Bike Messenger Dies In Midtown

It's not really a matter of being catious. I've been riding the streets of NY for nearly 5 years, and the more catious you are, something bad will happen. Getting doored, or clipped is something you cannot avoid. I've been doored by 5 cops, and I was arrested, and heavily fined, for "Not veering out of the way." Sounds like the cops would rather us swerve into traffic and get killed, then hit them. Well it's the cars fault. Bigger objects must yeild to smaller, always!

Not even walking is safe in NY. Drivers think their metal car will save them, and they take advantage of that. Automobiles, except MTA should be prohibited entrence into NYC, for safety messures.

But a reporter cannot relate, not unless they have spent time in NY traffic. It's something you cannot imagine, but it's not hard like people say. Just...weird, and you just have to believe. I'll never stop being a messenger.

Whose fault? Let's see, from 1994-1997 NYC police reports found drivers largely or entirely at fault in 74% of pedestrian and bicycle fatalities, and partially at fault in another 16% (for example, blaming pedestrians killed by cars driving onto the sidewalk for being drunk). Despite this, only 16% of drivers in fatal colisions were given tickets. So long as it is accepted that drivers break the law and kill people with no repurcusions, it will continue to happen.

For example, Mr Regina was killed in a crosswalk, walking with the light, by a motorist going backwards the wrong way up a one-way street fast enough to fling his 200 lb body 20 feet through the air. This driver had gotten 2 speeding tickets in the previous 3 months, and got 3 more in the following 16 months, but he got no ticket for killing Mr. Regina. He should have been tried for manslaughter, but he got not even a ticket (Killed By Automobile, Komanoff, 1999) The NYC public has reacted by doing exactly nothing.

Whose fault then? Your fault.

Yes, it is illegal to open your vehicle door without looking first.

No, not all messengers eat while riding and they dont in fact need to (I was one of the top guys for several years, making over $550 a week plus insurance and after taxes).

Yes, messengers do ride poorly and take risks, and so do NYC pedestrains who practically never look when crossing a street against a light or jaywalking, and who then blame the messenger, who risks his own safety not to hit them, with "scaring" them. Frankly I left NYC partly due to a number of pedestrians just starting screaming at me while I sat stopped at the red and not in the crosswalk; that article in the Post about us being "terrorists" and "assassins" did not help either. It also did not help that my friend Brad was killed by an 18 wheeler that was not even supposed to be on that street, and no tickets were issued.

While New Yorkers are busy hating bicyclists, they are being killed and injured in huge numbers by the 25% who drive cars; and these drivers can do so with impunity. Even a driver with no license who killed a nine year old when he sped through a red light, while fleeing the scene of two earlier collisions, only gets a ticket. It is grotesque. While you allow this to continue you have no protection at all if someone wants to hurt you, or does not care if they do, and they happen to be in a car.

Whose fault? What have YOU done to change this?

Messengers work long, tough days in constant danger, risking their lives to make chump change. For anyone to place the blame on this messenger is utterly repellant. You should be ashamed of yourself. Messengers are on the roads every single day of the year in ALL kinds of conditions so they can make money to live. They MUST make these risky maneuvers if they're going to get the package delivered on time and get more work. THAT IS THEIR JOB. As a messenger myself, I have often ridden with a cup of coffee and a muffin. It's not like we've got the liberty to lounge around in a nice comfy office having our breakfast. We have to make that money. So we eat on the run. This "cautionary tale" should be a message for motorists to be conscious of the cyclists around them. We have to be out there to live.





And to the person who recommended having all cyclists licensed: This is another terrifying idea. This bill discourages cycling, and it's proposed fines would force undue financial hardships on many many messengers. The number of cyclists would diminish, and as a result, they would be pushed to the corners of drivers' thoughts. Fatal accidents like last Thursday's would increase.





If you mourn this death like the messenger community does, keep posted to www.nybma.com. The New York Bike Messenger Association will be raising money to help the family, as soon as they are found. As of this posting, the family still has not been notified of his death.





Ken

I was there a few minutes after the ambulances arrived. The truck was parked on the left hand side of the road. It may have been double parked, but I didn't see a car there. There were several police vans and ambulances, so it would have been impossible to tell which was the one was involved (in whatever way).

The bicyclist was still clipped in to his bike about 5 ft to the right of the truck. He was roughly in the middle left lane.

I caught the tail end of the messengers ride today (with police escort). There were barricades at the curb nearest the spot. I wound up talking with a few of them. They were equally split on whether he was an idiot for not wearing a helmet and the whole coffee/muffin thing. Then they started arguing whether he could have avoided the dooring if he had had both hands on the handlebar. In short, there's no real way for any of us to know anything other than it's really sad.

This isn't the first bicycle or skating death. I think the timing of so soon after the pedestrian death is why it's getting a lot of press. Good. Maybe more people will consider all the people on the road, drivers, bicyclists, skaters, skateboarders and pedestrians alike. Not sure about those Segway people though.

Take a look at http://transalt.org for more information including this helpful map

seriously, did any of you ranting or opinionated commenters SEE THIS HAPPEN? have you BEEN GIVEN THE EVIDENCE by the police?

um, no. you pieced it together from this site and a few newspapers... if you didn't see it happen, get over your "i know everything," high-horse, new york-ass attitudes, and admit that you're only guessing at what must have happened.

I'm a bike messenger, and all y'all are talking out of your asses. Yes, he should have been wearing a helmet. I do. But that doesn't mean that this still wasn't ABSOLUTELY, UNEQUIVOCABLY the truck driver's fault. It IS legal to ride between traffic. The tea and muffin thing is weird. A lot of people were talking about it on the road today. My suspicion is that he was probably riding one-handed. If you look closely at the picture, you'll see he was riding a mountain bike. Only messengers who ride fixed-gear, or track bikes, tend to ride no-hands. Also, just the fact that he's riding a mountain bike and not a street bike, plus the fact that none of the messengers who stopped semmed to know him, indicates that he's probably a novice, who would not have been riding recklessly as many of the rest of us do. (Yes, I ride recklessly. You wanna bitch me out, you're gonna have to catch me.)

Cyclists should be accountable for their actions. I've seen too many reckless and aggressive bike messengers/cyclists - riding opposite traffic, knocking pedistrians to their feet, not abiding by traffic laws like stopping at red lights or stop signs. It's unfortunate what happened to this guy .....

If you read the story, there seems to be no way this guy could have survived this. First, no helmet. Second, he had a coffee in one hand and a muffin in the other. How are you supposed to move in NYC traffic with your hands full? Yes, it's bad he died but use common sense, peoplem. Every time I get in a car, I put on a seat belt. If you're job is to be a bike messenger, why don't you own a helmet? It sounds like this guy died because he was cocky.

I agree, monk.

I know bicyclists in NYC have a rough go of it, which may tend to make them a little jumpy, but holy smokes, people! When you're driving a car, you should always assume that the other drivers are idiots- you will be right often enough to make it worth it. It's no different when you're riding a bike. Yes, drivers should look to see if anyone's coming before opening the door. But if you don't slow down to make sure they see you because, hey, "it's not my job", then you know what? You've won on principle but it doesn't make you any less dead.

Erikka is right. Based on the photograph in the article and the driver's contention that the Police van was moving at a high rate of speed, it looks like the cyclist had moved into the left lane, trying to avoid getting hit by the van. All quite legal, especially since many bike lanes are on the left to allow buses to run in the right lane. The delivermen were clearly at fault for not checking for traffic before opening the door. It could just as easily have been another car coming.

BTW, why is everybody calling us "bikers"? Bicyclists are "cyclists." "Biker" usually refers to a motorcyclist. You won't find lycra shorts and jerseys in a biker bar.

Read the newsday article again, they stated that it wasn't clear if he was hit by the police van or doored by the double parked truck. For the van to hit him, it would have to be moving, which means he was not riding in between a parked and a double parked car, but rather around the double parked truck. This is exactly where he should have been, really the only place he could have been. I doubt he was pulling anything crazy or moving at any real speed if he had a muffin and a coffee in one hand. Regardless, the poor guy is dead, for any of you to blame him is disgusting.

I'm glad people are finally beginning to talk about the dangers bikers face and those that they in fact cause. It is not a blame game to point out that some bikers act stupidly and recklessly sometimes. In fact, more people need to know and learn how to bike safely, and proper precautions for biking in the City or elsewhere.

Bikers, on this discussion board and outside of it, should support regulations and enforcement of such regulations to keep the roads safe for all bikers, because unsafe bikers are imposing costs on all other members of society, both safe bikers and non-bikers alike.

Also, why the hell don't all bikers wear helmets? Get over the "I look like a dork" thing, especially if you're older than 15 years old. First, it doesn't make you look like a dork -- in fact, it makes you look like someone who rides a bike regularly. Second, they are no longer uncomfortable or heavy. Third, it's personally and socially responsible.

As a car owner in NYC, I can say that I ALWAYS CHECK MY SIDE MIRROR BEFORE EXITING ON BUSY OR NARROW STREETS, not just for bikes, but for cars too. I will definitely redouble my efforts to check. The driver must feel horrible.

To you no driver's license people, no, there is no law saying you can't exit on the traffic side. How would old ladies get out of there car's? Climb over the center console? (That is just for taxi's.)

I don't understand haters who comment on this awesome blog.

As it is, Jen totally tiptoes around political issues (WHO exactly are the conservative/republican fuckheads we're appeasing here? Real New Yorkers? I doubt it), saying that bikers should take a note from the story to "be more careful" (and wear helmets, duh), is nothing to be mad about.

And for those of you who don't want Jen "telling you what to think" I have a super suggestion: quit reading the blog. Jen's the editor, she rules, and nobody forces you to read this. Quit making me mad!

From what I can gather from that story, he was riding to the left (driver side) of the double parked vehicle and between moving traffic (the police van), which would put him in the right. He was not attempting to wedge between double parked cars - which, in my opinion, are one of the biggest hazzards to bikers (not to mention a huge cause of traffic congestion). I also find it absurd that the cops ticketed the delivery van for having a slash in his tire, but not for double parking.

There really should be a dedicated bike lane on every street. Every main intersection should simply add a bike-green-light to go along with the car green light. Many of the world's major cities do this.

gothamist has always moralized. if you don't like it, don't read it.

i hate these stories. let's make all bikers be forced to get license plates! oh wait they're doing that already. so now the cops will know the name and adress of the biker who gets killed. things suck all around.

I agree with the few voices objecting to "the moral of the story" editorial statements. Gothamist seems to be doing this type of thing more and more lately and I find it so patronizing. I understand that telling me to "be careful" or "watch out" or whatever is a "nice" sentiment (albeit empty), but it comes off as being preachy. I don't need someone telling me what to think.

Jen also tells us single women to "be careful out there" when we hear of another story of someone getting raped or killed when they're walking home alone at night. It's not the woman's fault that she was raped/murdered, just like it might not be the biker's fault. All Jen is trying to do is express concern for fellow citizens who live in a dangerous city. Geez, people. Thank you, Jen, for caring.

matt, you do realize that once a helmet is damaged, it loses it efficacy and needs to be replaced, right?

double parking may be illegal – i'm no lawyer (thank god) – but i think it would still be the bike riders responsibility to safely manuever the road regardless of whatever obstacles, legal or otherwise, might cross his path.

Joeg, you state that the cars were double parked. I'm actually not aware of the law, but isnt' double parking illegal? I'm not trying to be sarcastic, I honestly don't know.

I do know what pisses me off to no end is when cars park in bike lanes. It's a bike lane, not a car parking lane. A few weeks ago I was riding up Central Park west an SUV was not only parked in the bike lane, the passenger door was wide open with nothing going on. I rode slowly by, closed the door and rode on and then the driver proceeded to shout profanities at me.

There is definitely a "sharing" problem here as far as the roads are concerned.

I was hit by a car a month ago and yes, I was wearing a helmet. The helmet was damaged and I'm sure glad I was wearing one. It's sad that people would let "looking like dork" or fear of bad hair keep them from wearing a helmet. You only get one brain folks . . .

It's sad and unfortunate, but I don't think it's anyone's fault. Nobody meant to kill anybody and nobody meant to die. It was a terrible accident. Unfortunately this city is crowded with cars, people, bikers and just about everything else. You have to constantly be alert and being both a biker and a driver of a car I can see how this can happen very easily. I can't think of easy solution but more bike lanes could help, also restricting the amount of cars. Although it's nice to drive for leisure purposes to a friends house or to party or to do errands, you really don't need to. Everywhere in Manhattan is reasonably accessilbe by PT. Only Cars for business purposes (delivery, cabs, etc) and Emergency vehicles should be permitted.

Well, I'm certainly sorry that guy was killed, But I have to agree with the sentiment of "it's still a cautionary tale of taking it easier". No mater who is to blame, this poor guy still lost his life.

As for he wasn't breaking any traffic rules: Is it lawful to Ride between cars? I'm pretty certain it isn't.

Note: I'm **NOT** saying it's his fault. IMO: it has yet to be clearly established. The article also says: "While police blamed the death on the truck's door, an official from Vesuvio Foods Co., the company that owns the truck, said his driver says the police van hit the cyclist."

In any case, I don't think anyone should jump on Gothamist for "it's still a cautionary tale of taking it easier".

I'm gonna have to second hating the "moral of the story" parts tacked on some Gothamist stories. Save it for Jerry Springer.

As someone who bikes in the city, I can sympathize with this situation. I have, on more than one occasion, been pushed between a moving car and a parked car, and most people aren't bright enough to check before throwing open the car door.

unless i'm reading this story wrong, it sounds as if the bike rider was trying to ride in between a double parked car and a parked car... instead of going around the double parked car. the story makes no mention of which door – driver side or passenger side – clipped the bike rider.

if he indeed was trying to snake his way in between, he is clearly and unfortunately responsible for his own death.

if you hate bikers, you're a republican. so fuck off and move back where you came from. we're short on space here anyway.

I walked by this yesterday morning. I've skated and biked in the streets for years. I've also been doored by a cab passenger opening the door on the wrong side. Some of what I'm hearing is quite disturbing (riding no hands holding tea and a muffin?) But some of the comments above are almost as bad. I think for any of us to judge what happened from the conflicting media reports is quite difficult.

It's still sad for all involved, no matter how it happened.

I think it’s against the law for passengers to exit out of the traffic side of a parked vehicle.

I am an avid mtn biker and urban cyclist. And it never ceases to amaze me how many people in this city refuse to wear helmets.

Helmets save lives.

And for those who think it looks bad. Think about how bad you'll look when your brains are all over the pavement.

Wear a helmet people!

I rode my bike to work this morning, which I should do more often. And even though it looks super-geeky, and makes me look like I ride the short bus, I wear my helmet.

While I think Greg's tone is over-the-top, I have to agree with his sentiment. The bike rider was riding the right way on the street and obeying traffic laws.

bill - he wasn't breaking any traffic rules! that's the point. he was riding the right way, with the light, when he got killed by one or two cars. and kate - if you had the walk signal, i'm with you - but if you cross against the light, or in the middle of the street, and don't look for bikes and i smack you, which will also hurt me, i will check to see that you are okay and will then scream at you.

if there's a "cautionary tale" for the biker, it's to wear a helmet. and this comes from a biker who doesn't always.... unless shit like this, or the girl from stereolab, or that girl from that band in boston, is fresh in my mind.

Silly Greg.

What Gothamist is pointing out here is that bikers in New York forget they are subject to the same traffic laws as all moving vehicles. This is to say, running red lights, riding the wrong way down one way streets and avenues, making turns on red lights, and jumping between sidewalks and roads are not permitted. These actions would not be allowed in a motor vehicle and are similarly prohibited for bicycles. Bikers should simply be more aware and more careful.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/bikeped/bike-nyc.html

As a New Yorker who has been HIT by a moving bicycle, I can testify first-hand that cyclists rarely feel they have to obey traffic laws. The added fun was that after slicing open my leg, the biker had the audacity to scream at me for using the cross-walk on a walk signal. Fascinating.

I don't hope a cyclist hits the reporter, but I do hope the reporter learns to avoid attaching "the morale of the story" to the victim. The van driver was clearly at fault, as the police indicated, so the morale should be along the lines of "its a cautionary tale of car, truck, and van drivers who fail to observe the required laws and put the lives of innocent cyclists in danger. A prosecution for reckless endangerment makes sense in this case."

Was her comment really that offensive to you? It doesn't matter whose "fault" it was, people should still be careful regardless. If a person is crossing the street and a car runs a red light and kills them, that would be a "cautionary tale" for pedestrians, even if it's not that individual's fault. This isn't a blame game.

Drew

"...it's still a cautionary tale of taking it easier"

Are you an expert on bicycling? When was the last time you ever rode a bike on a NYC street? Ever?

Bicyclist in NYC get disrespected enough without pseudo-journalists like you making stupid comments like that.

The police say it was the delivery truck drivers fault and you're ignorantly saying the bicyclist should be more careful?

How about people driving cars being more careful?

You are so ignorant. I hope a bicyclist runs you over.