Another Cyclist Killed In Brooklyn, As Vision Zero Faces 'State Of Emergency'

Bushwick Avenue, which leads into the new protected bike lane at Grand Street, does not have any bike lanes at all

A 28-year-old woman was killed by a driver while riding her bike in Brooklyn on Monday—marking the third cyclist fatality on city streets in just seven days.

According to police, the victim was riding north on Bushwick Avenue at 12:20 p.m. today when she was struck by a cement truck driver coming east from Boerum Street. The 70-year-old driver remained on the scene, and has not been charged, police said.

Additional details about the crash were not immediately available.

The currently unnamed victim is at least the 14th cyclist to be killed in New York City this year, up from 10 total cyclist fatalities in all of 2018 (the true number may be higher, as Streetsblog reported that Victor Ang, a Citi Bike rider struck near Hudson Yards in April, passed away last month; Gothamist has been unable to confirm that Ang's death was related to his injuries).

Amid a rough year for Vision Zero, the past week has been particularly bloody for New York City cyclists: On Monday, bike messenger Robyn Hightman was killed on 6th Avenue by a delivery truck driver; three days later, and hours after a memorial ride for Hightman, Ernest Askew was fatally struck while riding in Brownsville.

Neither driver has faced charges related to the cyclists' deaths. Today's tragedy occurred in the same police precinct where Aurilla Lawrence, a 25-year-old bike messenger, was killed by a hit-and-run driver earlier this year. Despite initially claiming to have spoken with a suspect, police still have not arrested the driver.

A vigil is planned tonight in Askew's honor.

Asked last week how his administration would respond to the recent spike in deaths, Mayor Bill de Blasio, who is currently campaigning in Illinois, insisted that Vision Zero should still be viewed as a success this year.

"We're going to be doing a lot more," he said. "It is a painful reality and has to end, but there's no question in my mind that Vision Zero has gotten stronger every year. It's going to get a lot stronger before we're done."

In a statement, Marco Connor of Transportation Alternatives called on the city to pass an emergency response plan to swiftly implement a range of pedestrian and cyclist safety initiatives. Among them: a citywide daylighting program to increase intersection visibility; reformed trucking and freight policies; automated enforcement technologies to protect bike lanes; and the passage of Council Member Brad Lander’s Reckless Driver Accountability Act.

"New Yorkers on bikes are being killed at a record rate," Connor added. "It is clear that Vision Zero is in a state of emergency and Mayor de Blasio is in denial about his signature program faltering under his neglect."

[UPDATE / 6:11 p.m.] Mayor Bill de Blasio released this statement:

We are seeing a dangerous surge in cyclist deaths on our streets, and we are taking action. I have directed the NYPD to immediately launch a major enforcement action that will encompass every precinct and crack down on dangerous driving behavior like parking in bike lanes. At the same time, I have charged the Department of Transportation with developing a new cyclist safety plan to make biking in our city safer. No loss of life on our streets is acceptable. Last year was the safest year on record—and we have to keep pushing the envelope and increasing our efforts until we achieve Vision Zero.