Gothamist: Open Car Door Kills Midtown Bicyclist

KiLz

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:11:05 -0500

There's no stopping this from happening again... Because people are always going to be stupid. How hard is it to peek at your mirror? You're already looking at you door handle.. Just look up about 5 inches you jackass... It sickens me. I've never been doored, but this still pisses me off because it's easly avoidable. It happens all the time. Just like people making a right turn. Looking at the oncoming traffic and nothing else. Killing someone with their stupidiy. Why are you people all worried about his helmet? A helmet MIGHT have saved him, but the problem still remains. Think before you act FFS.

tomwald

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 21:49:07 -0500

Says dev: point is, though, bikers are just as responsible for what happens to them on the roads as are drivers. but for some reason, bikers don't seem to understand that. if you're not careful and anticipating that you're going to get hit, you're probably going to get hit. It is absurd to think that bicyclists are equal or more of a threat to others than motorists are to others, so I hope you weren't trying to make that claim. Regarding safety for one's self, indeed bicyclists must take care. If you spend any amount of time bicycling in a city, you will either die (highly unlikely, but as we see, this indeed happens) or you will be careful about how you interact with your surroundings -- there is essentially no other choice with this. Experienced bicyclists are careful enough regarding their own safety or they wouldn't be seen alive anymore (, which is not to say that a bicyclist won't get hit anyway). Dev, or anyone else, if you can dispute using substantial counterarguments what I claim above, I and billions of other bicyclists could benefit from what you have learned. My understanding is that David Smith had been bicycling for years in an urban setting. ------ From what I have read, of the people involved in the death of Mr. Smith, only the driver and passenger of the parked vehicle were cited/charged. No report claims that Mr. Smith was in violation of the law. The driver of the truck that drove over Mr. Smith, is likely not culpable since Mr. Smith and his bicycle entered the moving truck's path without adequate space/time for an emergency stop, but I have not seen any detailed analysis of this point. Had the driver and passenger of the parked vehicle not violated the law, then Mr. Smith would not have died there and then. ------ m3brooklyn, Thanks for the airplane seat belt analogy. Likewise for others giving some perspective on the minimal protection offered by bicycle helmets, which pedestrians and motorists are welcome use so that they can set an example for the helmetless bicyclists.

Tim N.

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 11:30:33 -0500

Dev: I could get witty, but screw it. You're a fucking idiot.

dev

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 10:52:39 -0500

so don't bike. seems simple enough.

jfc

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 10:28:53 -0500

Yes, us bikers are just as responsible as drivers. Ask anyone who bikes and they'll tell you their methods for not getting hit. The fact is that even if we follow all laws, we'll still get cut-off, side-swiped, and doored. When we get hit, we get hurt...badly. Cars and drivers don't.

zantony

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 10:17:39 -0500

That should be "lack of compassion" not "lake of compassion". Wasn't trying to be all poetic.

zantony

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 10:15:26 -0500

Where's the responsibility on the part of the biker? How fast was he going? Was he anticipating that perhaps the door might open? Yes, how dare he expect that a car door not open into him while riding in the bike lane. Jesus. Fuck off. Right back at ya, ace. And no, I'm not a biker, but your idiocy and lake of compassion is just galling.

dev

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 10:05:13 -0500

was it totally his fault? probably not. is he without liability in the accident? probably not. did he deserve it? certainly not. point is, though, bikers are just as responsible for what happens to them on the roads as are drivers. but for some reason, bikers don't seem to understand that. if you're not careful and anticipating that you're going to get hit, you're probably going to get hit.

zreader

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:12:36 -0500

"Was he anticipating that perhaps the door might open?" Are you kidding? Now it's the bicyclist's fault for not reading the mind of the passenger? The passenger committed manslaughter. The cyclist committed to using less carbon and getting exercise. Whom are we blaming again? Sheesh. Poor guy, and his poor partner. I wish something good would come out of this tragedy, but I have no confidence that it will. Most of my friends who bike have gotten hit by a door--I'm just wondering when I'll run out of luck. Also, I agree about bike lanes so frequently being blocked, and it being scary to veer in and out of traffic. This is also a problem when bike lanes end with nowhere else to go, lilke when you come off the Brooklyn Bridge onto Adams St/Boerum Place (or maybe i'm thinking of Cadman Plaza West--whichever has the nice green lanes for about 1/2 a mile and then crazy cars and buses all of a sudden).

dev

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 21:25:13 -0500

Where's the responsibility on the part of the biker? How fast was he going? Was he anticipating that perhaps the door might open? You bikers love to throw the blame on people in cars without accepting any responsibility yourselves. Fuck off. And ride the subways. WITHOUT YOUR BIKES.

NoDragon

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 21:15:26 -0500

In Hong Kong (years ago, at least,don't know if the law was changed) the passenger would be in jail for murder.

Reflect

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:40:37 -0500

Fuck the bike lanes. Im back on the walks. You old whipper snappers can raise ur canes at me all you want.

Kevin Walsh

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 18:16:19 -0500

Can't tell you how many screaming matches I have had with doorers. Looks like they finally claimed one. Koch tried concrete barriers in the late 70s but for reasons I forget now, they were found unworkable... www.forgotten-ny.com

jt10000

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 18:05:42 -0500

Chunk, Maybe I could explain to you why cyclists sometimes don't wear helmets, but first could you tell me if you wear a helmet while walking or driving, and if you don't, could you explain that to me. Hundreds of pedestrians and car travelers get severe head injuries every year in our city, so could you please explain to me why more people don't wear helmets while walking, driving or in cabs.

RatherBe

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 17:28:36 -0500

To those who say bike lanes are worthless and don't bother using them : Not everyone is young, fit, and fast. For many people, the bike lane is the safest place on the road, and when people park in them and are careless, things like this happen.

Gwinny

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 17:20:19 -0500

ECA: well said. Gotta keep fighting ignorance, y'know?

ECA

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 16:44:06 -0500

Larry, Thousands of people ride their bikes around Manhattan every day and the overwhelming majority do not get in serious accidents (let alone killed), so it is definitely not suicidal. Ironically, I find that there is nothing more annoying than cars cutting me off or blowing their horns and passing me only for me to catch up with them at the next light change. You may not like cyclists but the idea that bikes are clogging up the city streets is laughable. I'll remember that tomorrow while I ride through standstill traffic. p.s. I would never ride without a helmet. But, if any part of you gets run over by a truck, you are not likely to survive, helmet or not.

DaLata

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 16:25:27 -0500

the city is too crowded for trucks AND bicycle lanes as it is. where's Bloomberg to use this incident to promote his congestion pricing plan?

jammer

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 16:22:35 -0500

a helmet isn't going to help you much when your body is being crushed by a truck! dispassionate assholes.

Tim N.

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 16:13:18 -0500

When the cops got there, they just should have shot the driver in the bike lane. Bang. On site. Make sure everyone saw them. Makes as much sense as letting him off with just a summons. But, hey, cops hate bikers. The guy in the bike lane KILLED this biker. KILLED him. And the police did everything but shake his hand. Helmet or no, outrageous. Arm the cyclists.

Larry

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 16:09:15 -0500

This is Manhattan--a city filled with CARS. Sorry, but bicycling in this city is suicide. There is nothing more annoying than bicyclists clogging the streets and sidewalks. If you want to bicycle go move to Westchester. Loser.

Gwinny

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 16:00:50 -0500

I always wear a helmet, but as several people have already commented, a helmet doesn't do you a lot of good when your body is being run over by a truck. I have been riding in this city for 9 years and cannot even begin to count how many times I have nearly been "doored" by a careless car occupant. When is my luck going to run out...? I don't even want to wonder. I just keep paying attention and assume a door could open at any moment. That's what has saved my ass so far. Also, it bears repeating that the bike lane on 6th Ave. is on the left side, so this was a passenger illegally opening his/her door into traffic (hence the summons, but is that really enough when you take someone's life??) babyhitler: iparkedinabikelane.org has great stickers. Unfortunately, I recently ran out of them (I can go through 5-6 on my daily commute home). RIP David Smith.

bklynd

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 15:55:20 -0500

>Typically you'd never read phrases like "his wife of 36 years" Actually, I would find that observation perfectly commonplace and normal. The idea is that once you've lived a huge chunk of your life with some person the loss would be particularly staggering. It adds human interest to the story. Here's a handy google search to back it up.

m3brooklyn

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 15:08:23 -0500

I think a better analogy might be not wearing your seatbelt on a plane. Should you wear it? Yeah, you should, it can prevent injuries in turbulence and it might even improve your odds in a crash. But nobody will start blaming you for your own death if your plane goes down and you're not wearing a seatbelt, just because a seatbelt might have helped you in turbulence. Whether a helmet might have saved Mr. Smith in a totally different kind of accident is really kind of irrelevant.

JenChungsBra

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 15:05:59 -0500

There were three summonses issued, two to the driver and one to the passenger who opened the door.

zodak

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 14:38:12 -0500

the passenger should have looked before opening the door into traffic just to make sure there were no cabs using the bike lane, like they usually do. i can't believe they aren't being charged with anything considering all the illegal things they did which directly resulted in someone's death. wearing a helmet is important (i do) but you can still die while weating one. idiots block the bike lane all the time: clicky

babyhitler

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 14:27:14 -0500

as someone who's stopped biking recently because of all the recent surge of deaths resulting from car doors I find it appalling that these car people get away with murder. Are civil suits ever brought to trial? I would recommend bikers get stickers that say "asshole parked in Bike Lane!" and stick em on the backside of all the cars parked in the lanes. Guerrilla tactics work if they are a gentle warning.

Stacy Horn

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 14:17:57 -0500

This story just haunts me. I was talking about it last night. I was thinking about the times I looked first before opening a car door, then two seconds later, a car or person or biker is suddenly there, out of nowhere. Also, do I always look? I think so, mostly because I'm also thinking of my own safety, I don't want to be hit by a car, but still, am I sure?? If I was responsible for someone's death like this, however accidental, I don't think I could live with myself, it's just so horrible. I don't know, it's gotten out of hand in the city, from all sides. Drivers, bikers, pedestrians. We're all doing something we shouldn't be doing. How can we turn this around?? RIP, David Smith. My condolences Mr. Moody.

DannyL

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 14:14:09 -0500

The memorial ride is scheduled for Sunday, Jan 6th. (not Jan 3rd as mentioned above)

gothamistgsc

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 14:05:55 -0500

My comment is unrelated to bike safety. Why oh why when it comes to gay couples does the media (Gothamist included) have to mention the number of years they were together? Typically you'd never read phrases like "his wife of 36 years". It would just be "his wife". But when it comes to articles about gay couples it seems as if the longevity of the relationship is vitally important, as if the number of years (wow, thirty-six!) proves to the dominant majority that we've earned our stripes as decent people and are therefore deserving of an article written about us, especially a sympathetic one. What nonsense. As a gay man am I supposed to read into this that my relationship of 3 years is not really worth anything? That I have to be with him for a good while for it to count as something? Should I avoid getting into a fatal bike accident or saving a runaway subway train or performing any act that would get me in the media until, oh let's say, a decade of good solid relationship has passed? It's ridiculous. Whether they were together 36 years or 36 months isn't germane to the story. Just say his "partner". We get it. They were together. They loved each other. End of story. Thanks.

smitty

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 14:02:40 -0500

Really sad. :(

JenChungsBra

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 14:00:43 -0500

Who are all these wimps who need bike lanes to ride? I've been riding a bike in this city for decades and never gave a second thought about bike lanes. "Boo hoo! It's too dangerous without a bike lane!" "Boo hoo! Someone parked in my bike lane!" "Boo hoo! The police don't enforce bike lanes!"

chunk

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 13:57:31 -0500

More like someone who wasn't wearing a seatbelt getting killed by a drunk driver. Just because the drunk driver caused the accident doesn't take away from the lunacy of riding in a car without a seatbelt.

brunning

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 13:41:26 -0500

but jen - jaywalking and drunk driving are *illegal* there is no helmet law for the average joe. anyway, i hope this tragic incident is remembered when the city is planning more bike lanes, and i hope we end up with more physically-buffered bikes lanes like the one on 9th ave. i also hope the media learns to stop writing like the Daily News did here: Bicyclist killed after falling in front of truck A 63-year-old man bicycling in midtown Manhattan Wednesday morning hit a car door and flipped into the street before he was run over and killed by a box truck, police said.

slyseekr

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 13:35:06 -0500

I've seen several bikers and (a biker myself) have been on the receiving end of being "doored". There's little chance a helmet will save you if you fall into the next lane, especially in Manhattan. Last spring, I witness a girl get doored on Metropolitan Ave in Williamsburg by some overzealous driver who was more concerned about snagging a parking space. The girl slammed into the door fell to the road in front of a bus. She saved her head by a foot, but walked away with some bruised ribs. I also agree that bike lanes tend to do more harm than good. They serve as a parking lane for cars, where then bikers have to negotiate the traffic behind them. And two, they make it so much easier for delivery boys to bike against traffic flow and/or pedestrians to actually use the lane as a walking path. Combine all these with the myriad of horrible New York drivers and you have a recipe for disaster. I think what most bikers really want is for everyone to be a bit more aware that we're out there. When you're getting out of a cab, or opening your car door, please take an extra 2 seconds and look behind the car to see what's coming. It's the least you can do.

smh

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 13:33:45 -0500

I prefer the bike lanes in Amsterdam, which are separated from the road by a thin island-curb, which is approximately 24 inches wide. This provides a physical buffer from cars and the vast majority of motorists can not double park and block up the bike lane. This type of bike lane would be more more effective and efficient than the new monstrosity on 9th Avenue, which only creates more confusion, in my opinion.

John Del Signore

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 13:25:58 -0500

Really good point, Drewo.

Jen Chung

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 13:24:40 -0500

I think the possible absence of a helmet is newsworthy, just as it would be newsworthy to mention if someone was injured/killed while jaywalking in the middle of the street or crossing against the light. The way it would be newsworthy to mention if a driver were intoxicated or not or a car passenger were wearing a seatbelt. It explains some of the context.

Monster_mash

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 13:22:46 -0500

This is an ongoing debate, but I sometimes think that bike lanes (at least the painted white line ones that we have) are really no help and may even be more dangerous. Whenever they're blocked, they actually force you out into traffic. Whereas if you just ride in traffic and demand the roadspace, drivers just have to deal with it and go around you. But if you have to keep reentering traffic that isn't prepared for you, the cars aren't expecting you and their speed has not been adjusted for the possibility of cyclists in their midst. Of course, the other possibility is that the trucks double-park outside the bike lane. This feels only slightly less dangerous because people are often unloading and loading right in the lane and there's always the potential to be doored. The only bike lane I really like is on the park side of CPW. There are no stores, commercial traffic, double-parking, etc. Although you often get cabs occupying the bike lane there, picking up or dropping off passengers. People say that even physically separated bike lanes will be dangerous because cars will not be expecting cyclists at intersections. I think the best solution is really just to ride in the traffic, be visible and force drivers to deal with your presence. Sometimes I feel like I need an airhorn to do this, though. But this is very sad.

drewo

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 13:18:38 -0500

The police view the world from the inside the fishbowl that is their police cruiser. Everything and everyone else, including pedestrians and cyclists, is an alien "other". The police are so removed from the daily life of the streets, ensconced in their motorized cocoon, that they no longer can distinguish from lawful and unlawful. Bring back the beat cop who really knew the streets of his/her beat. That cop had a connection with and an understanding of the community. Take the cop out of the car and remove the blinders that come from the slavish devotion to car culture. Until then, these acts of recklessness will always been wrongly interpreted, and easily dismissed, as "accidents".

chunk

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 13:16:16 -0500

Someone please explain to me why a cyclist would not wear a helmet. Better yet -- if you are a cyclist who does not wear a helmet, please explain why.

jt10000

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 13:10:58 -0500

An *accident* is something someone has little or no control over. The person in the car was supposed to look out before opening the door. That's not an accident. That's a reckless mistake. And Jen, if you get hit by a car while crossing the street one day, can we report on whether or not you were wearing a helmet? If you die in a car crash, can I ask your family or witnesses the same question?

emilydickinson

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 13:07:51 -0500

I totally agree with you both. If a truck hits you, a helmet isn't going to do anything to save you (I still wear one anyway), and you are correct in stating the real problem is all these jerks treat bike lanes like unloading zones. I feel that the city should really step up the fine for blocking a bike lane, and actually enforce it. Make it a $1,000.00 USD fine and two points. Cyclist's lives are at stake here. Almost everytime I use one of the bike lanes (especially in lower Manhattan), it is blocked by trucks or taxis, actually making it more dangerous to use because you have to swerve back into traffic to avoid the people blocking the lane.Stories like this just make me sad. 22 Cyclists is way too many to lose, especially because they are killed by ignorant motorists who flaut the laws for convenience sake.

Neil Epstein

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 13:05:25 -0500

Shame, but really - no helmet?

petebfd

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 13:01:26 -0500

its not a freak mishap. its prick motorists being careless and now someone's dead. again. make it manslaughter. recklessness resulting in death, im pretty sure is the definition of involuntary manslaughter. have you ever tried to ride in a bike lane in manhattan? trust me those white lines mean nothing to the trucks constantly parked there or the rest of the assbags that whip around the city in their cars. just start making an example of people i say.

JMH

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 13:00:31 -0500

This is one reason why you WEAR A HELMET.

navinjohnson

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 12:57:16 -0500

what a fucking shame – rest in peace, david.

petebfd

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 12:52:04 -0500

its not a freak mishap. its dickhead motorists being careless and now someone's dead. again. make it manslaughter. recklessness resulting in death, im pretty sure is the definition of involuntary manslaughter. have you ever tried to ride in a bike lane in manhattan? trust me those white lines mean nothing to the trucks constantly parked there or the rest of the assholes that whip around the city in their cars. just start making an example of people i say.

petebfd

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 12:42:06 -0500

its not a freak mishap. its dickhead motorists being careless and now someones dead. again. have you ever tried to ride in a bike lane in manhattan? trust me those white lines mean nothing to the delivery trucks who constantly park here and the rest of these assholes that whip through here everyday.

John Del Signore

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 12:35:01 -0500

I always where a helmet but this is the kind of accident where it wouldn't have mattered. So sad, yet not surprising: cabs and trucks clog the bike lanes all the time and the cops - who routinely park in the bike lanes - do nothing. And even when something horrible like this happens, the worst consequence is a few summonses? Outrageous.