Last week while walking up Grace Avenue, my wife and I (both of us close to 90 years old) were intimidated off the sidewalk by a bike rider. When I later spoke to him about it, he said: “But I can’t ride on the street. You know how crazy Great Neck drivers are!”
Not so.
I have been riding my bicycle safely, 10 miles a day every day, in good weather, in Great Neck for the last five years:
Great Neck is great for biking:
Wide streets with restricted parking , providing a safe bike lane next to the curb.
Good hills, a workout to pump up and a thrill to coast down.
Lovely houses and beautiful landscapes toward the north end.
But you need good safety equipment:
A helmet.
Flashing white front and red rear lights.
A rearview mirror to check for passing cars.
You need to choose a good route:
Stay off Middle Neck Road, Grace Avenue, Cuttermill Road and others that have legal on-street parking.
Cross traffic lanes only at traffic lights or corners that have stop signs in all directions.
Interact with drivers:
Point in the direction you intend to turn.
Give drivers a salute or thumbs-up if they wait for you to cross lanes at a stop sign.
Be careful near landscaping trucks:
Watch for the sudden appearance of a lawn mower.
Leaf blowers can drown out the noise of an approaching car.
Follow the above suggestions and you can have a long, healthy and happy life.
Wolstan Brown
Great Neck