 70’s as well and you need to weigh the risks. When your older any fall is going to be much less forgiving. I get the risks on streets but as you get older you should at least be able to go to a park and be able to bike without the fear you may lose your life because somebody doesn’t follow the rules. I always felt that if we all follow the rules its better for everybody, but what do I know.
I volunteered for the ASPCA (92nd St) 2010-2018, and still remember our manager always emphasizing leashed dogs protect not only the animal, but also yourself because you could be held responsible for any injury caused by your off-leash dog. I saw it happening just last week while walking in Central Park. Soooo many off leash dogs with righteous owners who insisted, “my dog is trained…on my command.” I actually heard ppl say this! And so here we are. RIP to the man who died. My condolences to his loved ones. I hope the pup involved is ok.
All the recent tragedies in CP point to the fact that we need strict rules that are actually enforced. Both in CP and Riverside Park. And why not on the streets (cyclists not obeying traffic lights) and sidewalks (dog poo everywhere) as well. Rules for dog owners, cyclists, e-riders, and pedestrians. Why can’t we do this, esp in CP, which has its own funds from wealthy donors.
This is an important modification to the original storyline. Condolences to both families involved in a needless tragedy.
I’m noticing more cycling or cyclist related fatalities recently. As someone who cycles to work and back each day I’m worried about this rising trend. Any ideas on what’s causing the uptick? Are the cyclists wearing helmets?
I cannot imagine needing to ride so fast in Central Park on a bicycle that this would be a deadly event. I’m sorry, I don’t even care about dogs. Quit using the park as cycling training, and this won’t happen.