FOX News writer Broderick accused of striking cyclist in Central Park

Image via Gawker by Stephen Dressler

Clearly, FOX news writer Don Broderick was not worried about bad press when he rammed into cyclist Brian Dooda last Thursday evening in Central Park.

Dooda was riding his bicycle in the left lane, maintaining a steady pace of 25 mph, when a grey SUV with New York Press plates cut him off within inches of his front tire.  At a stop light, Dooda caught up to the driver, and, positioning himself and his bicycle in front of the SUV, explained (according to his account of the incident) that "what (the driver) just did almost cost (Dooda's) life, the speed limit is 25mph in the park and if he doesn't like it to stay out of Central Park." 

The driver responded by accelerating, knocking Dooda and his bicycle to the ground.  To prevent him from leaving the scene of a collision, the cyclist once again got in front of the car and alerted passersby to call the police.  The driver continued forward, propelling Dooda onto the hood of the vehicle, for approximately 200 feet while he screamed, "You could have killed me. Stop, Please stop. This is my life," according to one witness.

The vehicle stopped, wherein Dooda fell off the hood, and the SUV drove away.  Witnesses approached him with the plate number, and Dooda filed a police report.  Gawker tracked down the motorist as Don Broderick first denied knowledge of the incident, then later claimed a "vigilante" bicyclist punched him, though it contradicted witness reports. 

While Central Park remains car-free most of the time (from 10 AM to 3 PM, and 7 PM to 7 AM Monday through Friday, and weekends from 7 PM Friday to 7 AM Monday), bicyclists are always allowed.  All vehicles must obey traffic signals and the speed limit of 25 MPH.  During vehicular hours,  it is recommended that cyclists use the "recreational lane" to the far left, which can be occupied by pedestrians, skaters, and cyclists; however, it is not mandatory, and NYC Traffic Law states that a cyclist must remain in a bike lane when one is provided except  "when reasonably necessary to avoid conditions (including but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, motor vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, pushcarts, animals, surface hazards) that make it unsafe to continue within such bicycle path or lane." 

At 5 PM on a weekday, frequent obstructions to the small recreational lane are a common sight. 

Even if Broderick was indeed assaulted by Dooda, he is still responsible for accelerating his SUV when a person is in its path--and, for that matter, on the hood.  Central Park, especially as the most-visited park in the US, is no place for reckless disregard of human life or vehicular violence.

For more information: Fox News Writer Accused of Ramming Cyclist in Road Rage (Gothamist)