Trucker Kills Cyclist on Ninth Avenue and 29th Street

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A cyclist riding a red mountain bike was killed on Ninth Avenue and 29th Street at about 10 am this morning. The cyclist, a courier working for Urban Express, was traveling southbound in the right lane of 9th Ave. A 10-wheel truck carrying construction materials was driving in the lane to his left. At 29th Street, with the light green and both vehicles moving, the trucker made a right turn, directly into the path of the cyclist. With no no safety plating to prevent the cyclist from falling beneath the wheels of the truck, he was crushed and killed. Witnesses describe the crash as "horrific." Couriers at the scene say that the cyclist’s name was Darrell.

Transportation Alternatives’ Graham Beck was on the scene and he said the crash looked like a "classic right hook." The drivers of these big tucks have a big blind-spot along the right side of their vehicle. They can’t see much of anything on that side of the truck. Unfortunately, this does not prevent them from often making fast, aggressive right turns at crowded intersections. The "right hook" is a common way for pedestrians and cyclists to die on the streets of New York.

Be careful out there, folks! According to the Department of Health, heavy vehicles are twice as deadly to cyclists as cars. One-third of bike fatalities involve heavy trucks even though they represent only one-sixth of vehicle miles traveled in the city. Physically-separated, protected bike lanes on New York City streets would likely prevent many of these crashes from killing cyclists. But until the day comes when New York City makes the streets safer for bike commuting, you are completely on your own out there. Stay away from the passenger side blind-spot of these big trucks and assume that the drivers have no idea that there are people riding bikes on the streets of New York City.

  • Williamsburg Bridge +Closed Down+
    Williamsburg Bridge +Closed Down+ A motor vehicle accident with a bicyclist that was struck and landed on the windshield of a brooklyn car service that struck him at South 4th Street and Roebling is in very serious condition and is being transported by EMS over the Williamsburg Bridge to Bellvue Hospital, 90th and 7th Pct are closing down the bridge, NYPD AIS units, IDTU and ESU Trk-8 are all responding.

    http://vosizneias.blogspot.com/2006/08/williamsburg-bridge-closed-down.html

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  • How would a wall-separated path have helped here? Are you guys proposing flyovers at every intersection, or tunnels?

    I’d rather see you guys pushing for criminal prosecution than pimping for your pet construction project that in reality would be a huge annoyance for messengers.

  • DOT Guy

    pimp this, lars. nobody is proposing flyovers or tunnels, just safe space to maneuver and be seen by motorists. cyclists in NYC harley ever die on streets with bike paths, because motorists know to look for them, and are more able to see them becasue sight lines are clearer when there is some space for cyclists to be, rather than being squished along the side of a truck in the blind spot. sure bike lanes are parked in sometimes, but streets are safer with them.

  • galvoguy

    why are these trucks allowed on the NYC roads with a known defect. the blind right side spot is old news and could be avoided by larger and better mirrors, but the driver still has to look.

  • Part of the problem is the sheer speed these big-ass trucks are going on 9th Ave. I commute from the UWS to Penn Station each morning, and return each afternoon. I have stopped riding down 9th Ave in the mornings, and instead take Broadway to 7th because of the huge construction/USPS trucks that haul-ass on 9th. Plus, it feels a bit safer riding on a congested street rather than a wide open 9th Ave where big trucks are racing to get through as many lights as possible. Simple enforcement of city speed laws would go a long way towards increasing the safety of cyclists in this area of Manhattan.

  • I wonder if charges will be filed. Somehow I doubt it.

    Turning from not the right-most lane IS illegal in NY, right? Ugh. What a waste.

  • jac

    God bless dude!
    What they should have is concrete posts so drivers are forced to take wider turns and look to ensure they don’t hit the concrete post. The post would exist at the corner. This would alow cyclists to squeeze between the sidewalk and the cement post barrier. That way drivers would hit the cement post barrier before the cyclist.
    Drivers get careless. especially those that drive all day.
    cyclist consumes 0 resources and is up against all the traffic. A vehicle is 3000lbs vs 175lbs or so. Who wins?

  • Rodrigo pedal

    filhos da puta!!!!PAREM DE CRESCER!!!!

  • jman

    Segregated cycle facilities are often more hazardous than no cycle facilities at all.
    Reasons are:
    – cyclist is out of sight therefore out of mind (of the motorist). Until their paths cross (intersections).
    – invariably cyclist loose natural rights of way at intersections to turning motor traffic.
    – segregated cycle facilities are not maintained with the same level of concern the road is.

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