Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

News

Bicyclists' Deaths Mourned


By

Jen Chung

Published Jun 28, 2006

Modified Mar 7, 2008


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

Jen Chung

Published Jun 28, 2006

Modified Mar 7, 2008


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

2006_06_ghostbike.jpgTimes Up is organizing a memorial ride tomorrow night, in memory of Dr. Carl Nacht and Derek Lake. The ride will begin at 6:30PM at the West Side Greenway at 42nd Street (in front of the Intrepid). The ride will stop at West 38th Street, where Nacht was hit by an NYPD tow truck, and then make it way to West Houston and Laguardia Place, where Lake was killed near a construction site. Bring flowers. Update: The memorial ride will also stop at Houston and Broadway, as a tribute to Donna Goodson, a 41 year old who was killed by a truck on Rockaway Parkway in Brooklyn on June 5 (the driver apparently didn't see Goodson; no charges were filed).

Nacht's and Lake's deaths are making bikers wonder what areas are safe for them. The NY Times heads to the West Side Greenway and finds it "perfect" except when there are drivers while the Daily News has a reporter navigate Houston Street - "Speeding trucks, massive construction sites and severely pockmarked pavement combine to make Houston St. a virtual death trap for cyclists."

AMNY reports that the construction company working on Houston Street says they are not responsible for Lake's death, saying that an orange barrel should have made Lake turn around an unevenly placed metal construction plate. The Department of Transportation says that the Houston Street project is "essential" and the DOT is concerned for the public and the project's progress.

And Daily News columnist Juan Gonzalez attended Nacht's memorial service. Nacht had been his doctor for almost 20 years, and Gonzalez remembers how Nacht was a "rare and humble throwback to another era" "In a city overrun by high-powered doctors with bulging bank accounts and even bigger egos." And it turns out Nacht had been kept on life-support in order for his daughter, who had been in Africa working on a documentary about AIDS prevention, to see him one last time.

Photograph of a ghost bike memorial from Visual Resistance

Tagged

aids

bike

broadway

brooklyn

Carl Nacht

construction

daily news

death

department of transportation

Derek Lake

dot

Gonzalez

houston

houston st

houston street

juan gonzalez

laguardia

news

News: NYC

ny times

nypd

rockaway parkway

The Department

The NY

the ny times

time's up

transportation

Visual Resistance

west houston

west side


Jen Chung

Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE news

Bronx woman found dead and infant in critical condition after balcony fall, NYPD says

Police say it's still unclear whether the pair jumped, fell or were pushed.

By

Brittany Kriegstein

Published Oct 6, 2026 at 7:28 a.m. ET


After Trump defunding, thousands losing rental assistance in NYC may finally have relief

The Trump administration issued new guidance outlining a plan to replace expiring rental assistance vouchers with a new program.

By

David Brand

News

After Trump defunding, thousands losing rental assistance in NYC may finally have relief

The Trump administration issued new guidance outlining a plan to replace expiring rental assistance vouchers with a new program.

By

David Brand


Blind man dismissed from grand jury duty can sue NY for discrimination, judge rules

By

Samantha Max

Gatorade recall affects drinks sold in New York and New Jersey

By

Giulia Heyward

Gov. Hochul declares upstate NY measles outbreak a ‘disaster emergency’

By

Caroline Lewis


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 .