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Police Search For Cyclist Who Fatally Struck Pedestrian In Flatiron Bike Lane
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Aug 8, 2019
Modified Aug 8, 2019
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By
Christopher Robbins
Published Aug 8, 2019
Modified Aug 8, 2019
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A pedestrian has died of his injuries after being struck by a cyclist in Flatiron late last month, police said.
According to an NYPD release, 60-year-old Michael Collopy was struck by a cyclist riding north in the bike lane near the intersection of Sixth Avenue and West 23rd Street shortly before noon on July 31st. Collopy died on August 7th of head injuries sustained in the crash, according to the Medical Examiner.
Police say they are still seeking the cyclist, who did not stop after the crash.
Since 2015, at least nine crashes have occurred at the intersection of West 23rd and 6th Avenue, injuring cyclists and pedestrians alike, according to NYC Crash Mapper. It's also where cyclist Robyn Hightman was struck and killed by a truck in June.
In response to a drastic increase in the number of cyclists killed so far in 2019—18, compared with 10 in all of 2018—the de Blasio administration announced a "Green Wave" cycling safety plan. The plan identifies Sixth Avenue as a "potential protected bike lane project" to be addressed in 2022 and beyond.
Collopy, who lived in Chelsea, is the second pedestrian to be fatally struck by a cyclist this year. On April 25th, Donna Sturm was hit by a cyclist in the crosswalk at West 57th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues during her lunch break. Sturm died of her injuries, and the cyclist who struck her was issued a summons for running a red light.
While at least five pedestrians have been killed in collisions with cyclists since 2009, the numbers show that deaths and injuries on New York City streets are overwhelmingly caused by motorists.
According to state traffic data, in 2018 there were around 47,000 crashes in New York City, killing 115 pedestrians, 78 motorists, and 10 cyclists; 11,053 pedestrians were injured in those crashes, but only 270 of those injuries involved cyclists.
"Michael Collopy’s death is a tragedy and could have been prevented. Our hearts go out to his family," Marco Conner, the deputy director of Transportation Alternatives, said in a statement. "New Yorkers who bike have a duty to always yield to pedestrians, the most vulnerable users of our streets."
Conner added that "these types of crashes account for less than one percent of total pedestrian deaths in the Vision Zero era," and notes that since January of 2014 more than 700 pedestrians have been killed by drivers of automobiles.
"All New Yorkers deserve safe streets and the ability to navigate our city without fear of injury and death. Every person killed on New York’s streets is one too many, regardless of the type of vehicle by which they’re struck," Conner said.
Tagged
bike lanes
cycling
cyclists
flatiron
vision zero
we the commuters
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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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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