From The New York Shitty Inbox: Bicyclist Struck On Kingsland?

Speaking as someone who has seen the traffic around Kingland Avenue and Nassau Avenue I wish I could be surprised by this— but I’m not. Jen writes:

hey Heather-

I figured you were the best person to reach out to to ask this questions to. I live on kingsland between nassau and norman which has become a very heavy truck & bus route. The light at kingsland and norman is on the same timing schedule as the light at kingsland and norman so trucks and cars tend to FLY  down our street to make both lights, especialy at night.  While i don’t know if installing a… camera would deter this behavior perhaps changing the timing of one of the lights ( so they didnt both turn green at the same time) would make drivers less inclined to speed through the block.

Last night there was an accident in front of our apartment because of this very thing, 2 cyclists were riding and one was hit by a large truck (both cyclists had full lights on their bikes front and back along with flashing lights on their tires. The truck was going too fast and has severely injured the cyclist.

Long story short… perhaps you know the best people to try and get in contact with to try and get a change in the lights made?

Off the top of my head I would recommend you and your neighbors:

1. bring this to the attention of our local Community Board. They have a transportation committee and this is the kind of thing they would be very interested in knowing about.
2. contact our State Representative Joe Lentol. I know one of his community liaisons, a very nice lady named Amy. She is very interested in pedestrian and bicyclist safety.
3. attend the next 94th Precinct Community Council meeting and bring this to the attention of our Deputy Inspector, Dennis Fulton. Speaking as someone who has attended these meetings I can tell you traffic is a common complaint. You will NOT be alone.

If anyone has more advice for Jen or would care to recount their own observations about the traffic in this area (in my opinion it needs policing— BADLY) please tender them in the comments. I would love to hear them! In closing I hope this, the latest person to be struck by truck traffic in our community— makes a speedy and full recovery. My best wishes go out to his (or her) family, friends and loved ones.

Miss Heather