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Comedians in america have joined forces to name out the hazards posed to cyclists by drivers and the dire want for higher, segregated biking infrastructure after a celebrated member of the neighborhood was killed whereas biking in Brooklyn, New York final week, taking the entire variety of bike owner deaths within the metropolis to twenty-eight in 2023 and making it the worst yr since 1999, and the second-deadliest ever recorded when it comes to bike owner deaths.
Kenny DeForest was a slapstick comedian, largely identified for his hilarious and beloved appearances on Comedy Central, in addition to reveals like “Late Evening with Seth Meyers” and “The Late Late Present with James Corden”.
In line with a GoFundMe web page that was arrange by his buddies, DeForest was driving his e-bike in Brooklyn final week when the collision occurred. The 37-year-old was rushed to the Kings County Hospital, the place he underwent neurological surgical procedure to take away a bit of his cranium and relieve stress from a mind bleed.
StreetsblogNYC studies that he was in a secure situation following the surgical procedure, nevertheless, he handed away on the hospital 5 days later. Following his loss of life, numerous comedians have come ahead to lift consciousness about safer biking and even vented their anger at drivers for the lack of their peer.
Comic Adam Conover, mourned his pal’s loss of life on Instagram, writing: “Kenny DeForest was one of many funniest and most beloved comics any of us knew. A tragedy. Watch his particular on YouTube. It got here out three months in the past. It’s lovely. Fuck vehicles without end.”
Conover, additionally a author, actor and labour organiser, with a number of appearances on reveals like Bojack Horseman, was as soon as a visitor on the mockingly named podcast “The Warfare on Vehicles”, discussing automotive tradition and its destructive influence on American suburbia. He even did a phase about jaywalking on his present “Adam Ruins All the pieces”.
He says within the video, speaking in regards to the historical past of the time period: “A gaggle of personal businessmen coined an offensive slur to advertise the product and it labored so properly that as we speak it is a authorized time period… The road went from being a public place the place everybody was welcome to a terrifying, off-limits loss of life lure.”
One other comic Kate Willett, shared a grief-stricken message on social media, writing: “Kenny was an unbelievable comedian and good to everybody… He was struck by a driver whereas on his bike and I’ve by no means been extra satisfied of the necessity for widespread protected bike lanes. He deserved the prospect to dwell out his life and all of us deserved an opportunity to maintain hanging out with him and listening to his new materials.”
My pal simply died a tragic loss of life from being hit by a automotive on a motorcycle. I do know there’s massive overlap between jail and cop completely happy YIMBY’s and bike lane advocates, however this is a matter the place you shouldn’t let the (odious) messengers smash from the message. We’d like protected bike lanes.
— Kate Willett (@katewillett) December 14, 2023
Many individuals within the feedback got here ahead to supply sympathies, but in addition rage on the car-culture which has ingrained itself in america. One individual wrote: “Vehicles destroy communities. They finish lives. They wreck the planet. What a horrible mistake they’re.”
One other consumer commented: “It is infrastructure issues plus reliance on automotive tradition to the purpose of ignoring security. A driver’s check must be more durable than it’s, and our highway infrastructure is not protected or has no look after pedestrians and cyclists, and doesn’t prioritize their security.”
> NYC cab driver in crash that severed British tourist’s foot blames cyclist for incident
Transportation Options, a New York-based non-profit organisation aimed toward “reclaiming NYC from vehicles” and reworking the streets into “protected, sustainable, & equitable locations to stroll and bike”, additionally lamented DeForest’s loss of life.
Its govt director, Danny Harris mentioned: “We’re devastated to study that one other New Yorker driving a motorcycle was killed in New York Metropolis, making 2023 the deadliest yr for cyclists since 1999.
“Our leaders failed Kenny — and each bike rider killed on this record-breaking yr for bike owner deaths. Our leaders know find out how to stop crashes from taking place, particularly as we’re on observe for the most secure yr for pedestrians throughout Imaginative and prescient Zero, and so they should deliver this similar effort and urgency to conserving cyclists protected.”
We’re devastated to study that one other New Yorker driving a motorcycle was killed in New York Metropolis, making 2023 the second-deadliest yr for bike riders in recorded historical past.
We ship our deepest condolences to the family members of Kenny DeForest. pic.twitter.com/S5ftH6fIfz
— Transportation Options (@TransAlt) December 14, 2023
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