Saturday’s sunshine and blue skies attracted thousands of bikers to area roads with many making the trip from Manhattan to Nyack. One ride turned tragic for a woman critically injured in a car and bike incident near Exit 4 on 9W in Alpine, NJ. The incident occurred at midday with the injured cyclist airlifted to Westchester Medical Center for treatment.
Bikers and motorists frequently accused each other of bad behavior on the roads. Drivers are frustrated by cyclists who don’t “single up” when cars want to pass. Cyclists complain about motorists who “buzz” bikers — passing with less than a foot of space — instead of slowing down for a few seconds until there’s an opportunity to pass safely.
Funding path paths and bike lanes are important — for the health of individuals and the community, too. Buffalo Examiner columnist Ed Wagner notes that while Senators Coburn (R-OK) and McCain (R-AZ) seek to cut “non-essential” federal transportation funds like bike paths and lanes, the cash for clunkers programs will give a $3B subsidy to remove the least fuel efficient cars from the road. How much better and healthier would we be if a fraction of that was invested in promoting truly green transportation options?
Source: Benepe’s Bike Blog 8/1, 8/2, Something’s Gotta Give, Community Life 11/05
Photo Credit: Benepe’s Bike Blog
I was clipped by a car in this area back in March, the driver felt she had the right to make an abrupt turn w/o a signal while I was passing in the bike lane, in June I was ALMOST hit by an SUV make a similar turn, his reason for passing me to make a right, “I almost missed my turn”. Although this looks bad for motorists, the problem is actually on both sides. Too many times on 9W and Piermont Ave I have seen fellow cyclists occupying the entire road with no respect for the cars behind. This angers the drivers making them either want to speed past the cyclist when they finally get the chance, or, it makes there ‘driving skills’ become more erratic. The road is for both of us! The only way to fix these problems is for both sides to realize that.