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 dog that ran onto the roadway, police said.
The biker was thrown to the cement and sustained head and chest injuries, police said. He was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, NYPD added.
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.
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.
LEASH YOUR DOGS
and your children. leashes and muzzles for children please.
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
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.
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.