LI summit shines light on need to make roads accessible for everyone
The 18th Complete The Streets summit, held in Deer Park Tuesday, gave community members the chance to discuss problem areas on local roadways, and brainstorm ways to make them safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
More Stories
Vision Long Island’s “Complete the Streets” summit brought together community members from across the island to figure out how to redesign LI roads to make them safer.
The 18th summit, held in Deer Park Tuesday, gave community members the chance to discuss problem areas on local roadways.
"They know where they won't let their kid go walk or ride their bike,” said Elissa Kyle, Vision Long Island placemaking director. “Getting that information out to the elected officials and to the professionals who can make the changes."
Vision Long Island already partnered with the Parkhurst Civic Association in Elmont to conduct a walking audit with high schoolers to address problem roadways, specifically Elmont Road, Hempstead Turnpike and Dutch Broadway.
Tamar Paoli-Bailey, of Elmont, says she knows of at least five people who have been involved in accidents while crossing Elmont Road and Dutch Broadway.
"I've seen so many people get hit by cars,” she said. "One accident should have been enough. It shouldn't have to be multiple accidents throughout the decades."
Parkhurst Civic Association President Aubrey Phillips says the walking audit helped them identify one main problem.
"How do we connect the community in a place that is really designed, not for pedestrian traffic, but for vehicular traffic,” he said.
Mimi Pierre Johnson, of Elmont, says attempts have been made to address concerns in the area, like lowering the speed limit but says more could be done.
"I've seen senior citizens trying to cross and they can't," she said. "We need more signage because, still, I do still see people making U-turns in front of the schools."
Kyle also suggests making streets feel narrower by planting trees closer to the roadway because she says drivers tend to driver slower when roads feel narrower.
