Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Cyclist Strikes Another Prospect Park Pedestrian
By
Garth Johnston
Published Jan 12, 2012
Modified Jan 12, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Garth Johnston
Published Jan 12, 2012
Modified Jan 12, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Two months ago the Parks Department installed some orange barrels on West Lake Drive in Prospect Park to try and protect pedestrians from all those "speeding" cyclists. But maybe they need some better signage at the "chute?" Because last weekend there was another accident in the area—the second since the barrels went up.
The latest crash occurred around 4 p.m. on Saturday, when a cyclist reportedly struck a 62-year-old pedestrian, causing him to break his hand. Though Park officials say that only the cyclist was hurt in the incident (he "got distracted and fell"), the FDNY acknowledges that the pedestrian needed to be transported by ambulance to New York Methodist Hospital.
This most recent accident at the tricky stretch of road is just one more example that negotiating safety between pedestrians and cyclists (not to mention cars) is a tricky thing. The Parks Department installed those barrels to make the path clearer for cyclists and the road's danger more apparent to pedestrians—but at the same time they've made the road smaller and harder to maneuver for bicycles and given pedestrians another set of objects to worry about being hidden behind. Assuming that the number of cyclists in the city continues to rise, don't be surprised if the Parks Department starts moving towards a more aggressive option: physically changing the path on the hill to slow down cyclists. Because ticketing sure didn't seem to do the trick.
Though maybe you've got a better idea for how to make the Prospect Park "chute" safe for walkers and those on wheels? (No, killing all the cyclists is not an option.)
Tagged
brooklyn
cyclists
prospect park
west lake drive
Garth Johnston
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Queens man charged with hate crime at Jewish-owned bagel shop displaying Israeli flags
Prosecutors say the 22-year-old damaged property outside the Fresh Meadows shop twice in May.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 6:07 p.m. ET
MTA train yards are in such bad shape plants are growing out of the roof, watchdog says
In some cases, the damage was “clearly not recent."
By
Stephen Nessen
News
MTA train yards are in such bad shape plants are growing out of the roof, watchdog says
In some cases, the damage was “clearly not recent."
By
Stephen Nessen
High-ranking NYC officials to testify in ex-buildings boss Eric Ulrich's corruption trial
By
David Brand
Mamdani launches new team to help NYers keep SNAP, Medicaid benefits
By
Caroline Lewis
Riders at 53rd St. station where man was fatally shot say they worry about gun violence
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .