The festive atmosphere at Open Streets on Columbus Avenue turned frightening and chaotic Sunday afternoon when an elderly woman was hit by an e-bike that sped away after stopping only briefly, according to a witness. The rider was reportedly a delivery person carrying a pizza on his bike.
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The hit and run happened at about 1 p.m. at the intersection of West 75th Street, according to the witness.
The witness told ILTUWS that the woman was crossing Columbus Avenue at 75th Street and was about to step up onto the sidewalk when the bike, which was heading south, collided into her. She fell backwards and her hand hit the pavement. As bystanders rushed over to help, the witness said blood could be seen coming from a wound on the back of her head.
The rider got off his bike and appeared to briefly take stock of the situation. As a crowd began to gather, he jumped back on his bike and sped off, the witness said.
“He looked like he was assessing the situation,” the witness said. “Then he freaked out and fled.”
A second individual who was there wrote on a Reddit thread that they “only saw the immediate aftermath. I really hope she is okay and that maybe a camera got a good look at the a**hole who took off. Sad.”
As he sped away, several people began to chase him while screaming for people further down the street to try to stop him. Some took out their phones to take photos and videos of him.
“We were all screaming and people were trying to catch him but he got away,” the witness said, adding that there was a red insulated pizza delivery pouch on the back of his bike.
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At least one bystander called 911. Others yelled to anyone within earshot to ask if there were any doctors in the area. One person who appeared to be a doctor rushed over and began helping the woman, who was lying on her back in the bike lane and was conscious and talking, according to the witness. The medical professional talked with the victim and started applying pressure to her wound. He stayed with her until the ambulance arrived.
“He was speaking with her and trying to keep her calm and conscious,” the witness said.
The unidentified woman was taken to a hospital by ambulance. She appeared to be in her 70s or 80s and was alone at the time, the witness said.
The witness, who lives on the UWS, was enjoying Open Streets with her husband when they happened to see the accident. (Open Streets is when Columbus Avenue is closed to traffic on select Sundays.) She said both the bike rider and the victim seemed to be watching the goings-on and neither saw the other. She said the bike rider was not going that fast. The traffic light was presumably red because the witness said her husband recalled that the walk sign indicated pedestrians could cross. (All bikes must stop at red lights just like cars.) He also heard another witness call out “She had the right of way.”
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“My husband believes he saw the walk sign,” the witness said. “That’s the first thing he checked.”
She described the rider as short in stature and possibly Hispanic.
“It was terrible,” the witness said. “We’ve been thinking about her all day and hope she’s okay.”
E-bikes are causing increasing concern throughout the city as incidents like this one continue to happen with alarming frequency. Calls are growing louder for tougher regulations and stepped up enforcement in an effort to improve safety. Among other suggested changes, the New York E-Vehicle Safety Alliance is asking the City Council to require all e-bikes, mopeds and scooters to have license plates, liability insurance and be required to get safety inspections, according to a CBS News story. They also want e-vehicles to be classified as motor vehicles. The Alliance includes more than 70 victims of e-vehicle collisions and those who’ve lost loved ones to them.
“I was shell shocked,” said the shaken witness. She and her husband stayed on the scene until the ambulance left with the victim. She said she wanted to be available to police as a witness if they had been there.
It appears that police did not respond to the accident and did not have a report on it Sunday night. An NYPD spokesperson said, however, that it could still be reported to police, which could lead to an investigation.
ILTUWS is waiting to hear back from a representative from Columbus Avenue BID.
Open Streets but not for pedestrians. I’m sick of it.
I hope the victim recovers. The City needs to stop making excuses and rein in e-bikes.
Pedestrian,
The State of NY is also massively at fault for having legalized ostensibly speed limited throttle e-bikes in early 2019.
The State needs to revisit the electronic speed limit on such unlicensed “bikes” and e-scooters; that limit should be 10 MPH, not the current 20 MPH.
Then yes, the NYPD needs to stop classing e-bike/e-scooter driver caused serious injuries/deaths as “quality of life issues”.
Sad but nothing new here. Many in the neighborhood were hit or almost hit by e-bike or motorcycle. And the bikers even ride on walkway. It is a joke when the cars have 25 miles per hour speed limit but not the bikes. Seriously they are riding faster than the cars and do not have to follow the traffic lights and any rules! What is the point of having a dedicated bike lane when most do not use it…
“ All bikes must stop at red lights just like cars.”
This is a joke. Virtually none do unless they have to for their own safety. Bottom line is any vehicle that is able to exceed the city’s modest speed limit on its own power should be required to be registered, bear a license plate and users insured. And delivery vehicles must also bear visible identification as to who they are being operated for. Too many reckless riders and for the record, it’s still illegal to ride a bike of any sort on a sidewalk. Start enforcing the laws and maybe pedestrians won’t have to walk in fear.
“It appears that police did not respond to the accident ”
Of course they didn’t.
So glad Eric Adams is cutting school lunches and libraries to throw more money at these “heroes.”
And when the bike lobbiests tell us how safe bikes are and report accident statistics they are only reporting the ones the police responded to. Almost none.
This specific incident shoukd be raised at the next precint meeting since we have a reliable article about it.
Let’s get something straight. Pedestrians always have the right of way. Vehicles cannot run down pedestrians with impunity – well, in this city apparently they can, but in civilized cities and states it isn’t allowed. The bike (motorized and non-motorized) situation has become untenable, despite Mayor Adam’s insistence that there is no problem.
Actually, ebikers can go zooming through red lights- and they can and do go faster than 20 miles per hour. The city council and mayor’s office a couple of years ago allowed for them to go through red lights so they could do their deliveries faster and maybe get a bigger tip. They need to correct this serious mistake. I had to have laser surgery on a knee due to an ebiker smashing into me. I was in a pedestrian crosswalk and he just zoomed right into me screaming at me to get out his way. This happens all the time. I’d be hit more often, but I watch for them like a hawk. They’re maniacs and need to held accountable.
What law you are mentioning that City Council and Mayor allow bikes to go through red lights? I never heard of it and seems very unlikely that such a thing exists.
Thanks.
Here you go. The bikes can go when the pedestrians get a walk signal.
https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=2564366&GUID=D4E7E09A-5B98-4C14-BAC8-A9D242408B26
Thisbis especially dangerous IMO at the intersection of Columbus and W 66th where sometimes the lights are red in all directions so pedestirans can cross. The bikes barrelling down Columbus in thr bike lane don’t stop. I’ve been screamed at for crossing with the light.
Thanks Brandon but this relates to bicycles crossing with the pedestrian walk signal in the several seconds when the traffic light is red. It does not apply to ebikes, like Carla is suggesting.
I’ve read the testimony about this bill and it was advocated on behalf of bicyclists who were injured or killed when hit by right turning vehicles because they had to wait with the traffic to cross rather than crossing with pedestrians.
Acknowledging that many bicyclists don’t follow the laws, this law doesn’t allow a bike to go barreling down the street because these pedestrian lights happen while the bikes should be stopped at the light anyway.
I’m not being argumentative, just pointing out that the commentary about some law allowing bicyclists to go through red lights is not true.
But the bikes aren’t always stopped forst. Sometimes, if you are a pedestrian or bike or car, as you approach a inintersection the light changes and you don’t have to stop. I don’t know what happened in this care bit it is possible thatbthr elderly lady who was just about to step up onto the curb reached that point jist as the light was.changing.
To my point about Columbis and W66th St anf all Barnes dances, in one direction pedestrians and bikes have the walk signal when the signal in the other direction also switches to walk. The bikes can be barrelling down the road when the pedestrians step out.
I understand. The fact remains that bicyclists (“e” or not) need to follow the laws. If they did, most of these types of accidents would be avoided.
Of course they need to follow the laws. And everyone needs to be alert. In this case I fail to see how the cyclist didn’t see the pedestrian if he was paying attention at all.
I’m just pointing out that sometime a cyclist going through a red light is obeying the law because the law says they can go when the pedestrians get the walk signal. And that in a few cases this means that pedestrians could be crossing perpendicular to the way the bikes are going and that, even if everyone is obeying the law, there can be a collision.
I think the law allowing the bikes to go on the pedestrian walk signal needs to change or the Barnes dance intersections need to change,
Brandon,
It’s already state law that bicyclists, who are not under 13, need to obey all traffic laws.
State law supersedes any City law on the subject.
I was thinking of moving back to NYC and particularly, the UWS. Among other things, a recent experience on Columbus Avenue while dining in a restaurant in a shed, we could see the e-bikers speeding through the narrow passage. With all due respect for the restaurants that need the extra space/revenue and the riders of e-bikes who depend upon speedy trips for tips,the reality of the constant danger is too much for me. Bad enough to take your life in your hands just crossing the street when you have the signal!
Where are you moving back from? Chances are that the mortality rate there for all causes is higher than the UWS and that very dangerous and scary bike lane you’re afraid of. Do a lot of driving there?
Thank you NYCCouncil for legalizing without any regulations
Melanie,
Nope that was the State Legislature and Governor in 2019. So for this “accident’ L. Rosenthal and Holyman-Sigal share a good bit of the blame along with the NYPD.
There are plenty of laws governing e-bikes on the books, the NYPD simply doesn’t enforce them, and classifies this crash into an old woman as a “quality of life” issue.
Please tell me what law that is.
Susan W:
Throttle e-bikes (AKA class 2 “bikes”), which can be driven solely by the electric motor, are supposed to be electronically speed limited to 20 MPH within NYC–obviously they can coast down a hill faster or be peddled faster.
They don’t need license plates, inspection, insurance or a licensed driver. Their drivers are to obey all traffic laws/controls and NOT drive on the sidewalks.
Class 2 bike drivers are by far the biggest law breakers; they have killed and severely injured pedestrians.
Class 3 e-assist bikes, which the rider must be peddling before the e-assist feature kicks in, are electronically speed limited to 30 MPH–meaning no e-assist above 30 MPH, but the riders can peddle faster (quite an accomplishment) or coast down a hill faster.
The riders of e-assist bikes are to obey all traffic laws and controls and not ride on sidewalks. Kids exempt from the no sidewalk riding rule are not old enough to rent these machines. But Citi (Lyft) seems to rent them out to teens, who though of legal age to ride the machines, are not of legal age to accept liability in a rental contract as Lyft demands.
I saw the whole thing. I believe the courier was from Relay, who has no customer service number. The CEO is one Alex Blum (ablum@relaydelivery.com). It would behoove someone in either a legislative position or a higher-up at one of the food delivery services ( GrubHub, Seamless, DoorDash, Caviar, etc)to spearhead a campaign requiring accountability from each courier and, if not, be responsible for all charges and hospital charges related to their employees recklessly hitting- and-running from the scene.
I agree 100%.
I believe that most (if not all) of the delivery people are not “employees” of any company. They’re in the gig economy, trying to cobble together a living by grabbing delivery requests. None of that excuses disobeying traffic rules and / or running people down.
All bikes must obey traffic signals at all times.
The misnamed Open Streets program itself poses safety risks for many older New Yorkers and for those with disabilities who need to use the detoured buses. Most subways aren’t accessible.
Legislate safety rules for all bikes and actively promote safe riding practices using multiple types of personal service announcements.
There needs to be legislation and consequences for all delivery companies and each of their employees and couriers. If they hit and run, either the individual courier or the company that employs him (it’s always a ‘him’) must be responsible legally and financially for the injury.
Administrative Code of the City of New York §10-157 and §10-157.1 pertain to businesses that use bicycles for commercial purposes. Failure to comply with these laws and rules may result in a fine.
What a novel idea that the alliance wants e-vehicles to be classified as motor vehicles. I presume that the City seems not to realize that vehicles with motors are actually motor vehicles and that it requires that these e-vehicles should thus follow City laws. E-vehicles, like all motorized vehicles should be licensed and have a camera readable license plate, as well as carry insurance.
“The witness told ILTUWS that the woman was crossing 75th Street (from west to east)…”
Huh? Crossing 75th Street would be north/south.
I’m sure that Brewer, Hoylman-Sigal, and L. Rosenthal will be right on this. /s
Thank you for catching that error Jay. She was crossing Columbus Ave. at 75th Street. It’s fixed now.
Ideally, cyclists need to be ticketed every time they break traffic laws, but there aren’t enough cops in NYC to make this happen. Bikes have become the biggest menace to pedestrians and cars, ignoring all lights, rules and whomever is in their path.
It’s not the number of cops. I’ve seen cops on the beat watch violators and do nothing. Many times. They don’t care enough to make the effort.
You note and I agree: “Ideally, cyclists need to be ticketed every time they break traffic laws, but there aren’t enough cops in NYC to make this happen.” But if enough officers were hired and they successfully ticketed the lawbreakers, New York City could have more police officers and enough money from ticketing to become the richest city on the planet. I am so ashamed that I voted for Adams. He has been a disaster!
Jerry V:
Adams has been a predictable disaster.
He didn’t even care to live in the city, though he was the Brooklyn Boro president, for years.
Irrespective of the ongoing problems with bikes and e-bikes, if Columbus Avenue was closed to vehicular traffic for “Open Streets Day”, why was this bike even allowed to be riding on Columbus Avenue? Why didn’t the Security for the event stop the biker from entering the Avenue? Incomprehensible!
Pretty certain bikes are not prohibited on Open Streets.
MAMC:
This was not on the closed Columbus Ave.
The e-bike driver was driving on West 75th Street.
Cross streets are not closed on “open streets” days.
The cyclist WAS riding south on Columbus, it was the pedestrian who was crossing 75th St. Regardless, it doesn’t appear bikes are prohibited during Open Streets.
Witubess,
Read my comment again.
Cross/side streets are rarely closed during street fairs and open “street” events. It’s the avenues that are closed. So if the pedestrian were crossing West 75th Street, that means the pedestrian was walking north/south on some part of Columbus which remained open to traffic.
Going by this reporting, BOTH the “bike” driver and the pedestrian were in part of the Colubmus/W75th intersection NOT closed to cars. Then it’s highly likely that the “bike” driver ignored the redlight as he travelled south down Columbus.
Yes, as far as I know, “bikes” and bicycles are not banned from closed avenues on so called “open streets” days. But that’s immaterial to how/why this “accident” occurred.
Whether the pizza delivery guy had a green to travel down Columbus into the “open” “streets” area, well likely the “bike” lane, isn’t important in this case, because after hitting the pedestrian, he didn’t remain on site. That he fled means his “bike” should be seized and crushed. And he needs to spend time locked up in Rikers. If a restaurant directly employed him, the owner and the day manager need to face criminal charges too.
The Open Streets is another gimmick being sold to the public as a “great” idea so that the lobbyists behind the plan can close off the streets to cars. Their goal is to get rid of all private cars in the city, using the excuse that cars/trucks are heavily involved in traffic fatalities and ebikes and their cousins are healthy alternatives. This is nonsense. Cars are involved in more accidents because 1- there are more of them, and 2- the ebike accidents are rarely reported as such. Many of the errant ebike riders, whether they are citibikes, delivery bikes or other, leave the scene of any accident. Good luck finding them after the fact as there is no ID on the bike.
Closing a couple of blocks for a block party for one afternoon is one thing. Closing off the street permanently to traffic is a nightmare. Do you want that kind of street noise wafting up your windows all the time? What if an ambulance needs to get to someone who lives on that street? The difference in time to remove the concrete posts and clear the street of bystanders could be the difference in a fatality or a rescue. Ditto for police or fire trucks when needed. Oh, and should you be lucky enough, you just might be near some miscreant running from the cops who are in a vehicle. The perp now takes a short cut through your new backyard and runs safely through your “open street” that is closed for traffic.