An 11 year old bicyclist was struck and dragged under the rear of MTA bus yesterday in Cypress Hills in Brooklyn, New York. The boy was taken to Brookdale Hospital with traumatic injuries to his rib cage and lower body and was later transferred to New York – Presbyterian Columbia Hospital. The bus driver never saw the bicyclist who, according to investigators may have ridden into the back of the bus.
Watch the video 11-Year-Old Boy on Bike Seriously Hurt in MTA Bus Accident
Last year in New York, 40 bicyclists were struck by MTA buses, according to MTA statistics. This is a sad reminder of how dangerous it is for bicyclists to ride near buses. If you or your children ride a bike in the city please make sure to observe the following basic safety rules:
– Never “hang out” on the sides or the back of the bus. The bus blind spots are much larger than those of a car and the driver may not see you. Remember that if you can not see the driver’s face in the side-view mirror, he can’t see you either.
– Never pass a bus on the right side because the bus makes frequent right turns to bus stops.
– Never turn in front of a bus at an intersection, let the bus go first, then turn.