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A New Law for Bike Safety in Suffolk

Mon, 05/03/2021 - 14:03
Carissa Katz

A new local law protecting cyclists from cars, mandating that drivers give bicyclists at least three feet of space as they pass them on the left, was made official last week by Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone.

A welcome form of social distancing, Suffolk County lawmakers' move to protect cyclists followed a report issued by AAA Northeast that found the county had the highest number of deaths of "vulnerable road users" in the state. "Vulnerable road users" is a term that includes both bicyclists and pedestrians.

According to preliminary data from the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research, 342 bicycle accidents were reported in Suffolk in 2019, six of which resulted in death. Five deaths were reported in 2020.

Safety is not the only incentive for drivers to obey the new law. A fine of $225 awaits first-time offenders, and the penalty is ramped up to $325 for the second offense and $425 for any subsequent offenses, said the county executive’s office.

Villages

Montauk Playhouse Work Will Be Done by June

Construction of the new aquatic and cultural spaces at the Montauk Playhouse Community Center is slated to be done by the end of June, according to Sarah Iudicone, president of the Montauk Playhouse Community Center Foundation. The date for the public opening, however, is still up in the air.

Apr 3, 2025

Days of Crime and Mystery

Hamptons Whodunit, a mystery and true-crime festival now in its third year in East Hampton Village, kicks off with a cocktail party at the Maidstone Club next Thursday evening and continues with three days of discussions, tours, book signings, and interactive events.

Apr 3, 2025

Item of the Week: Home, Boarding House, Cottage, Rectory

Bridgehampton’s Atlantic House is an excellent example of the tradition of structural reuse hereabouts.

Apr 3, 2025

 

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