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Arrogant cyclists a deadly hell on wheels

Old 07-31-08, 09:10 AM
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Arrogant cyclists a deadly hell on wheels

https://www.nypost.com/seven/07302008...eel_122259.htm

ARROGANT CYCLISTS A DEADLY HELL ON WHEELS

Posted: 3:48 am
July 30, 2008

IT'S murder out there if you like to walk. The bike people won't repeat this. But those who enjoy hoofing it on city streets stand a good chance of experiencing a close encounter with a kamikaze rider who treats stoplights like suggestions, and pedestrians like speed bumps.

And some of you will die.

"Some guys are out for a quick buck - but you're always going to have that in New York," bike messenger Gilbert Diaz, 38, told me cheerfully after zipping along Chelsea's Ninth Avenue bike path.

"I have [hit a pedestrian]," Diaz confessed. "You can't help it!"

Each year, an average of one walker - most over age 60 - dies after being struck by a bicyclist somewhere on city streets. Last year, two died.

Plus, an alarming number of pedestrians - 500 a year, according to a bicycle-advocacy group - get struck by a bike in the city, and live. Which means more than one person a day is potential road kill for the cyclist in a hurry.

Why don't we hear about this?

Most accidents occur on choked Manhattan streets, where bicycles rule and bipeds scramble. Ever try to cross Sixth Avenue at lunchtime? It's like human pinball. You get more warning before a lightning strike.

"They own the city - at least they think they own the city," griped Larry, 70, who walked carefully on the bike path. "Even in the parks. We're always in the way!"

A spokesman for Transportation Alternatives, the bicycle-advocacy group, told me the number of pedestrian fatalities was "statistically insignificant." I started digging.

Buried deep in a 2006 city report was the news that 11 people died after being struck by bikes between 1996 and 2005. After businessman Arthur Kaye was killed by a deliveryman in 1997 - the only case that got significant press - Transportation Alternatives revealed the truth: 500 people are struck by bikes each year.

I would not recommend that anyone, particularly a cop, push a biker off his perch. But to deny the tension that exists between lawless bikers and foot lovers is a mistake.

You take your life in your hands when you use your feet.

andrea.peyser@nypost.com
Feel free to comment at andrea.peyser@nypost.com
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Old 07-31-08, 09:20 AM
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Wow. LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME! DRAMA! CONTROVERSY! LOOK AT ME!
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Old 07-31-08, 09:29 AM
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Originally Posted by cg1985


Wow. LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME! DRAMA! CONTROVERSY! LOOK AT ME!
Have to agree.

In the reported time frame, how many pedestrians were struck and killed by cars in the same area?
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Old 07-31-08, 09:55 AM
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And how many of the struck pedestrians were crossing against the light?
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Old 07-31-08, 09:55 AM
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Do you know how many people die every year from Rabies? Five! It truely is the silent killer.
^Reminded me of this^
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Old 07-31-08, 04:54 PM
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Don't know what the US equivalent figures are, but in the UK in the 8 years ending 31/12/05, 5 pedestrians were killed in collisions with cyclists on crossings, footways and verges. In the same period 912 pedestrians were killed in collisions with motor vehicles in same circumstances.

Guess which deaths get the national media's knickers in a twist.
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Old 07-31-08, 05:25 PM
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Originally Posted by atbman
...Guess which deaths get the national media's knickers in a twist.
+1

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Old 07-31-08, 05:42 PM
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I first thought this was a joke piece until I noticed the source: New York Post.

That's what convinced me.
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Old 08-01-08, 07:18 AM
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Lets see, a quick Google search found that NYC averages 310 pedestrian deaths by autos each year. For the 10 year period in question that means 3,100 vs 11. Looks like bikes are more a cure than a problem.
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Old 08-01-08, 08:33 AM
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I'm glad this was written up and publicized. Now everyone has fair warning that I'm a two wheeled homicidal maniac. Get out of my way and all will be well. Better still, stay in your plastic bubble. You never know when (two-wheeled) lightning will strike.

baaaaaaaaaaawaaaaaaaaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
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Originally Posted by cedricbosch
It looks silly when you have quotes from other forum members in your signature. Nobody on this forum is that funny.
Originally Posted by cedricbosch
Why am I in your signature.
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Old 08-01-08, 09:44 AM
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Originally Posted by CastIron
I'm glad this was written up and publicized. Now everyone has fair warning that I'm a two wheeled homicidal maniac. Get out of my way and all will be well. Better still, stay in your plastic bubble. You never know when (two-wheeled) lightning will strike...
Take care out there. That attitude, held by many non-cyclists, is being used to justify violent attacks on cyclists, especially in the UK since this case hit the headlines.

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...non+Bennett%22

https://www.bikeforums.net/advocacy-safety/446519-sort-diferent-story-uk.html
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Old 08-01-08, 09:52 AM
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I almost nailed my first pedestrian yesterday.

The fellow was crossing against the light and after some hard g braking and a near miss, and we're talking inches, the fellow apologized.
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Old 08-01-08, 10:13 AM
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people killed by cars every year in the united states: ~ 63,000
people killed by bikes every year in the united states: ~1

just, you know, to keep things in perspective.
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Old 08-01-08, 10:27 AM
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Originally Posted by markhr
Take care out there. That attitude, held by many non-cyclists, is being used to justify violent attacks on cyclists, especially in the UK since this case hit the headlines.

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...non+Bennett%22

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=446519

Tongue in cheek, my man.
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Originally Posted by cedricbosch
It looks silly when you have quotes from other forum members in your signature. Nobody on this forum is that funny.
Originally Posted by cedricbosch
Why am I in your signature.
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Old 08-01-08, 10:45 AM
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Originally Posted by CastIron
Tongue in cheek, my man.
We know that but not everyone reading the forum does.

Have fun, stay safe and keep riding.
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Old 08-01-08, 10:55 AM
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Elderly pedestrians in danger from bikes, oh noes!!

A couple of years ago, in the space of about 3 months, three pedestrians were killed in Victoria, BC by elderly car drivers who mistook the gas for the brake pedal. Three separate incidents. Drivers were all over 70.
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Old 08-01-08, 07:46 PM
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Surreal.
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Old 08-02-08, 01:54 AM
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Originally Posted by Sixty Fiver
I almost nailed my first pedestrian yesterday.

The fellow was crossing against the light and after some hard g braking and a near miss, and we're talking inches, the fellow apologized.
I've ridden with someone who hit a pedestrian. This was in a crosswalk. The light turned green and the cyclist figured he didn't need to look to see if anyone was in the crosswalk, because after all the cyclist is always in the right, isn't he?
 
Old 08-02-08, 05:39 AM
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Originally Posted by BassClef
To reduce the deaths of these people at the wheels of bicycles to insignificant statistics is barbaric. Get over yourselves, you ****ed up arrrogant ******* 2 wheelers.
now there's some twisted knickers for ya!

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Old 08-02-08, 10:01 AM
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this nearly happend to me once. i should have stepped out and decked his ass.
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Old 08-02-08, 10:08 AM
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this nearly happend to me once. i should have stepped out and decked his ass.
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Old 08-02-08, 10:59 AM
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I live to kill.
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Old 08-02-08, 11:16 PM
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Originally Posted by frymaster
people killed by cars every year in the united states: ~ 63,000
people killed by bikes every year in the united states: ~1

just, you know, to keep things in perspective.
Could you provide a death per mile statistic? That would be more relevant. (Also discounting the increased likely hood of injury when struck by a 3000 pound object versus a 300 pound object.)
With the increase in fuel cost there will be an increase in bike/pedestrian interaction. There have already been articles on it locally.
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Old 08-03-08, 01:40 PM
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How about indirect deaths due to bicycling? Such as those murdered by their spouses when the Visa bill came?
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Old 08-03-08, 01:47 PM
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One on average! And last year there were two! OMG

More people die from falling vending machines, right?
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