No. 1 Pedestrian Threat

To the Editor:
Cycling group Transportation Alternatives claims the plan for new “class 1” bike lanes for First and Second avenues, which Community Board 8 approved, “would virtually eliminate sidewalk cycling, which is the recurring pedestrian complaint,” (“Support for Bike Lanes,” Oct. 29).
As a longtime activist for pedestrian safety (the traffic law-abiding kind), my experience finds the most dangerous and ubiquitous bicycle violations are red light-running, wrong-way riding and exceeding the speed limit. After dark, one rarely sees a bike with the headlights and taillights required by state law.
Without a zero tolerance approach to bike violations, I fear bike lanes “separated by a barrier, usually parked cars” may do little to stop habitual red light-running. The city is doing nothing to stop THE most serious danger to pedestrians: motor vehicles failing to yield when turning into a crosswalk.

Bette Dewing
Upper East Side

Letters have been edited for clarity, style and brevity

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