About 8 p.m. on Monday, July 20, 2009, before sundown, a bicyclist alongside the Wantagh Parkway stopped to repair a flat tire. The location was reported as just north of the Goose Creek Bridge, one of three bridges on the parkway north of Jones Beach. The bicycle path runs alongside the northbound three lanes of traffic, but most of the time four or more yards away from the lanes. At the bridges, however, the path is closer to the traffic.
Unfortunately, a northbound motorcyclist lost control of his cycle, left the parkway, crashed into the bicyclist and killed him. The newsday.com story is here. Police charged the motorcyclist as driving while intoxicated and other charges.
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The location of the crash may be different from what was stated in the news reports. I have been watching for a memorial, and today (July 24, 2009), I found it not at the Goose Creek bridge, but further north, just before reaching the bridge over Seaman’s Creek. The guard rail and cyclone fence appear damaged from a crash, and hanging on the fence are a bicycle wheel and other mementos. This is about 3.5 miles north of the Jones Beach water tower.
August 6, 2009 at 11:48 am |
There is a survey about the guardrail on the Wantagh town website, http://www.Wantagh.LI
Please vote because at the end of the month, the Wantagh survey results are forwarded to local officials (Thomas Suozzi, Kate Murray, etc), to local organizations (Wantagh/Seaford Homeowners Assoc, Wantagh Chamber, etc.) and to about twenty media outlets.
August 8, 2009 at 3:38 pm |
Join my facebook group, started back in February,
Guard Rail for Wantagh Parkway Bike Path and print a petition here:
http://www.LIFun4Kids.com
An article about my group will appear in Sunday’s Newsday (August 9th, 2009)
August 8, 2009 at 3:40 pm |
Currently, my “Guard Rail for Wantagh Parkway Bike Path” has 1078 members. We need everyone to join and sign our petition….the petition sheet has room for 10 signatures, so please complete entire sheet.
Senator Fuschillo has sent a request to Governor Paterson concerning immediate installation of guard rails along the Wantagh Parkway Bike Path.
Thanks for everyone’s help.
August 15, 2009 at 8:05 am |
Currently there are 1804 group members and we have collected approximately 1800 petition signatures.
The article was pushed to this Sunday’s newspaper for lack of room: 8/16/09 (let’s cross our fingers there is room this time)
Here’s a link to the Long Island Press’s article:
http://www.longislandpress.com/2009/08/13/railing-for-safety/