UPDATE: This morning, a judge was supposed to sentence a bus driver for killing Citi Bike cyclist Dan Hanegby — but it was put off until Thursday. This is the conviction that turned largely on a horrific video of the driver trying to speed past Hanegby on narrow W. 26th Street last year. The driver, Dave Lewis, is facing a maximum of 30 days in jail.
Thirty days for killing a man.
Last week, I asked Mayor de Blasio about this outrage, but he said he hadn't seen the video and muttered something about vehicular laws getting "tighter" when we all know drivers kill without sanction every day. I told Hizzoner's staff to show him the video of Dave Lewis killing Dan Hanegby because later in the day, I'll soon be demanding comment after Lewis gets away with murder.
Fair warning.
Here now, the news:
- Where's Marty? State Senator Marty Golden was supposed to show up for interviews at The Brooklyn Paper and WBAI in the last few days, but blew them both off — giving his Nov. 6 opponent, Democrat Andrew Gounardes plenty of free air time to talk about street safety.
- In other WBAI news, the same show gave ample time to Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer's increasingly untenable opposition to the community board term limit referendum, which, Charlie Komanoff has a problem with. Meanwhile, Council Member Brad Lander is sponsoring a forum on the term limit proposal on Tuesday night at the Central Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library. (Bklyner)
- Carriage horse drivers are saying "neigh" to Mayor de Blasio's latest plan for their trade. (NYDN)
- Here's what happens when you drive too fast. (NYDN, NY Post)
- There's probably some truth to the notion that Williamsburgers don't believe the city is ready for the L-train shutdown next year, but the NY Post story should have pointed out that the poll in question isn't completely objective — it was conducted by Global Strategy Group, which has worked for Mayor de Blasio and hundreds of corporate clients (including the MTA).
- Kudos to Bike Snob Eben Weiss for letting the Riverdale Press have it for its biased story about bus bulbs last week. Hopefully, he'll H/T me later this week when the Queens Chronicle runs my letter!
- More people are wondering why we even need Mayor de Blasio's BQX streetcar when better buses and subway service would suffice. (amNY)
- Bike lanes have been painted on 12th and 13th streets in Manhattan, the Villager reports. But cyclist Cecil Scheib reports it's already an illegal-parking mess.
- British transportation reporting legend Carlton Reid explains why drivers and pedestrians should be wearing helmets before cyclists do. (Forbes)
- Martha Stewart becomes a bicycle activist (albeit on a $4,600 Pedego Interceptor Platinum e-bike). (Instagram)
- Hat tip to Barry Hoggard for the cops-in-crosswalk photo of the day.
- And, finally, RIP to one of my favorite bingo haunts. (amNY)
