Letter: Cycling tragedy — Road must be made safe for all users

Posted 10/1/19

To the editor:

It's Sunday evening, just after 8 p.m., and I am furious, having witnessed yet another accident on Route 77, Main Road, this one potentially as fatal as the others I have seen, and …

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Letter: Cycling tragedy — Road must be made safe for all users

Posted

To the editor:

It's Sunday evening, just after 8 p.m., and I am furious, having witnessed yet another accident on Route 77, Main Road, this one potentially as fatal as the others I have seen, and just as avoidable. 

Cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, runners and pedestrians — all use this road, but in a game only the biggest and fastest and most heavily-armored can possibly win. 

This is a state highway, but the travel lanes are narrow and the shoulders non-existent, passage there restricted either with curbs or guard rails placed as though only vehicles would ever use this roadway.  Beyond the pavement, steep slopes or ditches prevail, and so there is no escape there, either.  Blind spots are many — at hilltops, at intersections, and especially where the Department of Transportation has allowed private owners to encroach upon the right of way with their privacy plantings. 

This is not a call for more pavement to carry more vehicles faster.  But this is a call for recognizing ALL users of this roadway, and as such is an easy fix.  First, post safe speed limits and see to it these are enforced.  Second, keep sightlines cleared.  If you don't know what I mean, get out of your car and go for a walk along the side of this roadway.  Put yourself in the position of these bicyclists and walkers that are dying along this roadway.

John Berg

Little Compton

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