I was watching the local news channel here in NYC and saw this story...

"Bicyclist Hurt After Collision With NYPD Tow Truck
June 23, 2006

An NYPD tow truck taking a car to the pound hit a 56-year-old man riding his bicycle on the West Side Highway bike path around 11:30 Thursday night.

The man is in critical condition at St. Vincent’s Hospital."

Ok, so guess what happened as the reporter was doing an on the spot report at the scene of the accident...?? Another cyclist was hit by a car a few feet away from the reporter and camera live!!! This part of the Bike trail is insane. Seems drivers ignore the light and make right turns into the trail.

:eek: on a bike trail even! :mad:

Yup, according to Gary Anthony Ramsay, if the cyclist had the red light, so did the tow truck. And the driver wasn't issued a ticket or arrested. He was given a breathalyzer though.

Did you catch what the 2nd cyclist that got hit said? He'd just come back from Denmark where they respect cyclists, unlike here. He motioned to his CSC jersey when he said that. I guess CSC is Danish?

yeah ... i thought that guy was kinda calm for just getting hit.

I guess since Cycling is a major sport in Eurpoe there is infrastructure in place to make it as safe as possible. We seem to hate everything here in the U.S. that doesn't bring in big bucks so it's a big F.U. to cyclist. sigh... I might be exagerating but it just feels that way.

i mean seriously, there's that other post here on the board today about the cyclist being beaten by a driver for riding on the road. i mean c'mon...

I think the cyclist was calm because he saw the camera and figured flipping out would make him look like a ****** on TV. Plus if the accident was caught on camera, he'd want to do everything he could to make himself look like the calm, peaceful victim of the accident if it wound up in court. Notice the driver didn't bother getting out of the car.

As for cycling being a major sport in Europe, I agree w/ that. What people forget is that cycling isn't a major sport in many places in Africa and Asia and yet cyclists still get more respect there than in Europe. In some places, cyclists rule the roads, not drivers.

Yup, according to Gary Anthony Ramsay, if the cyclist had the red light, so did the tow truck. And the driver wasn't issued a ticket or arrested. He was given a breathalyzer though.

Did you catch what the 2nd cyclist that got hit said? He'd just come back from Denmark where they respect cyclists, unlike here. He motioned to his CSC jersey when he said that. I guess CSC is Danish?

Correct CSC is danish. Speaking of danish, back to breakfast....

I think the cyclist was calm because he saw the camera and figured flipping out would make him look like a ****** on TV. Plus if the accident was caught on camera, he'd want to do everything he could to make himself look like the calm, peaceful victim of the accident if it wound up in court. Notice the driver didn't bother getting out of the car.

As for cycling being a major sport in Europe, I agree w/ that. What people forget is that cycling isn't a major sport in many places in Africa and Asia and yet cyclists still get more respect there than in Europe. In some places, cyclists rule the roads, not drivers.

While not a major sport in those other countries, cycling is seen as a respected form of transportation... whereas in the US, anything NOT from Detroit with 4 wheels tends to be looked down upon by the knuckle dragging, mouth breathing, Neanderthals that can't think past the hood ornament of their oversized Tonka Toys.

yeah ... i thought that guy was kinda calm for just getting hit.

I guess since Cycling is a major sport in Eurpoe there is infrastructure in place to make it as safe as possible. We seem to hate everything here in the U.S. that doesn't bring in big bucks so it's a big F.U. to cyclist. sigh... I might be exagerating but it just feels that way.

i mean seriously, there's that other post here on the board today about the cyclist being beaten by a driver for riding on the road. i mean c'mon...

Having witnessed the infrastructure in one northern European country (Sweden), no thank you. Riding at 10mph on a glorified sidewalk and crossing intersections like a pedestrian is not my idea of cycling. I'll gladly accept better acceptance on the roads from drivers though.

Certainly not the first time this has happened and probably not the last. I came across a similar accident, in the same location, where an NYPD tow truck didn't even bother to stop. The fact that NY1 was able to capture a second accident only goes to show how common accidents are at this location.

Regardless of what color the light may have been, NYPD Tow Trucks cross the Bikeway numerous times a day on their way to the tow pound. It's no surprise that bicyles might use the path. It's time NYPD learned to follow the same laws they enforce.

I'm only in NYC temporarily but have been riding the west and east side bike paths and see that they require their own special brand of vigilance. Riding in Manhattan in general seems to demand a constant attention to all kinds of possibilities. But there are a lot more riders now than when I used to live here and though it's creating some tensions I think there is some safety in numbers. It's forcing drivers to be more vigilant but there's still some major ignorance and driver aggression to deal with for the cyclist.

This incident and others like it will, undoubtedly, fuel those that oppose bike trails and lanes but I've found the streets and avenues to have their own share of unique hazards. The major issue we seem to face in most American cities is disrespect on the part of motorists, not only to one another, but especially to pedestrians and bicyclists. I noticed a kind of aggression on the part of motorists and in particular service vehicles (those that have the mindset of "I've got a job to do.- get outta my way!") turning into the Chelsea Piers area. The limos and cabs at the ferry stops and heli-pads have a kind of "I'm picking up someone really rich and important so stay out of my way" attitude. I almost got nailed by a guy driving a forklift just north of the piers and then the same thing happened when I was riding through Central Park when a forklift came out of nowhere- a whole new meaning to "Fork You!"

I'll spend a month riding here in Manhattan and then am off with my folder to Rome- a challenging city to ride a bike in and actually way more Vespas and motorcyles than bikes in that city. Then to Lisbon, where I've never ridden, so I'll report with a comparison test- I suspect that driver attitudes have way more to do with safety than facilities but having ridden in the Netherlands I like it best when both favor the cyclist.

I guess since Cycling is a major sport in Eurpoe there is infrastructure in place to make it as safe as possible.

What special infrastructure might this be?


I always thought it was more cultural...

It's time NYPD learned to follow the same laws they enforce.

Say it sister!

Close behind Access-A-Ride vans are NYPD Police cars that have repeatedly threatened my safety and well being as a cyclist for their sense of entitlement of right of way, moving any way they wish regardless of the laws they are charged with enforcing.

Just the other day, I was making my way down Myrtle Avenue in the early morning when I approached Broadway and a cop car made a hairpin left turn at the intersection (from the left lane on bdwy to the right lane along the curb on Myrtle where he almost it me head on but for my quick jump onto the sidewalk. Thing is, this was no emergency as they just remained seated in the car and unapologetic, if not oblivious.

This is but one example of their frightening disregard for me as a cyclist. If I'm not done in by an access a ride van (or rendered a client), surely I will wind up crushed under the wheels of a cop car.

Another accident today, this one on Houston St.

http://ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=60540

The cyclist didn't survive.

Having witnessed the infrastructure in one northern European country (Sweden), no thank you. Riding at 10mph on a glorified sidewalk and crossing intersections like a pedestrian is not my idea of cycling. I'll gladly accept better acceptance on the roads from drivers though.

Amen, bro! ... and how about Munich, with bike lanes to the RIGHT of parked cars, setting up bicyclists for a right hook at every intersection. I am no orthodox VC purist, but I do preach and support many of its concepts.

Another accident today, this one on Houston St.

http://ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=60540

The cyclist didn't survive.

This is the third cyclist death on Houston Street since May 2005.

From http://www.5bbc.org

Dr. Carl Nacht dies from injuries in bicycle-truck crash

Dr. Carl Nacht, attending physician at Roosevelt Hospital in Manhattan, was riding his bicycle with his wife on the Hudson River Greenway at 38th St. on Thursday night, June 22nd, when he was hit by a turning tow truck. He died this morning, Monday, June 26th, of injuries sustained in the crash. Our condolences go out to his family, patients, friends, and colleagues who are all devastated by his loss.

Cycling is way up in NYC, so sadly I expect we'll see a lot more cycling-related injuries and fatalities.

According to Gothamist (http://www.gothamist.com/archives/2006/06/24/west_side_bicyc.php) / Daily News, Dr. Nacht was not wearing a helmet and this may have been a factor in his death. (It doesn't sound like a helmet would have helped Mr Lake.)


Having witnessed the infrastructure in one northern European country (Sweden), no thank you. Riding at 10mph on a glorified sidewalk and crossing intersections like a pedestrian is not my idea of cycling. I'll gladly accept better acceptance on the roads from drivers though.
Having witnessed the infrastructure in one northern European country (Belgium), yes please. :D I thought it was great to ride from one city to the next on a dedicated non-motorized path that's far from cars and runs right next to a canal and/or through farmland. Plus they have lots of on-street bike lanes, set up so the cars can see you. Weekends are slow due to the "Sunday Drivers" (basically packs of pensioners riding their cruisers). But it's far more pleasant to ride on paths without the sounds of cars, and there were plenty of 60+ year old dudes kitted out like Eddie Merckx doing 20+mph the rest of the week. Plus, on a MUP you're less likely to get run over by a car or truck if you fall off your bike.

Realistically, though, I don't expect that to happen much in this area, as it's too dense and developed to add more than the occasional greenway and bike lane. I'd be happier not only if drivers were more respectful, but if cyclists also obeyed the laws and common sense -- less wrong-way riding, more lights at night, less running red lights and stop signs, more predictable cycling....

Having witnessed the infrastructure in one northern European country (Belgium), yes please. :D I thought it was great to ride from one city to the next on a dedicated non-motorized path that's far from cars and runs right next to a canal and/or through farmland. Plus they have lots of on-street bike lanes, set up so the cars can see you. Weekends are slow due to the "Sunday Drivers" (basically packs of pensioners riding their cruisers). But it's far more pleasant to ride on paths without the sounds of cars, and there were plenty of 60+ year old dudes kitted out like Eddie Merckx doing 20+mph the rest of the week. Plus, on a MUP you're less likely to get run over by a car or truck if you fall off your bike.

Realistically, though, I don't expect that to happen much in this area, as it's too dense and developed to add more than the occasional greenway and bike lane. I'd be happier not only if drivers were more respectful, but if cyclists also obeyed the laws and common sense -- less wrong-way riding, more lights at night, less running red lights and stop signs, more predictable cycling....

A "dedicated non-motorized path that's far from cars and runs right next to a canal and/or through farmland" sounds wonderful. That's not what I'm referring to. I'm referring to "converting" what's basically a sidewalk along a city street into a "bike path" by sticking a sign in the concrete then expecting cyclists to somehow safely navigate street crossings from this off-to-the-side out-of-driver's-view spot. No thanks, I'll ride the road, which is where every cyclist I saw doing any decent speed was riding. Actually, I take back the part about one country. I was also in Dusseldorf, Germany where I saw the same thing (both the paths and the cyclists in the streets).

I fully agree with the second part of your reply (in my quote) but will add that I think those glorified sidewalks would do nothing to contribute to that end (and would very likely be to the detriment of all those ideals).

Amen, bro! ... and how about Munich, with bike lanes to the RIGHT of parked cars, setting up bicyclists for a right hook at every intersection. I am no orthodox VC purist, but I do preach and support many of its concepts.

Barcelona had bike lanes like this... between the parked cars and curbs but then they had corners cut back to make intersections an unusual hexagon, with cyclists quite visible as they move from the shielded bike lane into the intersection hexagon. The cut corners of the intersection hexagon also vastly improved the sight lines to the cross streets.

It looked like a very nice system, but I did not actually ride it, so I am not sure how well it worked.

Thinking about it further, since there was only so much room between the cut corners of the intersection hexagon and the actual cross street, there would be only so much time (based on distance) to see or be seen... that would limit the upper speed of a cyclist, but also of motor vehicles too... one cannot cross these intersections too fast as you must be able to see cross traffic... so perhaps this also worked as a traffic calming device.

Certainly there was more visibility in these hexagon intersections than there is in a typical square American inner city intersection.

I was watching the local news channel here in NYC and saw this story...

"Bicyclist Hurt After Collision With NYPD Tow Truck
June 23, 2006

An NYPD tow truck taking a car to the pound hit a 56-year-old man riding his bicycle on the West Side Highway bike path around 11:30 Thursday night.

The man is in critical condition at St. Vincent’s Hospital."

Ok, so guess what happened as the reporter was doing an on the spot report at the scene of the accident...?? Another cyclist was hit by a car a few feet away from the reporter and camera live!!! This part of the Bike trail is insane. Seems drivers ignore the light and make right turns into the trail.

Not that it'll make an impact, but I wrote to the Mayor of New York and advised that a group of friends of mine were planning on visiting NYC later this summer, but due to the hostile, contemptible and dangerous environment for cyclists both the city and police have actively encouraged, we have chnged our plans and will now visit and spend our tourists dollars elsewhere.

Rally/Press event at City Hall, tomorrow (Thurs 6/29) at 9am.

If you are interested in changing conditions on the street, please come show support on your way to work (or whatever). There have been three accidents in manhanttan in the past 10 days (two fatalities) and another fatality earlier this month (Rockaway blvd, i think in brooklyn). Each of these "accidents" was the result of dangerous behaviors and conditions that do not need to exist. The press is finally starting to ask questions about why drivers are not cited for traffic law violations that result in injuries to cyclists and why NYC, a city teeming with pedestrians and cyclists, is so hostile and behind the times when it comes to rational traffic planning. A strong showing from the community will help keep up the pressure that is needed to make some progress.

I am no orthodox VC purist, but I do preach and support many of its concepts.

Stinking idiots crowd by me nearly every time I don't "take the lane."