Brian C.

It's not something I ever mentioned, I don't think he knows I'm a cyclist.

rydabent

I wonder if that politician even has a clue why many people bike? Some may be like me that rides for fun and exercise. Some may be college students or poor people that can afford a car. There are also the people that have lost their drivers license that still have to get to work and ride a bike.

But I guess there will always people like him that dont have a clue to other peoples lives and the reason for doing what they do. Ignorance is a bad thing.

Chicago Al 

Really!

Looking at the links in BSNyc's post about this incident there are a few other factors:

-according to the teen boy's mom, not only had she been hit on her bike (which is what he wrote the letter about), but he has had *four* HS friends hit by cars while walking. Two of them died. One was apparently hit deliberately. That is crazy. Is there something deeply culturally wrong in this relatively privileged suburban environment?

-Suffolk County, which Mr Barrago represents, does have a horrible rate of cyclist deaths, twice the average for NY state.

-In response, the state legislature adopted a 'Complete Streets' initiative for the county, beginning,

"WHEREAS, bicycling and walking are important forms of transportation and recreation in Suffolk County, and walking and bicycling contribute to health, fitness, and economic development..."

And Barrago voted for it! So he recognizes that there's a problem, but doesn't really want to do anything about it.

It would be one thing if he were a private citizen, but as a legislator he doesn't get to say 'Wow, that's terrible, sucks to be you!' and walk away. Some will say 'Oh, government can't do anything'--but government policies certainly have contributed to the problem in the first place (zoning, road design, traffic planning, policing), and they can be changed.

FBinNY 

It's not that Mr. Barrago doesn't want to do anything about car bicycle accidents, the fact is he does. But his idea (and that of all too many) is the key to preventing car/bicycle accidents is segregation. Bicycling is fine, even good, but bicycling in traffic is stupid and dangerous.

Unfortunately, it's a solution we see all too often. In many cases in the most "bike friendly" areas. So I find myself asking if the move to build more segregated bike infrastructure is really for the benefit of bicyclists, or a way to get them off public roads.

Chicago Al 

FB, you are usually right on the money, but in this case I can only suggest you re-read the OP's linked article with the text of Barraga's letter. He has no such idea of 'segregation' and in fact explicitly rejects it. He just doesn't think people should ride bikes. (Or walk apparently.) In his own words:

"I have lived in West Islip most of my life and my personal feeling is that no one who lives in our hamlet or for that matter in Suffolk County should ever ride a bicycle or a motorcycle. (...)
I have heard the suggestion of bicycle lanes and additional signage but unfortunately this would do little to solve the problem. Suffolk County is a suburban automobile community—drivers expect to see other drivers on the road not bicyclists and motorcyclists. (...)"

FBinNY 

Yes, but he has voted to support bike paths. His thinking isn't that bicycles are all that dangerous, but they don't belong on the roads.

You see this train of thought if you put both sentences together and add an implied "on the roads" to the statement that nobody should ride a bicycle or motorcycle. He's saying that driver expectations are that the only thing they'll encounter are other cars or trucks, so can't be counted to see and avoid bicycles.

BTW- please understand that I'm in no way calling him a friend to bicyclists. The problem is that when it comes to bicycle advocacy these days, our friends and enemies often think alike.

I draw a parallel to the ending of prohibition. Those who most didn't want it to end were the prohibitionists who wanted it in the first place, and the mobsters who understood how ending it would put them out of business.

Chicago Al 

You are willing to give him far more benefit of the doubt than I am; I thought "no one...should ever" was pretty unambiguous. Especially as he makes no effort whatsoever to say that the safer alternative would be bike paths, which must exist somewhere in the area (?) or which he could claim he is working on. (What politician ever missed an opportunity to say 'Look what I'm doing!' ?)

For that matter, what evidence is there that he even supports separate bike paths? That 'Safe Streets Initiative' suggests many things, but not separate paths as far as I can tell. https://www.dot.ny.gov/programs/comp...folkcounty.pdf

You are local there, at any rate much closer to local than I am, so you may well know more specific information about this guy, his voting record and previous stances.

FBinNY 

Believe me. There's no doubt in my mind about where he stands, so there's nothing to give him the benefit of. (see my posts nos. 2 & 17 here to see what I think of this moron)

I rarely have issues with declared enemies. I know where they stand and can deal with it. It's my "friends" that give me problems. If pro car bike foes like him say that it's too dangerous to ride bikes on roads, and self-proclaimed bike advocates say the same thing, who's left to defend the rights of cyclists to ride on public roads? More important, if separation is seen as the best solution to bike safety, than little or no effort will be made to make mixed use safer.

To me, the number one enemy of bicycling is the notion that it's dangerous. If we continue to foster and support that notion, we'll find government stepping in to make it safer, ---- for our own good.

Chicago Al 

Fair enough. But where does this guy Barraga endorse or support bike paths, as you said before? I thought maybe you knew something from his history, proposed legislation, etc. where he took such a position.

Judging from that one letter...Mikael Colville-Anderson he ain't.

FBinNY 

I live in Westchester so don't follow local LI politics. I got the impression that he voted for Suffolk's Complete streets initiative from your post here on BF.

-Suffolk County, which Mr Barrago represents, does have a horrible rate of cyclist deaths, twice the average for NY state.

-In response, the state legislature adopted a 'Complete Streets' initiative for the county, beginning,

"WHEREAS, bicycling and walking are important forms of transportation and recreation in Suffolk County, and walking and bicycling contribute to health, fitness, and economic development..."

And Barrago voted for it! So he recognizes that there's a problem, but doesn't really want to do anything about it.

Chicago Al 

Touche and well played. Maybe this follows the supposed cliche among trial lawyers of 'never ask a question you don't already know the answer to,' as you appear to have caught me out.

But...the 'Complete Streets Resolution' actually says nothing about bike paths. It's a pdf so I can't just copy and paste a section, but it is pretty generic feel-good stuff about the need for planning for future users including cyclists and pedestrians, etc. The only specifics are things like wider shoulders, lane striping, bike lanes, 'road diets,' traffic calming measures, and so on. No mention of segregation, MUPs, etc, at all.

I had meant to link it in my previous post, sorry for not doing so. This wasn't a big sleuthing expedition on my part either, it was right there in Bike Snob's post. I get most of my cycling news from him.

https://https://www.dot.ny.gov/progra...folkcounty.pdf

Greg M

I was born in queens, n.y. and have lived on long island n.y. my whole life, now 50. I
commute everyday from nassau county to queens county by bike. I started riding when
I was 5. Yes there is alot of traffic, unfortunately if I relied on bike trails i could get nowhere.
I have also walked out my front door and gotten on my bike and ridden to vermont,3 times.
The law says I can, and most drivers give me the respect I give them. I take great offense
when one politician says I shouldn't have that right. And I have a commercial drivers license
which costs more than a normal one, and requires me to pass a physical every 2 years.
But I choose to ride, guess that makes me stupid, according to someone on this board.
Just sayin'.

FBinNY 

Like you I bristle when I hear people, especially cyclists o so-called bicycle advocates say that bicycling on our suburban roads is dangerous. I've been riding in the metro NY area, and the entire Northeast for almost 50 years, and consider it about as safe as one could reasonably expect.

I sometimes get the "isn't it too dangerous" from non cyclists, and that's OK, but I won't accept it from folks who should know better.

BTW- from Nassau to VT, Tri-boro or Ferry to Bridgeport? Being in Westchester I head straight up through the Central Valley, and cut across into VT at any number of places depending on whim.

Greg M

Fb, that would be 59th street bridge up through the Bronx to 22 all the way to poultney vt. then over Brandon gap to final destination in Rochester.

FBinNY 

Spent many a night in Rochester years ago, but never went via Poultney. I'd either hang a right at Hoosick Falls, and work my way to rte 100 or stay in NY all the way to Ticonderoga, but yes it's 22 just about all the way.