I just heard on 1010 WINS about a cyclist injured on 10th Avenue in the 40s last night - a cab opened its door, the cyclist hit the door and was propelled under a bus and dragged 25 feet. Apparently he lived and was transported to St Lukes. Does anyone know if this was a NYCC colleague?
horrible cycling accident - does anyone have details?
Tue, 06/20/2006 - 2:30am
Tue, 06/20/2006 - 5:41am
#1
Story in the NY Post
"Here are the links regarding the incident from NY Post and 1010WINS.
http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/bus_hits_cyclist_dodging_taxi_regionalnews_perry_chiaramonte.htm
http://1010wins.com/pages/48132.php"
Tue, 06/20/2006 - 7:34am
#2
Avenging Angel!
The horror is two fold: My, our hearts and minds go out the cyclist. Live ... and ride again I pray.
Secondly, the cabbie. He committed a violation, it seems, which resulted in a serious injuries. He should receive several traffic tickets and be arrested on criminal charges.
I bet he drove away and went to dinner after it all.
Tue, 06/20/2006 - 6:31am
#3
NYCC Support
Very upsetting
I think as a club, we are supposed to send something to this guy at St. Lukes(whether he is a member or not) showing our support. Is this possible?
Ron
Tue, 06/20/2006 - 7:29am
#4
My thoughts are with this injured cyclist in wishing for a complete recovery.
I believe the time is nigh for a campaign to highlight the dangers of opening a car door in traffic.
I and several of my cycling friends have been doored in the last few weeks. We are not wreckless cyclists.
It seems to have gotten more dangerous recently.
What can be done about this problem?
Tue, 06/20/2006 - 7:41am
#5
Agreed
If I recall correctly, several years back (maybe 5?), I remember attending a club meeting where stickers would be handed out detailing a message something to the effect to 'look before opening'. The idea was that folks would place them on the passenger window of taxi-cabs they have ridden. I think such may have gotten the blessing of the TLC and perhaps was initially sponsored by TA. I don't recall ever seeing the stickers myself or know what came of it.
My memory of such is very sketchy. Perhaps someone else will chime in and correct me where I am wrong or what not.
Another solution is to have taxis that only open the rear door curbside and only done so mechanically by the taxi driver. This is what is done in Tokyo.
Tue, 06/20/2006 - 8:17am
#6
Ron, who else from the A23 group was doored recently?
(This is why I really prefer to minimize my midtown riding as much as possible)
Tue, 06/20/2006 - 8:39am
#7
JZ, SG and myself
Tue, 06/20/2006 - 7:14am
#11
My worst nightmare . . .
. . . has been a scenario just like this one. (Except tht instead of being doored and being subsequently thrown into traffic and dragged under a bus, I get doored and my head gets crushed like a zit by a garbage truck.) I heard on the radio this morning the cyclist was @ St Luke's (not Bellevue, which makes sense), and that Drs were trying to save his legs and his life. I wonder if he was riding in a bike lane? I wonder what the police report will say? It seems to me, that we are being killed in this city and no one is doing anything about it. I'm starting to get really stoked about this entire situation.
Tue, 06/20/2006 - 7:43am
#12
a bloody mess
"I happened to be walking by about 20 minutes after the accident. It was a terrible mess and really shocking. People reported to me that the cyclist had been riding against traffic (apparently on the east side of the street). Also that he was under the bus for ""a long time"" before the fire dept was able to free him.
I saw the bike too, which looked like a messenger or commuter bike. Of all involved, i think the bike got off easiest. Except for maybe the cabbie. I wouldn't have wanted to be that bus driver. . . .
"
Tue, 06/20/2006 - 10:43am
#13
If the guy was riding against traffic then he put himself at risk.
Tue, 06/20/2006 - 11:04am
#14
this was only hearsay (nm)
Tue, 06/20/2006 - 11:48am
#15
Hopefully it is just that, because it would otherwise only be used to further the notion that cyclists are reckless/dangerous.
Tue, 06/20/2006 - 11:51am
#16
"The 1010 Wins website said ""riding DOWN 10th Avenue"", which would indicate movement against traffic since 10th Ave runs northbound. The Post's on-line article does not give a directional indication."
Tue, 06/20/2006 - 1:08pm
#17
Direction cyclist heading?
But that WINS article posted in this thread says the cyclist was heading NORTH.
Tue, 06/20/2006 - 9:18am
#18
NYCC NEEDS TO STEP UP!
The club officially needs to step up here -- too much at stake not to.
Tue, 06/20/2006 - 9:21am
#19
Interiim response
"I agree with Ron that we cyclists need to raise a big stink about these continuing (and eminently predictable) ""accidents."" I nearly lost a leg on 5th Ave. Sunday afternoon, when a private car driver decided to squeeze in a narrow slot between me and the cab I was avoiding, and other moving traffic, at high speed. What the f*%&#&$*# is the rush?
Here is the dooring law, courtesy of David at TA:
NYC VTL §4-12-c - No person shall get out of any vehicle from the side facing on the traveled part of the street in such manner as to interfere with the right of the operator of an approaching vehicle OR BICYCLE (emphasis added).
I have asked the NYC Bicycle Coalition (of which NYCC is a member) to consider a response. For now, Noah at TA suggests:
1)Letters to the editors of the Post and the News
Daily News
Story: http://www.nydailynews.com/06-20-2006/news/story/428236p-361114c.html
E-mail: [email protected]
Post
Story: http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/bus_hits_cyclist_dodging_taxi_re...
E-mail: http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/letters/letters_editor.htm
2)Letters to the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission urging the agency to put “anti-dooring” stickers in all taxicabs.
Commissioner Matthew W. Daus
NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission
40 Rector Street, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10006
Fax: (212) 676-1101
Email: http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mailtlc.html
Please take a couple of minutes to send these messages if you can.
------------------
My letter to the Daily News:
To the editor: If bus drivers obeyed city speed limits, and cabbies and passengers looked before flinging open their doors--and the NYPD enforced existing traffic laws prohibiting such conduct--we would be spared these wrenching accounts of cyclists and pedestrians crushed and dragged to the brink of death, or over it. The carnage must stop.
---------------
To the Post:
To the Editor:
Haven't New York drivers figured out that being reckless or negligent with their car, bus, cab, or truck could cost other people their lives? And when will the NYPD stop the needless suffering by enforcing the ""anti-dooring"" law? It states: ""NYC VTL §4-12-c - No person shall get out of any vehicle from the side facing on the traveled part of the street in such manner as to interfere with the right of the operator of an approaching vehicle or bicycle."" It has NEVER been enforced, and once again we see the wrenching consequences.
-----------------------
To the TLC: (EASY WEB SITE!!!)
Please place stickers inside cabs instructing passengers (and drivers) to LOOK before opening the door, and to not discharge passengers on the traffic/street side of the cab. The latest horrific dooring injury inflicted on a cyclist is an abomination. (http://www.nydailynews.com/06-20-2006/news/story/428236p-361114c.html) These injuries can and MUST be prevented.
"
Tue, 06/20/2006 - 12:46pm
#20
The law should not distinguishes btwn a vehicle and a bicycle.
What's disturbing about the law as written that Carol cites, above, is that it distinguishes between a vehicle and a bicycle. Need I say it? A BICYCLE *IS* A VEHICLE.
Thu, 06/22/2006 - 11:27am
#21
The Daily News...
...published my letter. More information is coming.
http://www.nydailynews.com/06-22-2006/news/story/428692p-361541c.html
Thu, 06/22/2006 - 4:34pm
#22
we need a reporting sytem for dangerous drivers.
there has to be some way we as cyclist can fight back and report illegal and reckless vehicle operation, and have the police or DMV follow up. we can do it quite easily with taxi drivers, why not personal vehicles? yesterday a man with a broken bottle was harassing people on 14 street, the police responded and took the matter seriously. A vehicle driven illegally and recklessly to bicyclist is far more dangerous than a shirtless man with a broken beer bottle.
maybe there is some way that using the Internet reporting the reckless drivers, and the police follow up could be recorded. motor vehicle license plates are way too small to jot down 90% of the time, this is part of the problem.
Wed, 06/21/2006 - 6:57am
#23
Anyone know the latest status here?
