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

Safe Streets Advocates: Whoopi’s ‘Apology’ Just Isn’t Enough [Updated]

Families for Safe Streets members handed out fliers to Whoopi Goldberg’s audience on Tuesday. Photo: Melodie Bryant

Family members who lost loved ones to road violence told Whoopi Goldberg that she's not off the hook for her ill-informed comments last week about the supposed danger of protected bike lanes.

Rallying on Tuesday outside the ABC studio where Goldberg tapes "The View," Families for Safe Streets demanded that Goldberg use her national platform to help them promote street safety causes. 

Last week, Goldberg made some ill-informed comments about bike lanes.
Last week, Goldberg made some ill-informed comments about bike lanes.
Last week, Goldberg made some ill-informed comments about bike lanes.

“We need Whoopi Goldberg to use her opportunity on 'The View' to invite us in, so rather than talking about something without the relevant information, we can bring the knowledge of years and years of looking at New York City streets and understanding what makes the difference,” said Mary Beth Kelly of Families for Safe Streets. “This is a public health crisis that can be solved, and Whoopi Goldberg could invite us on the show and we could start the conversation.”

The rally comes three days after Goldberg, a New Jersey resident who drives into Manhattan for work, released a tepid apology to walk back some — but not all — of the anti-bike lane tirade she unleashed on Mayor de Blasio earlier in the week. In the four-tweet statement, Goldberg claimed she is not against bike lanes themselves, but the is against “medians and cement islands that accompany the lanes.” She also said "her heart goes out" to families who have lost spouses, siblings and children to reckless drivers.

https://twitter.com/WhoopiGoldberg/status/1086670969643696136

Families of victims of traffic violence said they appreciated the apology, but Goldberg must go further to educate her audience on the importance of livable streets and the ease with which they can be created. Safe streets advocates spent the morning handing out fliers to audience members as they waited to get inside for the "View" taping. Audience members were asked to call ABC and urge the studio to invite Families for Safe Streets activists on the show.

“I know she means well. She is a good person. She just doesn’t understand what it is like to be a pedestrian or a cyclist in New York City," said Jeffrey Heller of Families for Safe Streets. “People listen to her. She could have a great impact on what happens not only in New York City, but around the country.”

Families for Safe Streets members also visited Madison Lyden's ghost bike. Photo: Ben Verde
Families for Safe Streets members also visited Madison Lyden's ghost bike. Photo: Ben Verde
Families for Safe Streets members also visited Madison Lyden's ghost bike. Photo: Ben Verde

After protesting at the studio, activists made a short walk to the ghost bike of Madison Lyden, who was run down and killed this summer when a cab driver forced her into traffic on Central Park West, which does not have a protected bike lane.

Mayor de Blasio declined to criticize Goldberg, saying only that he respects her opinion and that she raised "valid" concerns on her show when she criticized the design elements of Vision Zero, the mayor's signature safety initiative.

Goldberg has declined Streetsblog's request for an interview. But later in the day on Tuesday, ABC sent Streetsblog a video clip from Tuesday's episode of "The View" during which Goldberg tried to clarify that she is pro-bike lane — but it's the cement medians that bother her:

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

‘Chaos’ Candidate? DoorDash Gave $1M to Super PAC Backing Cuomo, Who Decries Delivery Workers

Cuomo says he'll fix the chaos on the Streets by reining in app companies, but DoorDash just donated $1 million to help him win.

May 13, 2025

The Dave Colon Challenge: Whitney Tilson Is Pro-Bike, Pro-Business And Pro-Police

The political novice has 30 years experience cycling in the city but doesn't have a political record to help predict what his safe streets governance strategy would be.

May 13, 2025

Can New York City Fix Its Deadly ‘Conduit’ to JFK Airport?

The extra-wide medians on Conduit could fit 46 football fields, which combined with extra-wide travel lanes makes the strip prone to speeding and crashes.

May 13, 2025

Tuesday’s Headlines: Bike Your Mayor to Work Day

It's the final day of our mayoral questionnaire week. Plus other news from a busy day!

May 13, 2025

Monday’s Headlines: ‘We Speak English in America’ Edition

Read that talk bubble. That's really what the cop said to a man under arrest. Plus other news from a busy weekend.

May 12, 2025
See all posts