Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Bicycle Safety

Cabbie Mistakes East River Park Bike Path for Highway

eastriver.jpg
The marker to the south is where the speeding taxi passed the cyclist. The marker to the north is where the cyclist gave up trying to chase after him.

A tipster sends along this story from the East River Park bike path...

Yesterday around 6:15PM, my friend and I were biking home from work through the East River park as we usually do, when a taxi flew past us! This path is separated from the FDR by a big fence and it is NOT easy to get onto it. We are used to park service and construction vehicles making their way down it, but they are always obeying the 5MPH posted speed limit and are generally not a safety hazard. This guy was doing at least 20MPH! Pedaling as fast as I could I couldn't catch up to him to either a) get his license plate or b) yell into his open window and call him a maniac and beg him to slow down and turn around.

There were a lot of people (kids on bikes, kids playing soccer, commuters, joggers) on the path at the time--did ANYONE manage to get a picture of this or get this guy's license plate? Even by NYC bike lane standards this was absurd. There is no way this person should have a license to drive, let alone drive a cab in New York. I want to see this guy's head in the stocks, and failing that, I want to see him fired.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Mamdani’s FDNY Spews Anti-Street Safety Talking Points at Bizarre Council Hearing

FDNY and DOT were at cross-purposes during a bikelash Council hearing.

February 26, 2026

Trump Dragnet That Stopped 34th St. Busway Is Holding Up Tremont Avenue, Too

A contentious Manhattan busway is causing trouble in the Bronx.

February 26, 2026

NEVER MIND: Bus Service Tanked After January Snowstorm, So MTA Nixed The Data

The January storm and days of below-freezing temperatures that followed left New York City bus riders in the lurch, the MTA said.

February 26, 2026

Thursday’s Headlines: Beyond Snowballs Edition

Tomorrow it could be rocks. Plus other news.

February 26, 2026

Judge Blocks City From Implementing 15 MPH Bike Speed Limit In Central Park

It's an indication that opponents of this "illegal application" of the so-called "Sammy's Law" may prevail on the merits at an upcoming full hearing.

February 25, 2026

Study: Most Of America’s Paint-Only Bike Paths Are On Our Deadliest Roads

Even worse, most Americans see these terrible lanes and think, "I'd be crazy to ride a bike" — and the cycle continues.

February 25, 2026
See all posts