Community Corner

Letter to the Editor: Barraga Bike Letter Callous, Disrespectful

S. Russ DiFazio takes issue with legislator's stance on biking.

Editor's note: The following was submitted as a letter to the editor by S. Russ DiFazio, of Smithtown. It was originally written to Legis. Thomas Barraga, R-West Islip, in response to Barraga's letter to a 17-year-old constituent in which Barraga states that no one in Suffolk "should ever ride a bicycle." 

Mr. Barraga, in all of my 55 years I don't know if I have read a more callous, disrespectful, ignorant and disappointing letter from an elected official.

It is difficult to know where to begin. At first I hoped that your letter was written in haste however I see that you now have issued a second statement reaffirming your ridiculous viewpoints.

First, our public roadways provide access to all citizens to travel and move about freely. Automobiles do not have a superior right to use the roads and in fact drivers are required to exercise caution and yield  to other vehicles including bicycles. The roads are created and maintained by tax revenue which is paid by all citizens, not just car owners. Some people can't afford a car or choose not to own a car and a bicycle is their primary means of transportation.

Your insensitivity to the plight of lower income people is astounding. Believe it or not sir, many people take their bicycle to work every day as their sole means of transportation. According to your philosophy these people should now stay home and lose their employment. Every medical association and government health publication urges citizens of America to increase their daily exercise routine to live a more and healthy life.

Bicycling is an excellent cardiovascular workout. Thousands of Long Islanders use their bicycles to obtain exercise on a  weekly basis on a relatively inexpensive scale. Believe it or not Mr. Barraga, not everyone can afford to pay for a membership in a private gym, are you aware of this?

They ride their bicycles on the public roadways. Are you aware of the fact that there are many bicycle associations and groups that regularly ride on the public roadways each and every week? These bicycle riding taxpayers need your help to ensure their safety. They do not need your uninformed statements and an attitude that is resigned to take no action.

One of your constituents has been injured and you offer no help or solution but rather you have offered an undignified, hurtful and uninformed criticism of bicycling. We need more designated bicycle lanes, signs and areas designated for bicycle use.

This country is dependent upon gas guzzling automobiles for transportation which increase our foreign debt, increase our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to air pollution which is warming our climate. You should be using all of your powers to encourage bicycle riding as a means of transportation and exercise. I await your response to the many issues raised in this letter.


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