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Oh, The Humanity: Cyclist Sues Pedestrian She Struck In Central Park
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Nov 27, 2011
Modified Nov 27, 2011
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By
Christopher Robbins
Published Nov 27, 2011
Modified Nov 27, 2011
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A cyclist dares to challenge the behavior of a pedestrian in Central Park, and the New York Post cannot BELIEVE the injustice. 46-year-old Sabine von Sengbusch is suing 28-year-old Meghan Rohan after von Sengbusch's bike struck Rohan after she allegedly walked into the bike lane near 69th Street and East Drive. Rohan shattered her elbow, but the cyclist is claiming the accident caused her "great physical pain and mental anguish." Maybe Rohan can use the Frisbee Defense?
A "longtime personal-injury lawyer" not involved in the case calls it "outrageous" and "disgraceful." "I've never heard of such a thing. It's like a pedestrian getting hit by a car, and the [motorist] suing the pedestrian and saying, 'You didn't get out of the way.' " Yeah, or like a cyclist being struck and killed by a vehicle, and the driver not getting charged with a crime. That never happens!
The Post gins up more spoke-fear by noting the "10,000 bikes set to flood the streets" next year as part of the new bike share program, "while pedestrians just try to survive." Survive, never look up from their phones, push strollers in bike lanes, jaywalk, whatever.
Recently, pedestrians seriously injured in Prospect Park by cyclists show the obvious need for greater enforcement of the city's laws for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike. Last month, Transportation Alternatives observed Jay Street, between Willoughby and Johnston streets for 8 hours and found that 48 drivers an hour parked in the bike lane for longer than 10 seconds, an average of 3 of those drivers were NYPD officers. 18 drivers an hour blocked the bus stop, and 141 illegal u-turns were observed.
Von Sendbusch's lawsuit may be garish and punitive but if officials kept pedestrians out of the bike lanes (and ticketed cars along with bikes for speeding in Central Park) everybody would have an equal incentive to mellow out and follow the rules.
Tagged
bike lanes
bike share
bikes
central park
cycling
lawsuits
prospect park
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
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