Thanks to all those who answered the call and showed love to visiting nurse Tamara Kruse. She is extremely grateful to all those who offered bikes and financial support. As reported earlier, her bike was crushed by a driver of a Baldor speciality foods delivery truck on Tuesday (6/23/20) making a right turn at an intersection. She was getting off her long shift at the hospital and heading to her hotel room, in Brooklyn. My good friend and co-worker James, had a spare Dahon fold-up to lend.
Tammy will be able to commute from her Hotel in Park Slope to Brookdale Hospital in Brownsville and continue to provide much needed medical support to those with the Coronavirus. She’ll also be able to explore our city on her much deserved days off. Turns out Tammy is an avid cyclist from Portland Oregon. She competes in major marathons and Ironman triathlons. She also travels to Ethiopia to aid a cardiac surgeon who performs heart surgery on children. She says she likes to name her bikes and is saddened to have to tell Penny (her triathlon bike) and Special her Specialized that Kona (the fold-up here in NY) was killed. James didn’t have a name for his loaner…so well leave that to Tammy. I’m super thrilled that the #bikenyc community came through to help out this much valued health worker and will keep her riding on our streets!
She is a visiting nurse from Portland Oregon. She has been working in a nearby Brooklyn hospital with Covid19 patients. She wants to be safe and commute by bicycle so she was on her way home to the place she is staying after a long shift in the hospital. You know, one of those people we all bang on a pot around 7:00pm to show appreciation. She was shown something different at around 10:20am. A Baldor specialty foods truck made a right turn and somehow didn’t see Tammy waiting at the light. Also the driver didn’t hear all of the witnesses screaming for for the truck to stop because it didn’t and Tammy nearly escaped with her life as the wheels of the truck were inches away from crushing her like it did her fold up bike. This is what’s left of Tammy’s bike…
It is totaled but luckily this is not a reflection of Tammys body. She survived with only a few scrapes and an adrenaline rush, much like she must get when people come into the hospital panicked because they can’t breathe from a horrible virus. I didn’t see the actual crash, but I did see the truck make the turn and the driver seemed to still be very unaware because he was making deliveries just a few blocks away. While Tammy waited on the corner for the police to arrive. I called Baldor foods and got in touch with their dispatch. They did the right thing and followed up and got the driver to return to the scene of the hit and run just as the police arrived, about an hour after impact and two phone calls to 911. (They must be busy with all the illegal fireworks and looting Antifa)
The police took over and put in the squad car and got everybody’s information. The driver still seemed aloof as Tammy was explaining her story of what happened and what the witnesses saw.
I would like to show Tammy some real appreciation as well as blowing bubbles and ringing a cow bell daily at night. I think we should get Tammy a bike. It could be a loaner bike, she will be here until the end of July…right when a lot of us loose our extra unemployment.
If you have a bike or want to donate money to get her a bike. Please email me. Bikeblognyc@gmail.com
This weekend capped off some amazing direct action sparked by the shocking Murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. Bicycles have United into the mix with two spontaneous group rides here in NYC which had become a wildfire of street protests for over 10 days. The first came on Saturday 6/8/20 after this graphic popped up on Instagram: @justiceforgeorgenyc
This seems to be the place to go to for all the protesting spots in NYC. Over 1,000 cyclists had gathered at Grand Army plaza, with a sea of helmets and bells going off. There was a quick mic check with the announcement that this was an autonomous group with the aim to support the various marches around New York City.
The riders pulled out of GAP and headed down flatbush, quickly filling both sides of the street like a wave. It was such a pleasure to take this road on bicycle since it’s often jam up of motor vehicles, $1 vans and buses clamoring for road supremacy.
The ride passed Barclays Center on another motor speedway, Atlantic Ave. This sports stadium and concert venue has become a main meeting spot for demonstrations. With no planned route the ride organically weaved its way around marchers and headed to the Manhattan Bridge. It seems like the police have been using this as a dividing line and after numerous crossings by demonstrators taking the car paths, the NYPD stood shoulder to shoulder to block the entrance. The bikes followed a large march and headed back to Barclays Center. After a brief cheer…they regrouped and snaked their way back through Fort Greene and returned to Grand Army Plaza before the “dreaded” curfew, that somebody thought would be a good idea in the city that never sleeps. Amazing how after 8:00pm, Brooklyn was full of car traffic…so I guess the curfew didn’t apply to motorists.
The ride went back down Vanderbilt with about the same numbers (1000) and moved through Fort Greene and into Bed-Stuy. A large group of roving demonstrators, spreading the message of racial justice and an end to police repression. Neighbors cheered from their stoops in solidarity, thrilled to see a huge group of cyclists owning the streets, many with fists in the air. My kind of Borough Bike Tour!! We rejoined a foot march near the Brooklyn Library and headed into Prospect Lefferts Gardens and the Flatbush neighborhoods. On foot we ran into a big allie in the struggle, City councilman from Brooklyn’s 39th district Brad Lander.
Here is a quick video:
Ok, now maybe you think its wrong to be taunting the police with a chant of “QUIT YOUR JOB!” to the NYPD escorting the march…but then there is this…
Seems like the NYPD continues to live up to what we are protesting.
Back when we were riding Fort Greene, one of the cyclists (Pierce McCaffrey) was attacked by four officers (two of which are named: Shea and Cavello)
My first #CriticalMass ride tonight. So great to meet up and ride with #BikeNYC folks (and not as part of a memorial) We took over Park Ave to Grand Central, looped over to Times Square. Impressive how many people can fit on the road when they're not carrying around metal boxes😉 pic.twitter.com/hBqnx7MkXI
I had so much fun tonight at #criticalmass. It was so refreshing to own the road. So sick of riding single file. Would love to see these streets car-free. Bicycles outnumbered cars on the whole route. Cheering from the sidelines. Amazing bunch of activists at the ride. #bikenycpic.twitter.com/cwrPO4rC3D
A #criticalmass of bikes takes the streets after gathering in Union Square North, NYC, protesting for safer bike infrastructure, against using fossil fuels, etc. pic.twitter.com/NcAWEikumi
It appeared between 200 to 300 cyclists attended last night’s Critical Mass for Safer Streets, without incident, and was completely unharassed by the NYPD, or any other government agency, for the entire 9 mile, 2 hour ride.
Probably the first time, a Critical Mass ride of this size, went unharassed in NYC in over 15 years?
What better way to share the story, but by videos, and photos, by the participants themselves:
Tonight's critical mass ride was amazing we filled the streets with bicycles celebrating safer streets and sustainable Urban design #bikeNYCpic.twitter.com/vD6NHds6ty
Critical Mass leaving Union Square tonight around 7.30pm. It started with someone reciting the names of 17 people killed this year riding bikes. It ended two hours later taking Canal St, up West Broadway, and into Washington Square Park. #notonemore#bikenyc#criticalmassnycpic.twitter.com/seqGrf3GaZ
Oliver, 29 at the time, and a devout Christian, reportedly gave up his gardening job in Chelmsford, Essex, England in 4/2017 to cycle across Europe, and Mexico, cycling about 14,000 km (8,700 miles) on what friends described as “a voyage of personal discovery” before reaching Israel.
This short documentary in Hebrew, and Arabic, with English subtitles attempts to explain Oliver’s situation in the Negev, Desert that lead to his disappearance:
Oliver’s story, has also been reported in both Europe: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, North America: 1, 2 and Israel: 1, 2, 3 since his disappearance.
We are all hoping Oliver found a beautiful “back to nature” utopia for himself away from the modern stresses of life, in the Negev desert (or elsewhere), and are jealous he is keeping it to himself!
In the meantime, his family and friends are maintaining a facebook page “Missing: Oliver McAfee in Israel”, and a twitter account @helpfindoliver which they hope will help lead to his eventual discovery, and a gofundme page that does not currently need anymore donations, but could in the future.
As cyclists, let’s hold our heads up in the face of our own adversity, remember to take care of ourselves, and wish everyone a safe bike ride in NYC, where even Streetsblog is declaring Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Vision Zero an abject failure.
Here is a little story, that anyone can relate to, John Williams from Penzance, Cornwall just completed a bike ride using his seven year old daughter’s bicycle from Bristol to Land’s End England on 9/27/2018.
His daughter Ellie died three years ago from a brain tumor, so John was doing the ride to honor her memory, and raise money for children’s brain tumor research.
If you wish to donate to “The Little Pink Bike – Peter’s Epic Ride on Ellie’s Bike” you can do so here. Unsurprisingly, it is a very popular cause.
Ten years ago to the month, a NYC Critical Mass rider was physically assaulted in Times Square by rookie NYPD officer Patrick Pogan, who eventually received a felony conviction for lying on a police report, but no jail time, losing his job over the incident.
The infamous video of the assault (posted to youtube on 7/27/2008) has over 3 million views:
Another view of the 7/25/2008 assault, and its aftermath, used during the 2010 trial:
On a happier note, The Warriors Fun Ride held on 7/7/2018 reported no such attacks. It was overheard that 500 cyclists across 60 teams registered for the ride (30 of which finished the all night event), and was even featured in a Bicycling Magazine article.
Wide angle shot in front of Barclays.
