Fatal Motorcycle Accidents Shuts Down Atlantic
[nggallery id=”45290″ template=galleryview] A motorcyclist was killed this morning at around 7 a.m. when he (we assume) was struck by a taxi heading east on Atlantic Avenue between Hoyt and Bond Streets. As of 9:30 this morning, Atlantic Avenue was shut down in both directions between Smith Street and Flatbush Avenue, causing a series of…
[nggallery id=”45290″ template=galleryview]
A motorcyclist was killed this morning at around 7 a.m. when he (we assume) was struck by a taxi heading east on Atlantic Avenue between Hoyt and Bond Streets. As of 9:30 this morning, Atlantic Avenue was shut down in both directions between Smith Street and Flatbush Avenue, causing a series of reverberating traffic jams on all the major thoroughfares in the area.
I’ve just been corrected… Vespas do indeed require a license these days, although I’d never guess that. Am getting passed every day on the right in the bike lane by them. You can get an NYC Class M permit in one day of training through Vespa Soho. I recall having 30 hours of classes for a motorcycle before even taking a test.
At any rate, my sympathies for this poor guy.
Terrible news to hear. I rode motorcycles here in the city for a dozen years, and close calls, especially with taxis, are quite frequent. Motorcycles licenses require training, and the majority of the riders are very safety-conscious.
The uptick in small cc Vespa riders that don’t require motorcycle licenses are a real cause for concern. Quite a few of the new riders don’t have the training or the experience to be out there in NYC trafffic.
@squaredrive: “I may think it’s stupid to eat poorly, but here’s the difference: if you die of a stroke tomorrow i won’t start chirping about how your diet was stupid and irresponsible when the news is announced.”
Really? You never see a story about some fat slob who drops dead at 50 and think, “What a schmuck! Why didn’t he take better care of himself?” If you don’t, then more power to you; you are a better man (or woman — I shouldn’t presume gender) than I.
http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/stats-arc.htm
historical data is available here.
note that the”statistical change” has most to do with the fact that NY state increased the dollar amount of a non personal injury accident reports requirements so that the number of non- pi accidents show a decline.
Fatal accidents are generally universally reported.
BTW cab drivers and limo/black car drivers have lower accident rates per mile driven than almost anyone else. Per mile driven the most dangerous drivers by profession are police, followed by doctors(both of whom think they don’t have to obey the law). Of course the most dangerous age of drivers is under 25 because of lack of judgment and poor skills(good reflexes though) and they don’t drive limos, black cars or cabs….
NY State has statistics on this and in NYC the number of deaths for drivers, passengers and pedestrians are at their all time lows…with death and accidents for bike riders on the rise.
Denton – my apologies, I misinterpreted what you said. I equated “speed” with “speeding”.
No, Professor – I’m not saying that and I didn’t say that. What I said was that a lot of the danger (risk) to motorcyclists comes on four wheels – there are ample statistics to back that up.
Rider error IS a factor in a lot of crashes (though not as many as driver error). Weather, equipment failure and other “non-human” factors turn out to be a pretty small percentage of motorcycle accidents. And (as Sparafucile says) among the contributing factors to rider error are things like experience, intoxication, speed, safety precautions, etc. (in other words, a lot of the same things that factor into car accidents).
The bottom line is that motorcycling is fun (for me), which is why I ride. Unlike all of Wasder’s acquaintances on two wheels, I don’t have a death wish. That’s why I ride with safety gear and within my limits (there are places to go fast and carve corners, they’re not generally in the five boroughs). It’s also why I ride defensively – looking out for the car that’s going to do something to put my life at risk or the piece road debris, etc.
All of the above is true for my bicycle riding too (and car driving, for that matter).
ditto, please, where did I indicate that motorcyclists shouldn’t obey the law? That’s the point of a bike; you can have a good experience while obeying the law.
Denton – the motorcyclist drives at the speed of a car (or faster) yet only has the protection of cyclist (basically none), so you have to be driving defensively no? And from your speeding thrill-seeking discussion of bikes – are you expecting all other drivers to obey the law when you can’t even do that yourself?