A Bike Ride In Memoriam

Jun 16, 2005

Last Thursday, a young Brooklyn woman, peacefully riding her bicycle up Fifth Avenue in Park Slope, was struck and killed by a delivery truck. Liz Padilla swerved to avoid a door that was unexpectedly thrown open in her path by a driver parked at the curb. Her emergency maneuver landed her under the wheels of another truck that was overtaking her, killing her instantly.

New York State and City laws both prohibit the opening of car doors in such a manner as to present a hazard to other vehicles and cyclists --

NYS VTL A33, ¤1214.: "Opening and closing vehicle doors. No person shall open the door of a motor vehicle on the side available to moving traffic unless and until it is reasonably safe to do so, and can be done without interfering with the movement of other traffic, nor shall any person leave a door open on the side of a vehicle available to moving traffic for a period of time longer than necessary to load or unload passengers."

NYC Traffic Rules ¤4-12 (c): "Getting out of vehicle. No person shall get out of any vehicle from the side facing on the traveled part of the street in such manner as to interfere with the right of the operator of an approaching vehicle or a bicycle."

Yet, "dooring" is the number one injury confronting New York bicyclists. In this case, a young woman's life was taken from her. Yet,amazingly and tellingly, not even a summons was issued to the driver who acted thoughtlessly and was the direct cause of the tragedy!

Liz Padilla was the third cyclist run down on our streets in the past month and a half, bringing the total of cyclists killed since 1995 to 204, a staggering toll. And although, NYC streets are somewhat safer than they've been in the past, the city's Department of Transportation still makes auto traffic flow it's main priority, while cycling and pedestrian safety gets a very short shrift.

So today, several hundred bicyclists gathered in silence at the corner where Liz Padilla lost her life. They then proceeded to the Brooklyn Bridge, crossing it to rally at City Hall. Here, they demanded from the Mayor that the city increase its efforts to make the streets safer and more accessible for cyclists and pedestrians. It's clear that in the long run, cycling will provide a healthier and more efficient means of transportation than the current system of allowing cars to dominate and overwhelm our city's streets.


Flowers for Liz Padilla at the corner of Prospect Place and Fifth Avenue in Brooklyn.


The Daily News story of June 10th.


A white bike placed at the scene - to symbolize our loss.


Paul Steely White, of Transportation Alternatives -- a moment of silence.


We won't forget you Liz.


Up Smith Street - heading to the Brooklyn Bridge and City Hall.


Hundreds of cyclists, demanding safer streets, crossing the Brooklyn Bridge.


At City Hall.


Taking our message to City Hall.