This is yet another story which reinforces my position that all bicyclists should properly educate themselves as to the rights and responsibilities of bicyclists on the roadways in their area, and should never believe that stop signs and red lights do not apply to us.
In most places, bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists. It is important that we do not overlook the responsibilities that accompany and support the rights.
The validity of our arguments for equal respect depends upon our respect for these responsibilities, and the tragic, preventable death of Jonathan Millstein shows that our lives do also.
My condolences to the Millstein family.
From NYDailyNews:
A beloved Brooklyn man known for giving struggling young men a second chance was killed Wednesday when he was hit by a bus while cycling, cops said.
Jonathan Millstein, 50, suffered massive head wounds when slammed by an empty school bus while biking in Park Slope at 8:15a.m., police said.
Millstein, who owns a silkscreen design and printing shop in Manhattan, apparently rode through a red light at President St. and Eighth Ave. when the school bus barreled into him, witnesses told police.
“I’m shocked that he died in such a horrible fashion,” said Steve Herrick, 47, a friend who knew Millstein from the building where he runs Works In Progress NYC, a company that designs and prints graphics.
Millstein, a father of two who lived with his wife, Emily, in downtown Brooklyn, was known for employing teenagers and young men from programs for troubled youth.
“Jon was a really nice guy,” said Selassie Samuel, 22, a former intern at the victim’s shop. “He was a lenient boss as long as you got the job done.”
No summonses were issued, but people living near the scene said motorists use Eighth Ave. as an expressway. “People fly down this road,” writer Chris Weinstein said.
Bike advocates said the road became dangerous when it was made a one-way street years ago.
“One-way streets are really prone to speeding,” said Wiley Norvell, a spokesman for Transportation Alternatives, who said an average of 20 cyclists a year die on city streets.
Additional coverage:
Fatal Crash Was Preceded By Complaints About Nearby Intersection
Run down! Two more bikers are killed by drivers
Technorati Tags: nyc, ny, new-york, jonathan-millstein, bicycle, bicycling, cycling, cylist, safety, school-bus
This thing has 8 Comments
Yeah, very, very sad. I wish his family the best. As a father of two myself, this breaks my heart.
I grew up in NY and live in Los Angeles now. I have been riding crowded, urban streets pretty much my whole life. Never assume that cars will stop and obey all traffic signals and signs. I live by those words…literally.
I was approx 30 feet away from this accident and saw it happen. It was the most awful thing I have ever seen. The article is incorrect. The bus and cyclist were traveling side by side. That would mean that if he ran a red light- then so did the bus. He was not hit by the bus as a result of running a red light. The article almost implies that they were perpendicular- not the case- they were parallel. I don’t think it was the bus’ fault, nevertheless. It was just a freak accident. Out of respect for Mr. Millstein, I feel it’s important to set the record straight.
@Dan:
Thanks for posting that information. That is awful indeed. I can’t imagine having witnessed such a terrible accident.
Were you able to give your account to the police? I often wonder about the validity of the reports of such accidents. I’ve read more than a few articles where the report is based upon the account of a sole witness - the driver who struck the cyclist.
I’m hoping that you and other witnesses will be able to set the record straight.
As always, ride safe!
Dan,
Will you please drop me a line at aaron[at]streetsblog[dot]org. Or, Michael B., perhaps, you could shoot an email to Dan if he left left his address. We are interested in taking a closer look at how the NYPD is writing up accident reports in the case of bike fatalities and we’re looking to talk to eye-witnesses.
Thank you!
@Aaron:
I’ve forwarded your comment to Dan. Hopefully he’ll get in touch.
If the above eyewitness’ account is real, then combined with the photograph and other accounts it suggests that:
1) the rider was riding on the right side of a speeding vehicle with a large blind spot
2) they were both speeding to make a timed light
3) the rider chose to use 8th avenue rather than one of the many safer alternatives, probably because, despite its danger, it’s faster
4) rattling empty schoolbus on a fast avenue at around 8 am speeding to make a light: can anyone think of a more dangerous vehicle to ride abreast of — on the right side?
I would never suggest that someone who met such an untimely end had it coming. What I will say is that, on the basis of the evidence presented here and elsewhere, this rider showed a reckless disregard for his own safety.
Stefan,
With the exception of the fact that the cyclist was probably riding on the right side of the bus, you can’t possibly determine any of that information from the photo and eye-witness account above.
One thing is for sure, however: You are intent on blaming a victim who is dead and can no longer speak for himself.
“Sloper”
I considered all of the accounts, not just this witness’.
You assume that both that I am blaming, and sacrifice judgment to sympathy. Is it impossible for you to accept that cyclists can be at fault? I’ve very nearly lost my own life on several occasions, and I was at fault in about half of them.