Long Island, NY: Post-Winter Bike Lane Observation
03-28-15, 11:06 AM
#1
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Long Island, NY: Post-Winter Bike Lane Observation
Though it's still snowing here in Syosset on March 28th, rain and above-freezing temps have worn away most of the snow along my fair-weather bike route to work. I'm chomping at the bit to get out there again, but I'm noticing that something has changed over the winter.
This is only the second year the bike lane has been officially open. Last year, it seemed drivers were somewhat aware of its existence and paid at least some attention to it when making decisions about changing lanes, passing other vehicles, etc. I don't know if it's just that we're all sick of negotiating our ways around plowed snow and ice patches while driving, but it seems to me that the road I've been riding to and from work has become a free-for-all again. And to make things worse, the painted lines that denote the bike lane have faded very quickly and very noticeably, especially in certain key spots where the lane crosses auto traffic.
I won't let this stop me from returning to bike commuting this Spring, but I have to say that I have reservations I did not have last year at this time.
This is only the second year the bike lane has been officially open. Last year, it seemed drivers were somewhat aware of its existence and paid at least some attention to it when making decisions about changing lanes, passing other vehicles, etc. I don't know if it's just that we're all sick of negotiating our ways around plowed snow and ice patches while driving, but it seems to me that the road I've been riding to and from work has become a free-for-all again. And to make things worse, the painted lines that denote the bike lane have faded very quickly and very noticeably, especially in certain key spots where the lane crosses auto traffic.
I won't let this stop me from returning to bike commuting this Spring, but I have to say that I have reservations I did not have last year at this time.
Last edited by Papa Tom; 03-28-15 at 12:36 PM.
03-28-15, 11:26 AM
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Last week i drive my usual bike route from Massapequa to Cold Spring Harbor and its a mess. Debris from the curb to where the cars actually drive. And potholes 6" and more deep.
And where they "patch" the roads the leave mounds of patch and the rest gets spread across the road.
Looks like it will be some time before I take a new road bike on these roads.
And where they "patch" the roads the leave mounds of patch and the rest gets spread across the road.
Looks like it will be some time before I take a new road bike on these roads.
03-29-15, 06:34 PM
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I rode today from Great Neck to Terry Farrell Park (Old Country Road and Wolf Hill Road) mostly along the service road. I thought condition was good, except for shaded areas on the east bound side, where there was still snow and black ice.
I took the bikeway from the L.I.E. at Fairchild to cross Woodbury Road at Sunnyside Boulevard Extension. Bike way is good with gravel and rocks on it (having not been cleaned). Exception to this is between the Northern State entrance and the office park basically across from the condo development There is packed snow and mud here, but it is passable with a road bike.
More interesting to me, is for the second time in 4 trips through here, I have seen cops parked along the bikeway near Fairchild. They are out of position to be looking for speeders or red light runners along the Servie Road. Could they be there to force cyclists off Sunnyside onto the Bikeway?
I took the bikeway from the L.I.E. at Fairchild to cross Woodbury Road at Sunnyside Boulevard Extension. Bike way is good with gravel and rocks on it (having not been cleaned). Exception to this is between the Northern State entrance and the office park basically across from the condo development There is packed snow and mud here, but it is passable with a road bike.
More interesting to me, is for the second time in 4 trips through here, I have seen cops parked along the bikeway near Fairchild. They are out of position to be looking for speeders or red light runners along the Servie Road. Could they be there to force cyclists off Sunnyside onto the Bikeway?
03-30-15, 12:04 PM
#4
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My observation was actually about the condition of the "new" bike lane in my area and the attitude that drivers seem to have toward it after this rough winter. The lane almost feels invisible to me now, although I haven't yet ridden it this year.
Has anybody else ridden Southwoods Road in Syosset in the past few weeks?
Has anybody else ridden Southwoods Road in Syosset in the past few weeks?
