Slated Bike Lanes 'Dangerous,' Believes Local Athletic Director

The following letter was submitted to Bayside Patch by Baysider John O'Donoghue in response to slated for installation on Bell Blvd., and other local thoroughfares. O'Donoghue works in physical education. He warns of the following:

I've been biking for 40+ years, including 15 years from Bayside to work at John Adams HS in Ozone Park and I know the dangers. 

Almost ALL bike lanes that I've seen allow cars to park on the right side of the bike lane, which is incredibly dangerous.  People in cars are oblivious to the danger of opening the driver's side door right into the path of a biker.  I've had several accidents that way. 

At one point, I measured the distance an average car door opens and it ALWAYS goes right into the bike lane.  It's a built in set-up for disaster. 

The only relatively safe bike lane is one arranged with NO CARS on its right side.  75th Ave between Utopia Pkwy and Francis Lewis is a ready made example, almost no parking on either side with an island in the middle.  That's is safer without a bike lane than any I've seen with bike lanes. 

The only exception would be a really wide street in which the bike lane's right line would be a door width's distance from any parked car. 

That's my opinion.  Good luck in your efforts.  

John O'Donoghue