Making Safer Streets Following Three E-Biker Deaths

**Brian Lehrer** (0:10)
Brian Lehrer on WNYC. We talked recently on the show last week about the dangers to pedestrians from the way people use e-bikes. Now we'll talk about the danger to e-bike riders and everyone else from cars. Three e-bike riders were killed in just one week this month in New York City by hit and run drivers. So what can be done to keep everyone safe? All three of the recent victims were working people commuting to or from work. Last Tuesday, Paulina Tekchok, an e-bike delivery worker, was hit from behind by a pickup truck in Cypress Hills, run over and left in the street. That same day, 51-year-old Angelo Kamara, a father of five, riding home from work, was killed in Hunts Point by a driver who ran a red light. And on Thursday, 40-year-old Mamadou Diallo, not the old famous victim, Mamadou Diallo, a new one, a delivery worker, was struck head on in Flatlands by a driver who then fled the scene. So far, no arrests have been made in any of these cases last we saw.
It's all part of a troubling pattern this year. Eliminary data from the city shows that 18 cyclists have died on New York City streets so far this year, 18, most of them on e-bikes.
In response, the Street Safety Advocacy Group, Transportation Alternatives, is planning a protest outside City Hall today. They call it a die-in for around 5.30. One of their demands is that the city move faster on Vision Zero. Remember that de Blasio era initiative meant to get New York to zero traffic deaths?
My guest helped design that initiative from inside City Hall at the time, and he now runs the organization pushing to hold the city to it. He is Ben Furnas, Executive Director these days of Transportation Alternatives who joins me now. Ben, thanks for coming on. Sorry it's under these circumstances, obviously. Welcome back to WNYC.

**Ben Furnas** (2:15)
Good morning, Brian. Thanks so much for having me on. I really appreciate it.

**Brian Lehrer** (2:18)
And listeners, as always, you're welcome in on this topic today, especially if you ride an e-bike or any kind of bike in New York City. What's the state of your commute? Have you had close calls or worse? Do you avoid certain streets or intersections or types of intersections? We'll get to categories because you know they're dangerous.
212-433-WNYC, call or text 212-433-9692.
Maybe especially if you have to ride a bike for work, bike messengers, deliveristas, or anybody with a question for Ben Furnas from Transportation Alternatives 212-433-WNYC, call or text. Ben, I want to first make this about the people, not just the numbers. You put out a statement in response to the deaths of those three New Yorkers who fell victim to hit and runs last week. You said three hardworking New Yorkers are dead and three families are heartbroken. What can you tell us a little bit anyway about who Paulina Tecchock, or Angelo Camaro, or Mamadou Diallo were?

**Ben Furnas** (3:29)
Thanks, Brian. This is particularly heartbreaking because all three of these cyclists were people who were doing everything right. They were headed home or working on the streets of New York City, and now their lives have been taken. It's truly tragic and awful.
Angelo was a father of five and a beloved member of his community. Paulina Tecchock was on her way to work when she was hit from behind. Mamadou Diallo himself was an active delivery worker. One of the most dangerous jobs in New York City is making food deliveries. It's just absolutely heartbreaking knowing that these three New Yorkers that make it home at the end of the day, their families will never be able to have a good night or see their dad or sister or friend again.

**Brian Lehrer** (4:19)
So it's not new obviously that there are traffic fatalities in New York City, but according to your organization, bike fatalities are up 70 percent over this time last year. Is there something in particular behind the sudden steep increase?

**Ben Furnas** (4:37)
I think it's important for us to keep these things in perspective. There's come a long way. There's a lot more cyclists on the streets than ever before.
This is a great good thing. A lot more New Yorkers are using a bike to get around. But with that growth and the popularity of bicycling comes a responsibility for the city to be building out a high-quality network of protected bike lanes, slowing vehicle speeds to make sure that pedestrians and cyclists are safe, and really a whole of government approach to make sure that folks are safe no matter how they're getting around New York.