Fuen Bai
Fuen Bai
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Age: 74
Location:
Delancey and Ludlow
New York , NY
United States
Fuen Bai was riding home from church on Delancey, when she hit a pot hole and fell. She tried but could not get out of the way of a school bus which was backing up and ran her over. No charges were filed with the driver, according to WPIX
According to this article in the Villager
Bai lived by herself in Tanya Towers, at 620 E. 13th St., between
Avenues B and C. Tanya Towers was built in 1973 as a residence for the
deaf, though today houses both deaf and hearing residents.
On Monday, Bai’s daughter and Bai’s daughter’s
husband, who live Upstate, were cleaning out Bai’s sixth-floor
apartment. They said Bai wasn’t deaf or disabled, and that she had been
biking back home from a Chinese church service on the Bowery when she
had the fatal accident. Her daughter said Bai lived at Tanya Towers
because her husband, who used a wheelchair, was disabled. The husband
eventually moved to a nursing home, but Bai stayed on in the apartment.
She was a nurse, and retired about eight years ago.
The couple, who didn’t want to give their names,
said Bai was known to Tanya Towers’ doorpersons as “The Tea Lady” and
“The Candy Lady,” because she would bring them tea and candy.
“She would tell the doorman, ‘Tea good for your health — and candy for you, appreciation,’ ” her daughter said.
Bai was born in Beijing and came to the U.S. 23 years ago, she said.
“She biked since she was little,” her daughter said. “She didn’t like to take a train or bus.”
A Tanya Towers staff member said Bai really liked
to cycle, and was “on her bike every day. I saw her that day [Jan. 5],
because she left from here,” he said. Another staff member said
residents told her that Bai used to bike to work when she was a nurse.
Fuen's death prompted local residents to call for a bike lane on Delancey Street. The DNAinfo article cited a note left at a memorial that sprung up at the scene of the fatal crash:
"I too ride daily these dangerous streets, and had we met, would
surely have had many stories to tell. I hope to see you in heaven and
maybe share a ride with you there. I am sure the streets are in much
better condition."
Caroline Samponaro, director of bicycle advocacy at Transportation
Alternatives, said the group has advocated for Delancey Street bike
lanes since 2008.
"No one should have to risk their lives,"
Samponaro told DNAinfo. "Crossing Delancey becomes a real feat. We
should really be thinking about a way to create better infrastructure
for cyclists in what is a major thoroughfare."
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Age: 74
Location:
Delancey and Ludlow
New York , NY
United States
Fuen Bai was riding home from church on Delancey, when she hit a pot hole and fell. She tried but could not get out of the way of a school bus which was backing up and ran her over. No charges were filed with the driver, according to WPIX
According to this article in the Villager
Bai lived by herself in Tanya Towers, at 620 E. 13th St., between
Avenues B and C. Tanya Towers was built in 1973 as a residence for the
deaf, though today houses both deaf and hearing residents.
On Monday, Bai’s daughter and Bai’s daughter’s
husband, who live Upstate, were cleaning out Bai’s sixth-floor
apartment. They said Bai wasn’t deaf or disabled, and that she had been
biking back home from a Chinese church service on the Bowery when she
had the fatal accident. Her daughter said Bai lived at Tanya Towers
because her husband, who used a wheelchair, was disabled. The husband
eventually moved to a nursing home, but Bai stayed on in the apartment.
She was a nurse, and retired about eight years ago.
The couple, who didn’t want to give their names,
said Bai was known to Tanya Towers’ doorpersons as “The Tea Lady” and
“The Candy Lady,” because she would bring them tea and candy.
“She would tell the doorman, ‘Tea good for your health — and candy for you, appreciation,’ ” her daughter said.
Bai was born in Beijing and came to the U.S. 23 years ago, she said.
“She biked since she was little,” her daughter said. “She didn’t like to take a train or bus.”
A Tanya Towers staff member said Bai really liked
to cycle, and was “on her bike every day. I saw her that day [Jan. 5],
because she left from here,” he said. Another staff member said
residents told her that Bai used to bike to work when she was a nurse.
Fuen's death prompted local residents to call for a bike lane on Delancey Street. The DNAinfo article cited a note left at a memorial that sprung up at the scene of the fatal crash:
"I too ride daily these dangerous streets, and had we met, would
surely have had many stories to tell. I hope to see you in heaven and
maybe share a ride with you there. I am sure the streets are in much
better condition."
Caroline Samponaro, director of bicycle advocacy at Transportation
Alternatives, said the group has advocated for Delancey Street bike
lanes since 2008.
"No one should have to risk their lives,"
Samponaro told DNAinfo. "Crossing Delancey becomes a real feat. We
should really be thinking about a way to create better infrastructure
for cyclists in what is a major thoroughfare."