Did Bono Really Crash A Bike In Central Park?

(Bono on Bike, Courtesy iRadio)

"It looks like we will have to do our Tonight Show residency another time - we're one man down," said a statement released by mega rock star Bono's band U-2 on Sunday night. It explained that "Bono has injured his arm in a cycling spill in Central Park and requires some surgery". That succinct explanation left out virtually every detail and left much to be desired.. Then, on Wednesday night we learned that the rock star's injuries were far more grave than we expected. Bono actually broke his arm in 8 places, the bone broke the skin, he broke his eye socket and a finger as well. Yet, the only other detail on the accident came with the injury report: he was involved in a "high energy bike accident to avoid another rider."

The lack of detail seems fishy, and reeks of a potential cover up. There are so many unanswered questions:

When did it happen?

Where exactly did it happen?

How fast was he going?

Was he going the right way? In the Central Park, that is counter-clockwise.

Sunday is a big day in Central Park. It is crowded with bikers and joggers. I spent 2 hours on the loop that day doing distance work, and it didn't happen when I was there. In this day of social media and cell phone pics and video, wouldn't a couple pictures surface somewhere on the internet? Even if nobody recognized Bono, a crash that horrific would certainly attract attention. Not one person has come forward, not a soul. It just seems improbable that Bono could go down like the proverbial "tree in the forest" and nobody would hear it.

I reached out to the 22nd Precinct yesterday. The officer on the desk said that he has 'just read about the mishap in the paper today, but he hadn't heard anything about it around the station.' He encouraged me to reach out to the Deputy Commissioner of Public Information to see if there were any police or ambulance reports from that day in the park to corroborate Bono's story. So far, I haven't received a response.

I also reached out to various bikers, messengers, and city cycling advocates on Twitter and in person. These folks have quite a grapevine and love sharing whatever they know. That also has been a dead end.

Could the bike crash story be a cover up for something more embarrassing or nefarious? It has been a wicked week for Bono with his jet door flying off, in flight, just 3 days before the park mishap. Gawker has liberally joked that perhaps someone is trying to kill Bono. Maybe, just maybe, that is happening! Or, maybe he took a tumble down the steps of his San Remo duplex and didn't want to admit it is an old-manny way to get so banged up. Odds are, recklessness was likely involved on the part of Bono or others. The possibilities are endless!

We, being me, at A Fine Blog wish Bono the speediest of recoveries and wish him well. At the same time, we, being the pedestrians, joggers and cyclists that use Central Park and our streets in general want information. Information is how we make decisions to protect ourselves, it is also how we advocate to make our community safer for all. Until there is actual evidence or corroboration of the crash story, I say it is improbable, it never happened, and it is a cover for up for something. I would be happy to be proven wrong. Give us the facts, rather than ample room for conspiracy theories!


(I will update this story as needed)