New Yorkers, tourists flock back to bike path
NEW YORK: The Manhattan cycle path where a truck attack killed eight people reopened on Thursday, as New Yorkers and tourists flocked back to the much-loved spot to reject fear and relish in the city’s trademark diversity.
Floral tributes remain in honour of the 20 victims, the eight who died and the 12 injured when an Uzbek immigrant allegedly inspired by the Islamic State group smashed onto the path on Tuesday.
“We are stronger. We are NYC,” is chalked into the ground. An Argentinian football jersey hangs in tribute to the five Argentine friends who died while cycling on a high school reunion trip.
At the intersection where suspect Sayfullo Saipov crashed into a school bus, exited his vehicle and brandished a paintball gun and a pellet gun stands a “ghost bike” memorial erected for a cyclist killed in a hit-and-run last year, covered in flowers.
Over the years, people have complained that the cycle path was not properly sealed off from the road.
That allowed Saipov to smash straight onto the path, mowing down pedestrians and cyclists at high speed.
“It’s really dangerous,” said Deborah Salant.
“I’m disgusted. There should be no cars allowed on the path.”
But nothing stopped her from cycling like mad to the southern tip of Manhattan, determined to expunge any ghosts.
“I’m not going to let them take over. I was in Toulouse during the killings and I’m here now,” she said of the 2012 attack that killed seven people. “Nobody’s going to stop me.”
A German couple in their 60s, who flew in from Dusseldorf to head off on a cruise, never considered cancelling their trip to New York for a second.
“This is a large city,” says Klaus Wiercimok, who was with his wife at the scene. “The likelihood of such a thing happening is almost null. It could happen anywhere.”
New York is famously resilient and fiercely proud of having bounced back after the 9/11 attacks. It is also a city where more than three million people were born overseas and half the people speak a language other than English at home.
“You’re hit in the face. What are you gonna do?” said Ted Wright, 43, docking a Citi Bike from New York’s bike-sharing program on his way into the office.
“I’ve travelled the world, lived in China, Los Angeles, Boston, in Europe, in Mexico. This is the best city,” he said.
“Just look at what we’re looking at right now. There’s a black guy, a Chinese guy crossing the street, that’s an old European immigrant,” he said, gesturing around him. “That’s what we’re about.”