Taxi Cab versus Bicyclist
There was a metal thunk sound, the kind of sound you'd hear if a baseball was thrown at the side of a car. We all turned around at the same time to see a guy on a bike topple over. He hit the driver side of the taxi, or rather, more likely, the taxi cab turned left and cut off the bike.
Because the cab was turning left, the bike ended up between the two driver wheels. If the cab would have stopped right there, everything would have been fine. The biker would have gotten up on his feet, cursed out the taxi cab driver and continued on with his life.
The taxi didn't stop though. It kept turning. Sounds of crunching metal filled the air, followed by a scream from the cyclist. He was trapped under the bike trapped under the car. The rear wheel was at least a foot off the ground as it reach the apex of this bicycle and rider lump on the ground.
The wheel cleared, the taxi cab scooted forward, only stopping when a handful of people ran into the intersection to check on the guy.
Leading the pack was our QA manager at Right Media. He sprinted over like a good Samaritan and stopped traffic for the poor cyclist laying on the street. He also called 911.
After about five really awkward minutes. Minutes that really showed the true variety of souls in Manhattan. The nice people ran forward, setting up a body-like road block on the road, making sure the guy was ok and doing their best to redirect traffic. The opposite end of the spectrum had people annoyed that their walking lane was blocked by this guy who obviously wasn't dead, so should have moved himself out of the way of their oh-so-busy-lives.
And then you had people in the middle like me, who just stood and watched it all unfold. It's like watching a TV show that'll never play again. You just try to absorb as much details as possible.
The guy was totally fine. After those five minutes, two people helped the cyclist up. He seemed to be able to walk with both feet. His bike was nothing more than a crumpled set of pipes and chains.
I bet he appreciates his feet a lot more after today.
Because the cab was turning left, the bike ended up between the two driver wheels. If the cab would have stopped right there, everything would have been fine. The biker would have gotten up on his feet, cursed out the taxi cab driver and continued on with his life.
The taxi didn't stop though. It kept turning. Sounds of crunching metal filled the air, followed by a scream from the cyclist. He was trapped under the bike trapped under the car. The rear wheel was at least a foot off the ground as it reach the apex of this bicycle and rider lump on the ground.
The wheel cleared, the taxi cab scooted forward, only stopping when a handful of people ran into the intersection to check on the guy.
Leading the pack was our QA manager at Right Media. He sprinted over like a good Samaritan and stopped traffic for the poor cyclist laying on the street. He also called 911.
After about five really awkward minutes. Minutes that really showed the true variety of souls in Manhattan. The nice people ran forward, setting up a body-like road block on the road, making sure the guy was ok and doing their best to redirect traffic. The opposite end of the spectrum had people annoyed that their walking lane was blocked by this guy who obviously wasn't dead, so should have moved himself out of the way of their oh-so-busy-lives.
And then you had people in the middle like me, who just stood and watched it all unfold. It's like watching a TV show that'll never play again. You just try to absorb as much details as possible.
The guy was totally fine. After those five minutes, two people helped the cyclist up. He seemed to be able to walk with both feet. His bike was nothing more than a crumpled set of pipes and chains.
I bet he appreciates his feet a lot more after today.
posted by Allen M @ 1/05/2007 04:18:00 PM
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