Have you heard anything of the accident yesterday, 3/4/08 about 11AM, at 41st Street & 4th Avenue. This was just outside Dewey IS 136. An SUV struck a deliveryman on a bike, then plowed into, or caused others to hit, four more parked cars. The biker was thrown into the air. He went into the ambulance. I have not heard anything since.

its lethal out there...because too many NY drivers cant drive in a straight line for more than twenty yards, never look in their mirrors and evidently think indicators are optional. I hope the delivery guy is ok. Ill watch for updates.

Although one might equally ask Pedestrians 'do you and your children feel safe from cyclists who clearly think traffic lights and regulations, one way streets (hello...ever thought of going round the block?) dont apply to them and will happily zoom across (cobble hill) crosswalks thru red lights (hey its a way of psychologically sticking it to the man no?) regardless of whose kids are crossing (legally) on a walk sign?' I don't feel safe. I'm not talking delivery guys and couriers who god knows have a tough job. Im talking about lettuce eating creatives. Bookish bed-sty pioneers, yuppies even. And The most amazing thing is if anyone ever challenges those pedalling hypocrites - they have a look of complete disbelief as if one couldnt possibly be referring to sainted tree hugging spandex-clad them. Sooooo new york...!

Have a kid; have it mown down in a stroller by a cretin on a bike who thinks he's doing the planet a favour and then pontificate about cycle safety. Pot kettle black....as they say.

Well I am scared to ride my bike in NY. I am from Holland, where bicycling as a method of transportation is totally safe and wonderful. Why? Everybody obeys traffic rules. There is no parking in bicycle lanes. Bicyclists wait for a red light.... yes they do! It is perfectly normal there to see parents with two small kids, all on one bike, and they are all fine. I do ride my bike in Brooklyn... but slowly, because I don't want to get "doored". Cops need to start reinforcing double-parking rules, speed rules, and everybody needs to deal with traffic rules.
Is such a thing possible in NYC?

While i don't condone reckless bike riding...it's not in the same league as a public safety hazard as all as inattentive driving. Bikes weigh 30 pounds, cars weigh a ton. If you get hit by a wayward bicyclist, you will not die. A car you will. Nigel's post is irrelevant.

I too feel that bikers should do more to avoid overtly flouting the road rules. However, it's obvious that a couple of tons of car , traveling even within the speed limit, is going to do a lot more damage that a 30lb bike. That's why drivers are just daft to use the excuse that bikers run reds or whatever to justify their lethal behavior. Just yesterday I was clipped by an oncoming car turning left in front of me, sweeping across my lane. Not only was I told this was my fault as bikes are supposed to give way to cars, but when I asked for the guys insurance details I was accused of being a low life.

slav you are correct but a 30lb bike can still kill a child. Especially with 150lb of person on top of the bike. Were a car to run a red light and hit and (even midly) injure someone, i have no doubt there'd be baying for blood and a public hanging from the nearest lamppost.
When cyclists obey the traffic laws they'll have a geniune right to complain about drivers that don't.