Local Legislator Tells Teenager to Stop Riding and Start Driving

Not a vile comment, promise. But just guess what political party Mr Barraga belongs to. Hint: you won’t be surprised.

i think a seperate / colored bike lane is a better sign than those 135 signs already installed. also, the drivers do not seem to be interested in all the scratches and dents in their cars, caused by hitting cyclists. that would be a good campaign. “hello drivers, if you want to avoid damage to your car, do not run over cyclists”

best quote heard (and billboard material for that matter) of cyclist to driver: “If I make a mistake, I’m dead. If you make a mistake, I’m dead. I’m aware of that. You should be, too”

glad to live in the netherlands, where bicycle anarchists drive everybody crazy 🙂

I send him this:

I’m writing you today in response to your statement made here:

https://bikerumor.com/2014/02/13/us-legislator-tells-teenager-to-stop-riding-and-start-driving/

First let me thank you for taking the time to show what backwards views you have in such a public and legally quotable manner.
It gives me the opportunity to channel my frustration about politicians with a skewed view of reality and an obvious disregard for the health of the populous at you.
To assume that a bicycle is for “pleasure and exercise” is just stupid, the bike was a form of transportation long before the germans invented the automobile. Not only is it the obviously healthier choice of transportation it is a huge benefit to society if people ride their bikes to the places they need to go, instead of increasing their buttocks-fat-reserves by sitting in a car. Sure there might be some handicapt people who are unable to ride a bike due to physical or mental limitations but I am going to assume you have neither of those limitations and should infect be riding a bike – always.

Think about your backwards views the next time you sit in the drive-through line at your local fast food place…

Someone at Bike Rumor slipped an April’s fools day joke before time?
Otherwise, I just can’t believe that a County Legislator can write such a reply.
Maybe a disgrunted employee in charge of these replys was pissed off enough with Mr. Barraga?

This is sickening…more so since it’s the town I grew up in. I encourage all to light this guy up on his Facebook page and send in the People for Bikes letter.

Holy crap, 90% of people who take up cycling in that town get hit by a car!!!!! Ah, politicians and their complete disregard for statistics.

Send him a letter like I did. Just try your best to keep it productive and not vengeful. Remember you represent cyclist to a political person so keep it focused and not rude… it will make a better impression which is the goal. Spiteful comments are better on cycling only websites where non-cyclist can not see how insanely passionate we are.

Is this a real government type category “suburban automobile community” ?
He directly says there is a serious problem in that town. “90 percent of those people eventually were hit by an automobile”.
May be the term should be “visually impaired suburban automobile community”

“Furthermore, Mr. Cutrone, never leave your house because Suffolk County is a dangerous place. Better yet, if you are a Democract, never ever ever go to a polling station. Those are complete deathtraps.”

“there are currently 135 signs between Montauk Highway and Sunrise Highway on Higbie Lane and Udall Road—most of them are ignored by drivers.”

As county legislator this should be your main concern. No driver pays any attention to the law in his county so best keep off the roads? He categorically states that he is useless/ineffectual at his job!

This guy should be fired.

Less people in cars mean less fat people, equals less strain on health services.

@Patrick – While not vile, your comment is certainly pernicious. Neither party has a monopoly on bad or good judgment.

so the legislator’s henchmen missed on hitting bicyclists 10% of the time? bet their hit rate is even lower outside Suffolk County where there is more road for the bicyclist to escape to.

Dutch Girl and anyone else doubting the truth of the letter – The letter is real. I’m a cousin of Sandy Cutrone. I grew up in West Islip but now live in Northern California where I am a professionally cycling guide. Long Island Newsday and CBS News have seen the letter, verified its veracity and have published stories regarding this legislators misguided thinking. It’s not a Dem/Pub thing: it’s a public safety thing. Attitudes such as Mr. Barraga’s are very common and it is this type off thinking that stands in the way of progress being made in realizing the goal of safe roads for all. NY DOT rules specifically allow use of most roads by pedestrians, cyclists and motorcycles. Why should the rights of cyclists and pedestrians to use the roads safely be secondary to the rights of motorists? We are not second class citizens and we deserve equal protection under the law. It is a shame that a legislator should hold such an arcane attitude, but there it is. Our job now is to use this moment to change how cyclists and pedestrians are perceived and protected.

As regards taxes, cyclists and pedestrians pay taxes as well. Most cyclists and pedestrians also drive. We pay gas taxes and property taxes and sales taxes and income taxes. The roads and other transportation infrastructure are as much for the use of pedestrians and cyclists as they are for the use of motorists. Do not equate the “inconvenience” of having to be careful about the life of a fellow human being with who pays what tax. That’s just ludicrous.

Folks, I really hope ever one of you who wrote on this post also e-mailed, this Barraga guy with the response. We should have this guy the, … you know what. his little country e-mail box should break from all the mail, coming into it.