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

NYPD Tow Pound is Still a Major Source of Greenway Danger

As Transportation Alternatives recently noted in an essay for Streetsblog,
more than a year after the death of Eric Ng, the alphabet soup of government agencies
responsible for the Hudson River Greenway, have done almost nothing to fix glaring safety  problems along New York City's most important bike route.

Photographer and bike commuter Lars Klove encountered one of the worst of these problems Tuesday evening when a Lexus sedan accelerated past him just yards away from where Carl Nacht, a 56-year-old doctor was killed by an NYPD tow truck in 2006.

Klove sends along the following note describing the incident and photos showing how little is being done to warn motorists not to hang a right on to the Greenway as they exit the Tow Pound.

Yesterday evening, around 5 pm, I was riding northbound on the Hudson River Greenway when I encountered a white Lexus driving southbound. I started waving and yelling at the guy to stop and the driver accelerated and continued southbound. The car then pulled into the lot at 34th Street and exited onto the Westside Highway.

The car had made a right turn out of the NYPD Tow Yard on a red light.

This morning I stopped by the yard to see what kind of signs there were to identify the Greenway to motorists coming out of the Tow Yard. There are none. There is only a cold little orange cone, where the pedestrian lane has a large iron mooring hitch.

greenway002.jpg

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Anatomy of a Manhunt: How NYPD Quickly Caught a Hit-and-Run Killer on the Lower East Side

Cops used laser-fast technology, old-style gumshoe detective work and a little help from the hapless suspect to make an arrest in last week's hit-and-run.

December 22, 2025

Adams Once Again Delays Pared-Down Protected Bike Lanes In Prospect-Lefferts Gardens

The delay caps the ignominious end of Mayor Adams's reign over the city's Department of Transportation.

December 22, 2025

Streetsies 2025: Advocate(s) of the Year

Little changes on New York City's streets without fighting for it — but who did it best? Please vote for this year's honoree.

December 22, 2025

Monday’s Headlines: Turn-SPIKED! Edition

Gov. Phil Murphy put the kibosh on plans to widen the New Jersey Turnpike east of the Newark Bay Bridge. Plus more news.

December 22, 2025

Cough, Cough: Adams Administration Hands Largest Ever Idling Law Exemption to NJ Charter Bus Company

Academy Bus Lines requested the exemption — the largest in DEP's history — after receiving more than $500,000 in idling violations. But there is some good news.

December 19, 2025

Hochul Vetoes Bill Mandating Two Operators on Most Subway Trains

The veto from Hochul came over the concerns of organized labor who saw the legislation as a way to make subway travel safer.

December 19, 2025
See all posts