Once again, L.I. roads make deadliest list

(Page 2 of 3)

Chapman was the first pedestrian to die this year. “Seniors move a little slower,” Lynch said. “If they get hit by a car, their bodies are not strong enough. In general, they are three times more likely to be killed by a car than their younger counterparts. The roads are very wide. They do not get there in time. They often get stuck in the road.”

Commuting by foot, bike a challenge
John Richmo, of Old Westbury, who commutes by bus though central Nassau, said cars often nearly hit him while he walks around the Garden City area. “When it snowed, a lot of the sidewalks were not cleaned, and I had to walk on the street,” said Richmo. “Near Roosevelt Field Mall, there are no sidewalks. A lot of areas don’t have [sidewalks]. Old Westbury is good. They have sidewalks.”

Nassau Community College student Alex Martinez described his commute to school. “I take the N24 bus to school, and walking towards Nassau on the right side from the post office, there are no sidewalks,” he said. “I have to walk on grass and dirt for a block and a half.”

Bicyclists are at risk as well. According to the 2012 Nassau County Traffic Safety Data report, compiled by Governor Cuomo’s Traffic Safety Committee, 13 cyclists were killed during the three-year study. With only 50 miles of bike paths in Nassau, riders are left to pedal the rest of the way among impatient motorists. Suffolk County, by contrast, has 122 miles of bike paths.

Creating walkable communities
Vision Long Islands’ Complete Streets project addresses pedestrian and bicyclist safety. The project designs better roads for walkers, drivers, bus riders and cyclists to enjoy easy and safe commutes. In a phone interview, Vision Long Island Director Eric Alexander said he is determined to create walkable communities across Long Island. “Sidewalks, crosswalks, timers, and bike lanes, they are not expensive,” Alexander said. “Hempstead needs to be pedestrian-friendly.”

Page 2 / 3