Does Robert Perry Care About The Safety of Bicyclists? Obviously Not.

Hudson is now fortunate enough to have the New York Empire State Trail running through it, even if it is a bit circuitous and hilly.   We need all the bicycle infrastructure we can use, even if it is foisted on us by the State.  Encouraging and supporting bicycling and bicyclists is now expected of local and state governments.

Though bicycle infrastructure is not big on Robert Perry's agenda, DPW is required to maintain all portions of the Trail -- even the wonderful path along Harry Howard Avenue.  But headed south out of town on the Trail, down the hill on S. 3rd/9G, is a perfect example of how little DPW cares about bicyclists on our new Trail.

For well over a year, there has been a gaping hole at a DPW storm grate in the very narrow shoulder of 9G, with trucks and cars whizzing by on a narrow two-lane hill.  If a bicyclist were to hit that hole and exposed grate with any speed, it could get truly ugly.  Swerve to the left into the traffic lane to avoid the hazard and you may find yourself on your chin and/or under the wheels of a car or truck traveling downhill at 40 mph.  Swerving to the right, away from traffic, is not an option.  

My foot easily fit in the hole 
and under the exposed edge of the grate

I have complained to DPW/Robert Perry and our distracted mayor for over a year about this danger.  No one seems to care.  No one should have to point out this obscene hazard to anyone at City Hall, certainly not after a year or more.  Is it possible that DPW doesn't regularly check all their storm grates to make sure they are working properly and are safe?

The narrow shoulders on both sides of the hill are always full of gravel and debris, as if DPW never bothers to send the street sweeper up and down the hill.  I have reached out the Empire State Trail people and they tell me that it us up to DPW to maintain the Trail through Hudson.  The streets and shoulders are still ours, regardless of the Trail signs. 

Last year, I saw DPW replacing missing and crumbling asphalt around several storm grates all over town.  The exposed grate with a huge hole in the narrow shoulder of 9G South, however, is apparently not a problem and it can wait.  Perhaps it can wait until a cyclist hits the hole, or swerves away from it, and is killed instantly.  Then DPW would fix the problem.  Or would they?

That cyclist could be someone who visited Hudson via the Empire State Trail.  They biked here, had lunch somewhere, and roamed around town, maybe with a friend or two or their family.  Then, trying to get home, they were killed on the Trail.  Because DPW ignored a gaping hole in the narrow shoulder of the Empire State Trail.  Ignored it for years. 

Or that cyclist could be you, your neighbor, or your son or daughter.  Or me.  Or an HPD Officer on bike patrol.  It's probably not going to be Robert Perry, though, since I have never seen him riding a bicycle in town.