Bike Lane Protection

02/13/2025 - 09:41

The hardened bike lane here has been life changing. Even though crossing the highway entrances/exits is still scary, having safe space to wait for the light at this intersection makes it 1000x better than it used to be. And the jersey barriers protecting cyclists from speeding drivers on the road is key. Drivers who oppose the jersey barriers because some crash into them are unclear on the concept that this proves why the barriers are needed in the first place. This is a key junction between Joe Michael's, Long Island, and the Alley Pond to Motorparkway bike ways. Essential to have protection in this section.

Bike

02/13/2025 - 09:36

Following the work done on the Joe Michael's mile there was new guidance to cyclists to use the sidewalk between the marina and the parking lot, but also instructing cyclists to dismount. Any bike lane that requires a dismount is NOT a bike lane. Imagine asking drivers to get out and push their cars. We need an out of the box redesign on this space that leans toward more true SHARED usage that accomodates all users, not just drivers. 1. Cyclists will not dismount and you build in conflict between them and other users who feel outraged that the signage is being disobeyed. "Cyclists never obey the traffic laws" yadda yadda yadda 2. Because you've not disigned for wheels up usage, cyclists will each take their own approach, some riding on the sidewalk, some through the parking lot. Some will be polite and slow and yield to peds/cars, but others will blast through full of resentment over the obstruction in their otherwise unencumbered rare opportunity to ride full speed. 3. Not all cyclists CAN easilly dismount and push their bike, especially the elderly using electric assist bikes which are heavier, or mothers with children on the bike, or people with cargo bikes. For example, I can barely walk with the CitiBike electric bikes at all because they are so large, heavy and unwieldy. For many it's physically problematic to walk rather than roll.

Bike

02/13/2025 - 09:26

Terrifying spot. You can have bike lanes for miles but if you abandon cyclists right at the most dangerous spot between one bike route and another you will loose ridership, especially women and children. This is a confusing place for drivers as well which makes them an even greater danger to vulnerable users.

Bike

02/13/2025 - 09:23

Highway access pinch point. Highways are a huge danger zone for pedestrians and cyclists. Design aimed only at faciliting vehicular access to the highway, and in this spot including heavy trucking. And even with the design aimed at drivers, it's still a confusing, dark, complicated space for people behind the wheel. Local trucking activity creates additional obstacles and obstructions to sightlines with their large vehicles parked on the sides of the road. This is the closest route to the waterfront that crosses under the highway. There are limited access points across the Van Wyck. College Point, Linden, 20th, 14th Ave, and finally 3rd ave. For ALL users. Which forces peds and micro mobility users into shared pinch points with drivers, but also onto highway design where anything other than a vehicle is an afterthought. Abandoning ped/cyclist safety in places where they need it the most. Lighting, cleaning, and snow clearance is also a problem in the places where it's an underpass and agency conflicts over who is accountable for maintenance of that lighting, making spaces feel unsafe for women and the mobility impaired.

Favorite Place

02/13/2025 - 09:11

I heard about Spa Castle for years, but have only seen it twice. Once on a meandering bike ride where we tried to follow the water front as best we good, and the second time when I spent the day there with friends, arriving by bus. Spa Castle offers valet parking, perhaps rightly assuming that most of their guests drive there. But they don't have a parking lot, so one assumes they are parking customer's cars on the street, unless they have an agreement of some kind with one of the nearby malls. Other guests probably use FHV. Either way, bringing drivers into the community and competing for parking. If there was better bike access that might reduce the number of people arriving by car, or conversly, increase their patronage with people discovering them while out on a bike ride.

Bike

02/06/2025 - 10:48

This path to Northern Boulevard and Main Street is horrible. Narrow, and fences that are unsafe over water.

Bike

02/05/2025 - 01:35

The 2-way protected bike lane ends abruptly here and it's scary to bike through the transition. It would be helpful to extend this bike lane further down Vernon Blvd.

Accessibility

02/04/2025 - 22:36

The bridge over the cross island, along with other paths to elevated areas in the park, is not accessible by wheels (bike or wheelchair)

Bike Related Issues

02/04/2025 - 22:11

Going down this way is not always guaranteed because Shore Towers does not always keep the gates open. Huge inconvenience to go all the way back around down another road.

Unsafe Crossing

02/04/2025 - 22:07

Confusing crossing because of the signage for motorists and street can get busy with cars during rush hour without presenting a safe opportunity for cyclists and pedestrians to cross. Should be a stop sign