The intersection near where the crash occurred.
The 71-year-old man who was hit by an electric bicycle rider on 78th Street and Amsterdam Avenue on Saturday, April 17th, has died, according to the NYPD.
Update: WSR was initially informed by the police that Hing Chung, the deceased, had “walked between two parked cars into the bike lane, when he was hit by the bicycle.” After posting the story, we received a comment from Donna Gray, who said, “I went to the restaurant today (Jing Fong, where Mr. Chung was the manager), to find out what happened, and I want to clear up an inaccuracy. It wasn’t that he walked between two parked cars while crossing the street. Cars on Amsterdam Avenue are parked in the middle of the street, past the bike lane. As Hing Chung was getting out of his own car, he stepped into the bike lane and was run over by the electric bicycle.”
That story was confirmed by Claudia Leo, marketing manager at Jing Fong, who said, “As we were not present, we can only rely on what was told to us by Mr. Chung’s assistant manager and long-time friend, who said, Mr. Chung came from a parked car, turned around, stepped into the bike lane, and was hit by an e-bike immediately.”
When police arrived around 1:30 p.m., they found Mr. Chung with trauma to his head and arm and an ambulance took him to Mt. Sinai Hospital. He was pronounced dead on Sunday, April 25.
“People responding to your original post blamed Hing Chung, who I learned yesterday went by the American name “Steven”, for walking between two parked cars to cross the street,” wrote Donna Gray. “I hope you’ll write something else so they don’t have the last word. Hing “Steven” Chung was a lovely man who made Jing Fong a very welcoming place. When I went to [get this information], I ordered take out too. Their food is really good.”
E Bikes travel faster than cars are allowed to drive, weave in and out of bike lanes terrorizing bicyclists, and happily drive the wrong way on roads and bike lanes. Yet there is no traffic control of them at all. Thanks city council for creating even more danger for the citizens of New York by approving these vehicles. And to all supporters: Is your food arriving quickly worth people being seriously injured and dying?
E-bikes do not travel faster than cars are allowed to drive. The speed limit is 25. E-bikes are typically travelling, at about 18-20mph. Most Arrow ebikes, the ones the delivery guys use, have 350w motors, which will give a top speed of 20mph. So no, they are not traveling faster. As for delivery riders breaking other rules, that’s a different story. We could fix part of this issue by delivery riders being paid hourly rather than making all of their money off of tips.
Not sure where you drive, but I go 25mph and scooters and ebikes pass me all the time. And in the narrow bike lines, it is extremely dangerous. Try walking a dog or pushing a kid in a stroller across a bike lane, good luck. And few, if any, obey red lights, or even the proper direction of traffic.
Very well said. Thank you.
They need to follow the rules either of bikes or cars but not their own.
I don’t think it’s an issue of absolute speed. The problem is three-fold: 1) car drivers having to slow down at intersections while many e-bike riders do not, and have no problem going through red lights; 2) car drivers are generally used to pedestrians popping out in the middle of the block (not defending the practice) and crossing on their green when the cars have a red light; and 3) pedestrians who still don’t look both ways when crossing a bike lane.
E-bikes are a scourge. Often exceeding speed limits, driving on sidewalks and walks along the Hudson where they’re clearly not permitted. Seemingly no oversight or penalties. Enough already!
Has the rider been caught? Charged with manslaughter?? This is out of control. Police need to do something about this and perhaps more importantly the ATVs rampaging throughout Manhattan
Why would he be? Did you read the article? Stop being a hysterical ninny.
I don’t want to start this debate again, but it is unclear whether the bike rider is at fault. They have the right of way in the bike lane and people should not walk into it, particularly not at crosswalks. The question is how fast he was going and are there even speed limits? If a car was doing 23 in a 25 zone and you got hit while jaywalking in the middle of the street, the driver is not at fault.
I’m sorry to hear of this man’s passing and send my best to his friends and family.
Bike riders may have the right of way in the bike lanes but aren’t they supposed to stop at the intersection if the light is red? From my experience about 99% of bike riders do not heed the traffic lights.
Absolutely they DO NOT not on the West Side anyway..and those electric bike delivery guys are the worst ! If anything goes 20 MPH they should obey ALL traffic laws STOP at the intersection and don’t ride up my A— when ur on the sidewalk going back to ur restaurant..I know they have to hustle but they are TOO MUCH now
It’s terrible, though hardly limited to delivery guys, who are more sympathetic than the random jerk Citibike tourists or locals who think they shouldn’t have to obey traffic laws just because they’re on bikes. Plenty of those, and they have NO excuse.
Condolences to this man’s loved ones.
Just as car drivers are expected to be able to stop if someone emerges from between cars, motorized bike operators ought to be able to stop as well.
The problem is that 20 MPH in a bike lane on a busy avenue is too fast.
Sorry, but no. You cannot blindly walk into a bike path. Even a regular bike would have likely lead to the same injury. There is 0 chance of avoidance if a cyclist cannot see a person as they walk into a bike lane.
It is unfortunate that this happened and my condolences go to the family and friends but pedestrians also need to be more observant when crossing a street regardless of whether it’s a car or a bike.
And it’s not to say people on ebikes or bicycles are free from blame but it doesn’t mean that a pedestrian can do as they please while walking against the light. It is extremely common for someone to walk onto the street while looking at their phone or not paying attention.
From safemotorist.com:
Pedestrians must always be yielded the right of way at intersections and crosswalks. Bicycles, since they are considered ‘vehicles,’ are subject to the same rules as other drivers
In other words, THE PEDESTRIAN ALWAYS HAS THE RIGHT OF WAY.
To clarify my statement (I admittedly did not express myself clearly), I meant that people should not walk into bike lanes, particularly away from crosswalks (i.e. midblock). This is common sense. They also should not walk into bike lanes at crosswalks if they do not have the light. Your quoted statement cannot be correct. A pedestrian could not just walk across a busy street against the light just because they are in a crosswalk. That would lead to absolute chaos.
If you disagree with me on either of these points, I don’t know what to say…
From the state of New York:
When there are crosswalks:
Pedestrians have the right of way if there is an intersection or any marked crosswalk on the road and no traffic signals. Drivers must yield, slowing or stopping, to allow pedestrians to cross.
When there are no crosswalks:
Drivers have the right of way if there are no intersections or no marked crosswalks on the road. Pedestrians must yield the right of way to vehicles.
The pedestrian ALWAYS has the right of way.
This did not happen in an intersection or crosswalk.
Actually, that’s a bit of a murky area for me. THE NYPD spokesperson said “The victim stepped out into the bike lane between two vehicles,” When you step out between two vehicles (which is necessary when you’ve parked your car in a legal parking spot) you are in a pedestrian walkway between the bike lane and the parked cars. Is that where he was or was he truly in the bike lane? Because it take some speed fora 71 year old man to get out from between two parked cars, across that pedestrian walk, and into the bike lane before the bike can see him.
John,
From the description, it sounds Mr. Chung walked out into the bike lane from between cars (so mid-block). I honestly don’t see a way that the biker could have avoided this collision.
It’s a sad reminder that we all need to pay more attention to our surroundings and make sure we are watching out.
My condolences to his family for this truly sad and unfortunate accident.
When was the last time you saw one of these riders with a light on the front of his bike or scooter (Citibikes have them)or wearing anything other than black clothing. The bikes come at you out of nowhere sometime, the wrong direction, on your sidewalk, or even in the Park.This may have happened in the day, but the bikes go too fast and are not visible.
From the description he was crossing close to the intersection at 78th (15 feet or so) and he crossed east to west meaning he first crossed the three lanes of traffic, then the line of parked vehicles, then into the bike lane.
And he was 71.
So it’s highly likely that the light on Amsterdam at 78th was red, stopping those three lanes of traffic and, theoretically, the bikes in the bike lane.
Theoretically.
He should have been more careful, but it seems pretty clear that the ebike motorist ran the light.
You have absolutely no way of knowing the sequence of events. There is an unlimited number of scenarios that would disagree with the main point of your argument – that the biker ran a red light while traveling up Amsterdam.
Even if all you said up until that point is accurate, it could have been that the cyclist was traveling east on 78th St, had the light, and legally turned onto Amsterdam into the bike lane. Was it reported that the bike was on Amsterdam before that intersection?
You’re trying way too hard to blame the cyclist with so little info.
I never see E-bike and scooter riders in the bike lanes stop for red lights, they treat the bike lanes like a non-stop race track. These are motorized vehicles that should not be allowed in the bike lanes. Even if you cross the street at the red light, you still need to be cautious of what is zooming along in the bike lanes, especially looking out for E-bikes & scooters. I realize the victim was walking in between cars, but how fast was that E-bike going to have enough force to kill Mr.Chung? was he going above an acceptable speed limit?
I do. And I’m an eBike rider. We stop at lights all the time. We keep going if no one is there. Your issue isn’t what occurred here. Look before you cross, both ways.
D says, “We stop at lights all the time. We keep going if no one is there.”
Nice try. Under the law, bicycles, e-bikes, and cars must stop at red lights and wait before proceeding
What does the law say about pedestrians going through red lights?
Also NOT permitted, including pushing your child in a stroller while you concentrate on your mobile phone a behavior which many UWSers seem to feel is somewhere in the Bill of Rights.
1. The speed may be irrelevant. A bike can be going one mph, and if it bumps an unaware pedestrian, the resultant fall can easily cause fatal head trauma.
2. The citibike e-bikes are pedal-assist, NOT motorized, unlike the delivery guys bikes. The citibike motor only is “on” when the person is actually actively pedaling. If you stop pedaling, there is no continued assist, and the bike immediately slows down… pretty rapidly since they are pretty heavy.
Let’s sum this up:
– E-bike riders need to slow down and be more aware
– Some people think E-bikes don’t belong in bike lanes
– No bikes of any type should be going in the wrong direction
– Pedestrians need to be more careful when near bike lanes, especially when they are not crossing the bike lane with a green light, such as away from intersections
– Loud packs of bikes and motorized bikes running red lights are bad, but we don’t know how to stop them
– Bikes, e-bikes, cars and pedestrians have a hard time co-existing, but perhaps would do better if they all took steps to be considerate to each other and increase visibility. All are entitled to exist.
– It is very unfortunate that this gentleman died. Hopefully we can learn from what happened without placing blame or making false assumptions.
Well said, Juan.
Thanks for this, seconded in all respects.
That is so very sad, for him, his loved ones, and for all of us. The anxiety one endures just to cross the street, anywhere, anyhow, is just wrong. I’m sick of all the people on wheels who seem to be oblivious, when it comes to people. I know it wasn’t like this before we favored them, by providing bike lanes. Whether motorized or not, riding in those lanes or not, the general callousness of our NYC society has worsened since. So
much for granola, clean air, and peace and love. The same crappy attitude accompanied the growing use of headphones. You can’t even start a tiny conversation, or ask a question of anyone outside. Are we in the suburbs now? Jeez. I used to love walking and daydreaming. Now it’s just too dangerous, and so sad, for our formerly great-for-pedestrians city. What now?
So you had no issues with 2-wheeled vehicles prior to there being bike lanes?
The bike lanes can be confusing and therefore not used correctly by bikes, not respected by cars, and not understood by pedestrians. They seemingly cause frustration and road rage by bike riders,, resulting in many bikers to not use them at all, because they don’t seem safer or they don’t allow the bikers to weave in and out of traffic at will, and go as fast as they can go.
They have not been the panacea some people expected, and combined with some confusing parking on the UWS, along with the restaurant “spread,” it’s like crossing a highway within a highway. It’s a mess.
There is nothing confusing about bike lanes. That’s a weak rationale for pedestrians who insist on jaywalking, waiting in the bike lane to cross, and ignoring the PEDESTRIAN signals which differ from the TRAFFIC signals. It’s all figured out and programmed for safety if pedestrians simply pay attention to what they’re NOT supposed to do.
As to cyclists not using the bike lanes, that’s the point of my comment about bike activity prior to there being bike lanes. Was it easier then to cross the street when bikes were spread out in the vehicular lanes? At least bike lanes keep the bikes in one area. I honestly wonder how people got across the street before without complaining and the bike lanes have nothing to do with their objections to bikes in general .
I recently got hit by an e-biker from behind while crossing the street. I was in the crosswalk crossing on the green at night and the biker hit my left arm at the elbow. The biker had no lights and called me an asshole. Luckily neither of us were hurt seriously.
Bikers need to follow these basic rules:
1. Do not ride on sidewalks.
2. Stop for pedestrians on crosswalks and in bike lanes.
3. Do not use crosswalks for stopping or crossing streets.
4. Curb cuts are for pedestrians only.
5. White stripped safety zones next to bike lanes for pedestrians are off limits to bikes.
6. Stopping for red lights at intersections.
7. Use proper safety equipment and lights at night.
8. Do not pass pedestrians within six feet or behind them.
9. Dismount on the street before getting on sidewalk.
The white striped areas between protected bike lanes and parked cars aren’t for pedestrians. Working along and upon them is the same as walking on the road and illegal under state law.
They’re there so that cyclists aren’t riding in at area where open driver-side car doors will slam into them. If you keep an eye out for that they’re also important as ways to pass slower riders. Not all riders go the same speed you know.
For crying out loud.
Also, passing behind pedestrians (say, a jaywalking one paying not a whit of attention to my right of way) is usually good practice, they’ll tend not to suddenly jump backwards. Passing behind one at 2-3 feet is likely perfectly safe, passing 7-8 feet ahead of one may not be.
You’ve proven my point that white stripped areas are off limits to bicycles. They are there for loading and unloading of cars as well as a buffer zone when car doors are opened. Cars are also not allowed to stand or park in any white stripped zone. Like cross walks they are primarily for pedestrian use only.
Passing behind a pedestrian is a recipe for disaster. Again your response tells me you are advocating going thru red lights and not stopping for pedestrians legally in cross walks. Following simple rules can prevent the chaos we have in the streets.
This isn’t, you know, actually a back-and-forth argument. You’re simply contradicting what I’ve said without providing any justification for why your take is right and mine is wrong.
You do know it’s possible to have a discussion on these sorts of things in good faith, right?
Pedestrians do not have right of way in a crosswalk if they are crossing against the walk/don’t walk sign while perpendicular traffic (bicycle or otherwise) is proceeding with its green light. All road users have a duty of due care to avoid a collision if it’s at all possible, for sure, but that’s not the same as saying peds have right of way at all times.
The problem is not bicycles riding in the striped areas. It’s pedestrians walking in the bike lanes without regard for their own safety.
I agree, pedestrians should stay off the green bike lane as much as possible. There is a reason why the green stops at the white stripped crosswalk. Where the lane crosses white stripped zones, bikers must yield to pedestrians.
I have enjoyed dining at Jing Fong on Amsterdam at 78 Street and recall having exchanged some pleasant words with Hing Chung.
I am shocked and saddened to learn of his death.
Having ridden thousands of miles in bike lanes, I have on numerous occasions nearly hit pedestrians stepping into the lane from between two park cars. There is no way to anticipate a pedestrian coming into the lane. At an intersection or crosswalk, the biker must yield. You can’t fault the biker if he/she was obeying the traffic laws. It is always a tragedy when life is lost, but please don’t immediately place blame on the biker.
Did the driver stop or was it a hit and run? Did I miss something?
Motorized bikes, scooters, skateboards, or any motorized mode of transportation should not be in a bike lane. Hence, “bike lane.” As well as on the sidewalks, the city lost complete control of this.
This is not, you know, actually the law. Under current state and city law, ebikes are allowed to use bike lanes, and in fact required to do so on streets that have them unless certain safety or operational (e.g. preparing for a turn) exceptions apply.
The UWS has become like the Wild, Wild West! There is no one reinforcing the rules for bicyclist, scooters etc. Even the sidewalk are dangerous.
I work with the senior population and they are terrified. Very upsetting!
This, as in almost all similar situations, is a PEDESTRIAN problem. I am very, so very sorry for this man, his friends and family, and for many others who have been injured or died in similar situations. That said, as a pedestrian, cyclist and driver in the city I assure you pedestrians are nearly 100% responsible for all pedestrian involved accidents. Even this poor man “walked between two parked cars into the bike lane”. Yet there is surprise and outrage at the result. I’ve been riding a bike, legally, in the bike lane, in the appropriate direction and begun SHOUTING a half block in advance, “EXCUSE ME!!! BIKE! EXCUSE ME! HELLO!! LOOK OUT!!!” only to be berated with obscenities by pedestrians who couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to anything other than themselves or, worse, simply hated that somebody ‘stole’ their ‘right’ to wander out into the street in the most populated city in the country. Get. Over. Yourselves.
As a biker it is your responsibility to ride safely. If it means stopping for a pedestrian in a bike lane that’s what you have to do. Shouting a half block in advance so that you don’t have to stop is a poor excuse for your unsafe riding habits.
As a pedestrian it’s your responsibility to stay out of the bike lane, or be alert if you are in it.
Unless you stop at all red lights, I really don’t want to hear it. I’ve been nearly mowed down multiple times crossing WITH the light IN the crosswalk by bikers who think stopping is optional, even if, e.g., a truck is blocking clear view of the crosswalk until they’re almost on top of it.
Your comment is patently absurd. I have arthritis and it hampers my ability to scamper. E-bikes come out of “nowhere” at top speed, have zero regard for the law, run red lights, go the wrong way up one way streets, make it impossible often to cross the street because they do not slow down in the bike lane and guess what? Pedestrians have to cross the bike land to cross the street, they do not yield when zooming into a curve and all of it. It’s a miracle more people aren’t killed.
So, do they know who was riding the bike? Were there any witnesses? Did the bike have identifying license plates or liability insurance? I guess the answer is no to all questions?
Not that these questions were asked in at all good faith, Mr. Taxi Shill, but nonetheless:
Yes. Yes. No — why would this be the case? — it is not the norm nor in any way legally required. Resoundingly no.
My point is that it should be legally required!
I think the DOT should paint a bicycle on the crosswalk AT the intersection…there is no indication that you are stepping into a bikelane when you cross the street…..you just see the crosswalk lines.
How would that make a difference? Whether there’s a bike lane or not, the pedestrian would be stepping into the street and needs to be aware. How do people get across Broadway or West End without bike lanes?
When a pedestrian is legally in a crosswalk bikers must respect that. It is the biker’s responsibility to stop. Pedestrians do jay walk but that is no excuse for the bike rider to be unsafe.
I don’t think you’ll find too many bicyclists (on here at least) who disagree with you. Most bikers respect the pedestrian’s right of way in the crosswalk.
We all need to recognize our responsibilities to each other. E-bikes, E-scooters, bicyclists, pedestrians, the City of New York, and the police. If everyone did what they’re supposed to do the system might work. But we all know that’s pie-in-the-sky thinking, so perhaps is the police we’re ordered to enforce all the traffic regulations things might improve. However, we all know it comes down to money, to funding, and where can that be found? Oy, I just don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel.
Thanks to all those who have dispassionately summarized the various problems we pedestrians are having with bikes—not only electric ones.
This issue should be #1 for any City Council candidate in our area. Let’s take every opportunity to question them on what measures they would take to solve this dangerous situation.
Tragic. My sympathy to the family and Jing Fong patrons who knew him.
Motorized cycles should not be allowed in the bike lanes. Otherwise they’re just motorcycle lanes. Bike lanes should be reserved for bikes. Motor vehicles should use the road.
This is so sad and tragic. I’m so sorry for his family. If you hear of a go-fund me, please post. Whether it’s an e-bike or not, bicyclists on the UWS are reckless – just try crossing Central Park West without having to fear being hit.
This was just awful, my condolences to the Chung family and the employees at Jin Fung who he treated like family. As an upper west sider who often got take out at Jin Fung, Mr. Chung was a kind and friendly man…what a terrible loss.
As to the many comments regarding the unsafe e bike riders…enough has been said in this thread, just hope the city finally takes some action and comes up with a plan to insure safety of pedestrians in nyc.
“He walked between two parked cars into the bike lane when he was hit by the bicycle, according to NYPD.” Sounds like the pedestrian was at fault, walking into a lane for bicycles. I’ve been on a regular bike numerous times and nearly collided with pedestrians stepping into bike lanes between two cars, so you can’t see them. These lanes are NOT for pedestrians. It’s on a par with walking into a car lane. Not sure why the commenters are blaming the biker in this case. If this had happened while he was in a crossing intersection, it might be a different story. It’s a sad ending but a cautionary tale.
Hing Chung was a lovely man. He was an attentive manager who went out of his way to make Jing Fong customers feel welcome. I only interacted with him a couple of times, but he made a lasting impression on me. He wasn’t just a statistic. I went to the restaurant today to find out what happened and want to clear up an inaccuracy. It wasn’t that he walked between two parked cars while crossing the street. Cars on Amsterdam Avenue are parked in the middle of the street, past the bike lane. As Hing Chung was getting out of his own car he stepped into the bike lane and was run over by the electric bicycle. Such a shame that he had to die this way.