Saturday, November 4, 2017

Barriers on the Hudson River Greenway

The newly placed barriers on the Hudson River Greenway are grossly misguided and are causing problems. They will cause more problems, and they solve no problem whatsoever. It was a problem that a terrorist killed and injured so many people. Believe me, I am shaken, as I ride that path every day. But this response is not a solution. Doing nothing would have been better than this response. Some may be comforted that the city did something. It may give some the illusion of increased safety. That illusion serves no one. Doing something, anything, as long as it’s something, is not rational or humane or even intelligent. The barriers create pinch points which will cause bike-bike and bike-pedestrian collisions. I’m sure it will, and if they stay for much longer, you will see this, I promise. And they will not prevent any terrorist attacks. Those attacks rely on opportunity and surprise. The next attack will be of a completely different nature in a different kind of place precisely because surprise is a key ingredient. Therefore, creating this kind of widespread inconvenience serves no one and disserves many of us. Let’s use resources in that will combat the risk that are in proportion to the risk. That risk is very small even though the attack was so horrific. We accept that we might die of heart disease or in a car collision, but we do not want to die with many others all at once through a vile deliberate act. Yet the disgust over such a kind of death does not justify any and all costs or precautions. We need to move as freely and as quickly and as enjoyably as is reasonable. The barriers are a disproportionate and unreasonable measure.


1 comment:

  1. Than you for a common sense commentary. I won't mention the areas but there are many targets of opportunity. This solution is a knee jerk, politically motivated reaction. Typical and poorly designed. Be vigilante. Stay safe. Carry on.

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