9 Responses

1. Boruch Dayan Ha’Emes! I don’t know if this was an e-bike or not. He was nebach destined to leave this world. The machla of e-bikes and electric scooters must end though and NOW! Anyone with seichel sees the immense danger involved. I think it’s very dangerous anywhere, certainly in Lakewood. IN Monsey it is off the charts dangerous due to the hills, curvy roads etc all which cause a major reduction in seeing bikers etc. Any adult driving Monsey roads knows this. Yet we don’t know how to say NO to our children anymore. Enough is enough! I personally think a ban by Rabbonim is in order. Why is it any different than smartphones which we were all taught is so dangerous (and they are!) and teens cannot use them?! How many more tzaros do we need?

2. And please don’t begin lecturing me about being sensitive, this is not the right time etc etc. This is EXACTLY the right time. As a parent, I very much understand the tzaar, nebach! However; I also see how so many parents are unable, or unwilling (for good reason) to say NO to their kids who create IMMENSE pressure to let them scoot and bike all over the place with the killer bikes/scooters.

3. Ultimately it is a tragedy. The information presented does not clearly imply blame on any action or person, I feel it is evading any statement for reasons I can understand.

   Nevertheless, I will state that in Madison (Brooklyn) this very morning I was stunned at the number of 12-14 year olds riding motorized scooters on the streets. I found the riding was tempting fate and I wonder how their parents allow it. I also differentiate between commuting to school and pure joyriding although maybe there is no reason to differentiate, they are both dangerous.
   I first got a bike at age 14 and there was a maturity involved. The bike was human powered and I suspect the electric scooters can lead to more trouble.

4. UncleMo is right. From Brooklyn to Lakewood, I have seen our young people scooting against the light and testing out the brakes of vehicles who have the right-of-way. This happens on dangerous thoroughfares like Ocean Parkway – and at night. The issue is one of פיקוח נפש.

5. I was driving in Monsey today and saw a narrow 2 way road with some construction on the side and hardly any room for 2 cars and yet there were 2 Bochrim trying to squeeze in on their bikes. I had very little room so i slowed down to allow them to go. But they should not have been on the road. What kind of parents allow this?

6. The gedolim tour of Lakewood, Monsey etc. is now being followed by the tragedy tour. There seems to be a connection between the two.

7. Because there was construction they shouldn’t bike?? Does that even make sense? Maybe u shouldn’t drive.
   It is good for them to bike as long as they are following the rules. And they do have the right of way.

8. @2qwerty: Were the bikers riding with traffic? Then they have 100% right to be there (see NYS VTL §1231). If you can’t grasp that, and think you were being so nice by slowing down instead of hitting them, then you should get off the road, and retake some driving courses.

   The bigger question is how fast was the car going on a local road?? I can’t understand how a fatality can occur on such a residential street?!

9. First and foremost: ALL cyclist and scooter riders (Litwish, chassidish, young and old) must wear a helmet!