Commentary on today’s news and opinion, from readers and newsmakers.
A fatal car-bicycle crash on Route 9W in Orangetown on Sunday has LoHud.com readers talking about the safety of that road for cyclists:
Terrible. Hate to hear those kinds of stories. Route 9 north of Piermont does get a little dicey at times. Hhopefully they figure out what happened.”
— Jason Levine
Very sad. Yeah, no real shoulder through there, one lane in each direction, and of course hilly. I usually ride below there on Piermont Avenue/River Road (as I was doing about 90 minutes before this crash).”
— Tony Borelli
I remember there briefly being a sign that prohibited bikes on 9W. Cyclists never obeyed it and it was at some point removed. There are parts of 9W (like the blind curve where Piermont approaches Sparkill) that are so incredibly dangerous for cyclists and motorists, that I think that cyclists should stick to River Road. I have almost been hit head on by a car coming in the other direction that couldn’t see me coming around the turn while they were driving wide so as to avoid hitting a cyclist on their side, plus there is no shoulder and a wall of hedges which just compounds the problem. 9W is not wide enough for it to be a shared road, especially, as someone else stated, in the summer when there is a lot of motorist traffic, a lot of cyclist traffic, and a lot of foliage.:
— Jessica Hekl
What are you talking about today? Leave your answer in the comments below.
2 Comments
Bicyclists should be BANNED from public roadways to protect them from their own stupidity. Every MOTORIZED vehicle pays to support the roads they use, get the bicycles off the roads and the roads will be safer for everyone
It’s a terrible trajedy that someone has to die in any kind of accident.
That said, I’m getting a little fed up with all of this bikers “rights” thing (nothing to do with the actual accident). Sure, there COULD be bike lanes made for licensed, registered, insured bike riders, just as there are for motorized vehicles.
Or Hey, I know- they could be required to OBEY the rules of the road as are the rest of the motorized traffic. We already have motorcycles on the road with a bunch of riders who ride up the shoulder, through 2 cars in 2 lanes, zipping in and out of traffic using unwise manuevers… why would we want to add foot powered bikes riden by people who want to do the same thing?
Can I understand wanting to do so? Of course… pick up or steal a bike, and ride on. No insurance, no license, no registration… act just like a child but want to be treated like an adult.
However, as long as they are allowed to freefall across intersections, through lights, around blind corners and into cars that ARE stopped at red lights, I think we’re going to see accidents like this increase.
I seriously thought I’d have a heart attack last week when, just as I started to let off the brake after my light turned green-a guy on a bike came flying around the corner I was at and almost straight into me. Then… after almost falling off his bike, he gives ME a look… moron.
Sorry, but either ALL of the roads would have to be rebuilt to accomodate them (after they become licensed, insured riders) or they need to move to a more bike friendly enviornment where the roads were built with the thought that they’d be around, in mind.