Cyclist struck by hit and run driver on Greenpoint Avenue last night (@Thund3r_H4wk)
Nov. 12, 2019 By Allie Griffin
A minivan struck a cyclist who was biking inside the Greenpoint Avenue bike lane in Long Island City Monday night and then sped off through a red light.
The shocking hit and run was caught on another cyclist’s gopro and the video was posted to twitter.
Police confirmed that a 36-year-old male cyclist was stopped at a red light inside the bike lane on Greenpoint Avenue near Borden Avenue when he was rear-ended by a silver toyota sienna which fled the scene around 6 p.m.
In the video, the minivan is seen speeding down and then a loud crash followed by a man’s yells can be heard as the vehicle veers into the bike path. The minivan goes through the red light to flee the accident.
Last week's video highlighted the dangerous design of NYC bike lanes. Today a cyclist in a bike lane (yes, that's a bike lane) sandwiched between two driving lanes was rear-ended by a van. #VisionZero appropriately describes the street lighting. @StreetsblogNYC @TransAlt @NYC_DOT pic.twitter.com/L1XvWf7YY6
— Jessica (@Thund3r_H4wk) November 12, 2019
Two cyclists, including the one recording, then help the 36-year-old victim, who is lying on the street and yelling out in pain.
Police said the cyclist complained of injuries to his back, but did not have information on whether he was transported to a hospital.
The Twitter user who posted the video said police responded, reviewed the video and provided an email address to send it to.
The driver of the minivan hit several cars before striking the cyclist and then several more while fleeing the scene, she said.
Many on Twitter criticized the unprotected bike lane’s pathway wedged between lanes of traffic, making it dangerous for cyclists.
Greenpoint Avenue bike lane is between two car lanes (Google Maps)
36 Comments
I have reported that area of Greenpoint Ave. near Border Ave. to Van Bramer’s office a few months ago, when the bike lanes sagas were on going. Generally, the Queens/Brooklyn connection is super dangerous, and actually made me stop riding that route. I hope something is done to this area as part of Vision Zero.
@Rikki, thank you for confirming my suspicion that you shouldn’t be driving.
It’s also interesting that you continue to pound away on “reflectors” when the bike had lights, which are better than reflectors. Or that you’re still ignoring that the driver was speeding, fled the scene after hitting someone, and ran a red light. I think that axe of yours is sufficiently ground down by now.
You DONT DRIVE……see how far you can see ahead with headlights coming at you….. bikers have to be seen
Unlike you, I can see things in front of my car. I don’t think you should be driving if you have vision problems as terrible as yours.
Whenever I see bike lanes marked next to traffic lanes, I think they are saying, “Please get killed HERE” as opposed to some other spot, makes it easier for the cleanup crew. They might better be labeled “Suicide Lane” or how about, “Lost my mind and don’t care what happens since my baby left me Lane”
VelvetKnight yes 10 feet on a dark road with no reflectors on the bike no reflective visibility jacket then on coming traffic with some driving with high beams on or truck with headlights right in your eyes…..then whoa…what is that biker doing there……….
I agree, sounds like you drive pretty recklessly. You’re outrunning your headlights?!
Let’s blame the cyclist
A big reason bicyclists aren’t safe is that people are driving recklessly, they’re driving too fast, and they’re distracted from what’s going on around them. More and more of us are riding bikes because it’s a necessity. I don’t need a car; owning one around here is impractical, but I DO need to get around sometimes on my bike. I exercise caution and I obey the rules (believe it or not, many if not most bicyclists do!) It shouldn’t be so dangerous!
Ok. That bike lane design is absolutely ridiculous! With the skillman bike Lanes you get triple safety. Next to curb/sidewalk on one side, have like two to three feet of blank on the other, parked cars on the other side of that.
And why is it black as Satan’s butthole in this video? The vid actually shows the cyclists involved not making safe choices traveling on a dark road with stupidly designed bike Lanes!
Which is more disturbing? The city’s so-called responsibility for *anyone’s* safety (bad bike lanes, dark streets, clearly drunk drivers not patrolled enough bc they are chasing churro ladies…) OR the commenters in the obscurity of the internet revealing their depravity for human life bc cars and roads are a human right described by Montesquieu? Vote here…
Having a bike that is sandwich between two vehicle lanes is retarded. Should only have bike lane that is near the curb and do not use two bike lanes on both side of the road traffic.
man, why is that bike lane between two lanes of moving traffic?? hard to watch the video due to darkness, if youre driving and switching lanes its impossible
Cyclists must be registered, chipped and insured. Bike Lanes are not a right. Cycling is dangerous in Urban areas, accept the risks or find other means if transportation . The absurd funding of these bike Lanes raises many questions and NOT about cycling.
> accept the risks
Great point: the law-abiding cyclist should expect to be hit by law-breaking motorists that cause the majority of deaths. What’s a bike doing in the bike lane?!
agreed. nyc can make a ton of money from bike licenses, parking violations, cap/tag the wheels, or tow them away. its time bikers pay up just like drivers, and increase insurance premiums if laws are broken through the same points system. its only fair. scooters too. anything with wheels. even baby carriages. tax everything.
Thanks for more support for cyclists as usual.
As you say, cars and bikes should have the same access to all roads, fair is fair.
You make another great point: cyclists should start paying taxes. Right now on my form 1040 I just write “CYCLIST: NO TAXES OWED” and the IRS calls me to say that’s fine. Why don’t I pay taxes for roads I never use?!
And sure, cars don’t even come CLOSE to paying for themselves with fees like you mention, but bikes should definitely pay car registration fees.
This has got to be the single worst bike lane in the city. I couldn’t believe it when it was first opened.
All comments don’t make sense as you see the video this mini van is speeding way too much, that’s where the problem is, this driver should be brought to justice, and his license suspend for good.
@guest Did you listen with the audio on? how can the driver NOT have known he/she hit someone?
So the city puts a bike lane in between two car lanes? Beautiful. Also, the biker that’s recording isn’t even riding in the bike lane. No one follows rules.
@Ted
Why stop there? If you don’t want to hit a bike, pedestrian, or another car, don’t drive your car in the street.
@Rikki
If you can’t see more than 10 feet in front of you with headlights, you shouldn’t be operating a 2000 pound death machine. Period.
That goes double/triple/whatever if you think it’s ok to speed, hit someone (who did have lights!), and then run a red light because of their choice of clothes.
(BTW, why did Sunnyside Post stop having replies thread under each other here? This way is so much more confusing.)
Sure, the car broke multiple laws and almost killed a cyclist.
Sure, the cyclist didn’t break any laws and was in the bike lane.
Still–cyclists are to blame, right? Once I saw one run a stop sign.
I’ve been downvoted plenty when I say these bike Lanes are nothing but paint on the ground. The roads need a complete overhaul to provide a true driving lanes for cars and a protected lane for bikes.
spoken like a NON driver. every driver has to make a split second decision a few times in their lives, to avoid the biker and swerve into traffic and risk a head on collision, or hit the biker and hope for the best. Remember unless you are totally visible we only have maybe 10 feet to decide what to do.
If only people would reverse commute than every bicyclist would be alive.
If you don’t want to get hit by a car, don’t ride your bike in the street.
Sure, the motorist broke several laws and struck a law-abiding cyclist. Why don’t cyclists just not ride bikes?!
It’s rare to see such a clear example of reckless motorists’ sense of entitlement. My tax money paid for the roads, sorry to burst your bubble.
“But what about registrations fees?!” They pay for registration. The fees cars have to pay don’t come CLOSE to covering their costs.
Just adding to my post above, just disregard my comment about not seeing/feeling the biker, he slammed on him straight on and he actually escaped by going around other cars. I just saw the video now, it wasn’t included above. Anyway, rest of my comment still stand, though. Plus where is the street light? It was pitch black there, blame city for not having a proper light on that road.
To be honest someone could hit a cyclists and not even feel it.. I would love to see the video, but regardless, that bike lane in the middle of two narrow lanes that are being used by big rig trucks on a daily basis IS A DEATH SENTENCE.
Stop biking everywhere carelessly just because there is a bike lane. If ignorant city planners just draw a few stick figures on the road, that doesn’t make it safe for you to bike. I guess bikers have to sacrifice few people before it’s clear that the bike lane is not safe, and it should be removed (maybe bikers need to take a detour instead of biking here).
Bikers don’t realize that most of us who are against bike lanes are against them because most of them are not safe. They are not protected and even the protected ones are no match to what they have in other countries.
Stop living in the dream world that few lines on the road makes it safe for bikers. Demand PROPER bike lanes.
Ah yes, the old, “Look what he was wearing, he was asking for it,” defense has already raised its ugly head. Victim blaming is always the way to go.
Never mind the reckless driving of someone in a 2000 pound killing machine.
Never mind the hit and run aspect.
Never mind the fact that the biker wasn’t breaking the law.
Never mind that at least one light actually is visible on his bike in the small amount of video we see here (and you can’t see everything).
Never mind that if it’s too dark to see, the driver should be doubly-careful.
Never mind that the road leading up to a notoriously dangerous intersection STILL doesn’t have adequate lighting.
Nope, none of that matters. The key takeaway is the biker isn’t wearing a reflective jacket. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
A protected bike lane could have prevented this.
well it was 6pm and its DARK outside. Doesn’t look like he had on any visibility jacket or lights on his bike or reflectors to see him……
What, is the driver supposed to be responsible for watching the road they drive on?!