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I feel I can answer this anecdotally, as well as put it in some context. As a pedestrian I have been struck by a delivery bike running a red light exactly twic
by jermaustin1 7y ago
I feel I can answer this anecdotally, as well as put it in some context.
As a pedestrian I have been struck by a delivery bike running a red light exactly twice. The more egregious incident: I assumed he was going to stop, he decided he was not going to stop. Frogger ensued. I was flattened. He also went down and yelled at me. We were both "fine" other than getting a little bit of NYC on us. I know a couple of people have died from these guys, but I don't think it is a significant number.
The real problem IS the cars generally, but the semi-regulated taxis specifically.
As a biker I have been struck by a car also, exactly twice. Both times by a non medallion wearing driver, both on my way from the bike rack on 53rd to port authority (~11 super short blocks), both I was inside the bike lane on 9th avenue. One on instance the driver blindly turned without a blinker from the not turn lane. I saw it happening, but citibikes aren't known for how reliable their brakes are, and we collided at a VERY low speed. I was able to hop off before I fell. The bigger issue on 9th avenue is the turn lanes that are IN the bike lane... The other time I was hit, I was side swiped as the driver decided to not look that I was in the lane. I had my umbrella in hand as I was being side swiped and was swinging it against his driver window. He then flipped me off and pull further into the lane. Knocking me into another biker and we both went down.
I know these are anecdotal, but the 11 blocks I would ride a citi bike could have killed me twice in 2 years. I have been almost killed 0 times by delivery bikes in NYC for the thousands of miles I walked. I will side with bikers over cars in NYC any day of the week.
- vinceguidry 7y ago> The more egregious incident: I assumed he was going to stop, he decided he was not going to stop. People look at me crazy when I say I feel safer around scooters than bicycles and this is why. Cycling inertia makes you super-reluctant to slow down or stop. Whereas with scooters all you have to do is twist the throttle to speed back up.