Tell Us: Cyclists

bob young August 8, 2012 at 10:33 am

bike lanes? that would be a pretty stupid idea

Derp August 8, 2012 at 12:44 pm

Absolutely not.

Karen August 8, 2012 at 12:48 pm

Yes! Cycling is a great way to get around town. It is fun, terrific exercise and it would be a pleasure to ride safely without competing with cars for a place on the road.

sadeto August 8, 2012 at 01:57 pm

Of course Port needs bike lanes, look at the number of people biking around town, but of course it won't happen because Port is, like Nassau in general, hostile to bicyclists and pedestrians. Manorhaven Blvd to Shore Road to Main Street, and Middle Neck to Port Blvd are obvious choices and might even save an occasional life, but people here would rather see a useless brick median on Shore Road in front of Stop & Shop.
I've lived and biked in many places in this country and abroad and just cannot believe the outright hostility and disregard for human life of the average Nassau County driver. And it always comes back to the behavior of the bicyclist: they do this, they don't do that. Never mind the fact that a bike weighs about 30-40 pounds at most, and a car or SUV can be well more than a ton. Bike lanes would help avoid accidents but they're just not going to happen in this town.

Nassau Taxpayer August 8, 2012 at 02:30 pm

What priority should bike lanes take in the context of many other community needs?

Port North Resident August 8, 2012 at 07:42 pm

Agreed! There are many more pressing concerns facing Port Washington then bike lanes.

jonathan winant August 8, 2012 at 08:43 pm

Bob why not explain why instead of just dissagreeing!

jonathan winant August 8, 2012 at 08:49 pm

Nassau Taxpayer-
This is not a matter of priority. This is a matter that bicyclists have the right to share the road with everyone else. The unfortunate fact is that too many driver show no consideration for anyone else on the road let alone bicyclists.Just one more reason why we keep having new motor vehicle laws enacted. This makes a bike lane a great idea and one which might save a few lives. The idea also makes it safer for law abiding drivers who would not have as many close calls with bicyclists. Along Shore Road there seems to be more bicyclists who ride all over the road especially as they head south to Main Street.

Nassau Taxpayer August 8, 2012 at 08:51 pm

Right on road rights and poor driving habits, wrong on priority to carve out a lane.

jonathan winant August 8, 2012 at 08:52 pm

Port North Resident
You might feel a lot differnt if you narrowly miss hitting a bicyclist who was in the middle of your lane of traffic and was only sharing the road with you. Remember too many bicyclists do not understand the term "share the road". Yes there are more pressing issues but still bike lanes is not an issue to disregard.

JohnA August 8, 2012 at 09:54 pm

Cyclist understand "sharing the road" 100%, the problem is that drivers interpreted it as share the lane. Share the road means if there are cyclist on a lane then he has the right to be there as much as the cars.

jonathan winant August 8, 2012 at 10:46 pm

John
I have been a cyclist since the early sixties and have grown up on Long Island long before bicycl;e lanes were in use. I have to agree that many (not all) motorists feel they own the road. Maybe this is why the driver ran through a red light to make a left turn onto Manorhaven blvd. causing a three car accident where someone had to be cut from their vehicle. This is the attitude I am fighting. Driver, bicyclists, skateboarders, pedestrians all feel they are in the right when they do something extremely dangerous and very stupid. This makes Port Washngton mofre dangerous then it has to be and many have spoke up as the comments on the Patch atest to.

jonathan winant August 8, 2012 at 10:49 pm

Correction of last post which should read...
I have to agree that many (not all) motoristsd feel they own the road. Maybe this is why the driver who ran through a red light to make a left turn onto Manor Haven Blvd.

David August 9, 2012 at 04:30 am

New York has ranked dead last in failed driver's exams 3 out of the last six years. They consistently rank near the bottom. New York drivers don't know how to share the road. I see it as a priority that driver education be intensified. Perhaps a year long course in high school in order to graduate? Remedial classes for the rest? With more intelligent decision-making on the road, perhaps a bike lane would become unnecessary.

jonathan winant August 9, 2012 at 09:36 am

Around Port Washington we see drivers who have no idea that at a cross walk occupied by pedestrians state l;aw requires drivers to stop. Thi is regardless of which side of the crosswalk the pedestran is in both directions of traffic must stop! Do they?
Unless posted you must by law stop at a red light before making a right turn! DUH! How many drivers do so? Yellow curbs are where NO PARKING is permitted! OH! NO STANDING does not mean pedestrians can not stand there, it means you can not stop your car and wait there! No Parking does not mean it is ok to do so if there is someone in the car. Even if the person is not of driving age. I see this type of thinking in Port Washington every single day. Use this type of reasoning when you stand before a judge after your accused of being the cause of a serious accident.

jonathan winant August 9, 2012 at 09:46 am

This spring and summer there has been a white van driving around Port Washington and the rest of Nassau County looking for those who do not pay traffic tickets.
The truck is called the "Scofflaw Patrol" equiped with plate readers which scan and very quickly check data bases. The vans are operated by a private company paid by the County or better yet our taxes dollars. earlier this year cars with outstanding tickets were booted so they can not be moved. This says alot about drivers. One driver finding his car booted put his hand through the raer window in a furry of anger against not himself but the person who booted his car. I watched as he stood on Main Street and had to receive medical attention. And we wonder why we have to have bicycle lanes and increased police patrols.

Jeff Carswell August 9, 2012 at 12:20 pm

I think we definetly need bike lanes in Port Washington. It would bring people to the town and solve the problems of drivers and bikers. We have many bikers already and great roads and hills for a bike path, so why not. I think it would be worth every dollar we spend on it to get kids off the couch and onto the roads, and adults too.

jonathan winant August 9, 2012 at 02:36 pm

Jeff
I could not have said it any better. I am over run with joy that someone posted a sensible answer (regardless whether I agree or disagree) without the deep hatred some exhibit. Hats off to you

Keith Klein August 9, 2012 at 04:43 pm

Adding bike lanes would only bring safety, beautification and overall a greener footprint to Port. The bedroom community of PW is not ready for all that.

Nassau Taxpayer August 9, 2012 at 05:39 pm

So would burying aerial utilities that cost us $100 million to repair each storm season. Has LIPA done that? Nope. They just pass along the costs to consumers -- the most expensive electric power anywhere except Hawaii.

jonathan winant August 9, 2012 at 07:57 pm

LIPA has in fact considered burying electric line except for the fact that the cost would be astronomical compared to storm related repairs. Had they proposed burying power lines I can only imagine the outcry after residents learn the real cost and the repair to residents property.

TB August 9, 2012 at 08:05 pm

The problem is not the solo cyclist, its these wannabe Eddy Merckx's outfitted in spandex who ride in packs pretending to riding in the Pyrenees.

Nassau Taxpayer August 9, 2012 at 08:19 pm

I don't believe they have seriously considered the issue. Had they started 15 years ago, they would have avoided $2 billion of storm repairs and people who lost power due to aerial line failures would have avoided a like amount in spoiled food and other inconvenience. This was a perfect "shovel ready" infrastructure project. How long are we expected to wait? At what additional cost?

jonathan winant August 9, 2012 at 08:53 pm

Port North Resident
There are a lot of issues facing P. Washington residents some can sit on the back burner while others need to be addressed as soon as possible. If you pay attention to the way in which motorists and bikers interact you will have a better understanding of the problem. Each ngroup is at fault for creating an uneccassary problem concerning safety. I guess someone had to step in with a viable solution before someones loved one is killed

Ed Shendell August 9, 2012 at 10:36 pm

Cyclists under a certain age should be allowed on sidewalks. The biggest improvement in cyclist and pedestrian safety would be greater driver awareness. Too often, I see drivers making right turns look left for oncoming traffic and never looking right for pedestrians or cyclists.