Category Archives: City Review

by Lorenz M. Worden | March 15, 2025 · 12:01 pm

Blessing Rd Multi-Use Path and Rt 85 Traffic Circle

Albany Bicycle Coalition sent the following email letter to the Town of Bethlehem and NYS Dept. of Transportation (DOT) on March 12, 2025. The area under discussion can be seen in Google satellite view.

The new Blessing Road multi-use path is scheduled to be extended this spring, to the Slingerlands Bypass Route 85 traffic circle. We applaud the work of the Town of Bethlehem to build the multi-use path along the length of windy and narrow Blessing Road, which will separate pedestrians, joggers, and cyclists from obvious traffic dangers. However, Albany Bicycle Coalition has some serious concerns about the safety of cyclists and pedestrians who reach the southern end of the path and then attempt to continue further. If the path simply comes to a sudden end at the traffic circle, leaving users to fend for themselves, it would be worse than the Watervliet multi-use path at 23rd St which crosses the I-787 ramps. In October 2024, a young woman cyclist was struck and killed trying to cross a ramp there. Whatever design decisions are made now may determine whether a similar tragedy happens here in Bethlehem.

A) Traffic from Albany approaches the traffic circle at 55+ mph. Although the posted speed limit drops to 45 mph a few hundred feet before the circle, this is still far in excess of what cyclists and pedestrians are accustomed to. Traffic is very heavy at all times of day.
B) The speed limit from Maher Road to Blessing Road is 45 mph throughout. In reality, speeding through a traffic circle at 45 mph is inherently unsafe.
C) Although there are small yellow “15 mph” advisory signs near the circle, they are not prominent. Based on observing actual motorist behavior (absent oncoming traffic), they are either ignored, or not even seen.
D) Crosswalk markings within the traffic circle are obscured by the “YIELD” text plus large directional arrows in every lane. It’s a visual jumble; to motor vehicles, the crosswalks are essentially invisible.
E) The design isn’t a typical “roundabout.” The route from Delmar to Albany is mainly straight. Combined with two lanes throughout the circle, this encourages drivers to speed right through and even accelerate as they pass over the crosswalk.
F) Bethlehem motorists bound for Albany are mainly concerned with avoiding other cars. When accelerating out of the circle, there is not enough time to notice people using the crosswalk; and there’s not enough space for a vehicle to stop without being rear-ended.
G) Driving to Albany, the circle has two lanes with the option to go straight; they quickly merge to one lane after passing over the crosswalk. A distracting high-speed merge dance occurs exactly where drivers need to pay attention to the crosswalk. Current signage approaching the circle from Delmar tells drivers that both lanes can be used for Albany – which exacerbates the merge situation.
H) There are no traffic control signals of any kind, anywhere in the area.

There are numerous design improvements that could help reduce the dangers. Here is a suggested list, ordered from basic and cheap (lower speed limits), to long term (a new bike-pedestrian bridge).
1) 30 mph speed limit approaching the traffic circle. Most drivers – but not all – voluntarily slow down. New speed limits would thus not be an imposition. It would simply require a few new signs, and approval by DOT (NYS Department of Transportation). This is also key for options #4 through #7 below.
2) Revise the lane signage approaching from Delmar. Left lane should say: Blessing Road Only. Right lane should say: Route 85 Only. Currently, Albany-bound cars jockey for position in both exit lanes – which makes it basically impossible to pay attention to the crosswalk. Proper signage would encourage merging in advance.
3) Relocate pavement’s directional arrows and/or “Yield” text. Currently the crosswalks are functionally invisible to drivers in a standard sedan; arrows, crosswalk, and “Yield” are so crammed together that visually they are indistinguishable.
4) Modify the exit lanes heading for Albany. Currently the exit from the circle is a straightaway, over the crosswalk to the 55mph zone. Instead, the exit lanes could be redesigned to have enough angle/curvature to discourage speeds over 30 mph. This may also require increasing the overall diameter of the circle. Those steps could even make it possible to eliminate the left exit lane bound for Albany, so that all merging takes place prior to the circle and within it. Other traffic calming methods could be employed here as well, such as a raised crosswalk or textured pavement.
5) Extend the safety island further northeast and move the east crosswalk further away from the circle. Staggered crosswalks are an engineering design that addresses the queuing space and driver attention problems of crosswalks at traffic circle exits.
6) Pedestrian-activated flashing crossing lights. These “Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons” (RRFB) are another standard approach when multi-use paths cross a major traffic artery. Note that this would only be effective if posted speed limit signs were lowered (item #1 above). As noted above in “C,” the small 15 mph advisory signs are not effective; only a standard black-on-white rectangular speed limit sign will get drivers’ attention.
7) Dynamic speed display signs. “Your Speed” electronic displays have been shown effective in slowing drivers down (e.g. NHTSA report). This would be done in conjunction with lower speed limits (item #1 above). Such signs could be installed permanently, or at least during the transition period.

Any of the above would help address an inherently unsafe situation in the short term. Ultimately however, the following should be the long-range plan:
8) Dedicated bike-pedestrian bridge. Precedents exist for such a bridge: (1) bike-ped bridge over Albany Shaker Road near the airport (Google Maps Street View); (2) the well-known rail trail bridge over New Scotland Road in Slingerlands. A bridge would not be feasible by this summer. However, it would be transformational for the entire area, and thus deserves ongoing effort.
* A bridge would enable a truly-safe route – for all ages and abilities.
* It would be key to a long-distance cycling network – something the Town, County, and CRTC have worked towards for years. It would instantly supply the missing link for a long-distance cycling route from southwest Albany, all the way to the Albany County Helderberg Hudson Rail Trail, for both commuters and recreation (potential route on Google Maps).
(Details: begin at Russell Road; continue along the Blessing Road path; cross Route 85 on the new bridge; continue over an existing bike-pedestrian bridge south of the circle, which also accesses the boat launch recreation area; along a gravel road to New Scotland Road; New Scotland Road to Thackeray Drive; local streets to the upcoming Cherry Avenue multi-use path; conclude at Albany County Rail Trail.)

Do the Town of Bethlehem and DOT have existing plans for making the traffic circle area safe?
Are funds currently allocated for implementing safety features?
What do you think of the potential design improvements that we suggested above?

Every November, Albany Bicycle Coalition participates in the World Day of Remembrance for Victims of Traffic Violence. We meet in front of City Hall to commemorate bicyclists and pedestrians who lost their lives in our region. Our hope is to avoid adding any further names to that list.

Please feel free to contact us to further discuss options and plans.
Ed Brennan, President Albany Bicycle Coalition
Chester Bennett, vice president
Mark Maniak, secretary
Glenn Sandberg, designer CapitalNYBikeMap.com

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Filed under Activisim, Blessing Road MU Path, City Review, Editorial, safety

Tagged as advocacy, City Review

by Lorenz M. Worden | August 18, 2024 · 1:08 pm

Albany City Bicycle Code Changes

The Albany City Council is considering major changes to its age-old City ordinances on bicycles. It is currently before the “Laws, Buildings and Code Enforcement Committee.”

The Common Council sponsors are Ginnie Farrel and Deborah Zamer. At the request of Council Person Farrell, ABC reviewed the existing City Code and advocated for many of these changes back in 2022.

We invite your thoughtful comments and we hope you will share your comments with the Common Council. The form for comments to the Common Council is here:

Among the changes the proposal are the following:

eliminates the 8-mph speed limit for bicycles
recognizes many forms of active transportation besides bicycles while deleting references to velocipedes – a 19th century predecessor of the modern bicycle
allows restricted use of bicycles and “human powered devices” on sidewalks, but not e-bikes and e-scooters
establishes rules to protect pedestrians and their right of way on sidewalks including a 5-mph sidewalk speed limit for bicycles and human powered devices
eliminates prohibitions on bicycling on park paths
aligns device definitions with NYS law
eliminates requirement that bicyclists ring a bell at every intersection
sets fines and allows impoundment of unregistered “motorized devices” when used on City streets – which apparently would apply to electronic unicycles and e-skateboards
permits bicyclists to congregate in parks
allows teaching how to use a bicycle and other non-motorized vehicles in parks

The proposed ordinance appears below.

Download

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Filed under Activisim, Article, City Code, City Review, Riding in Albany, Traffic Law

by Lorenz M. Worden | January 21, 2024 · 4:09 pm

Central Avenue Fatalities Since 2000

12/20/23

(Map coordinates in parentheses.)

The NHTSA FARS system is not yet available for incidents after 2020. Later data are from the Albany Times Union (TU).

2001

August 20, 2001– Lajuan Jordan, 24, of Central Avenue, passenger in an SUV was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident on Central Avenue at Lansing Road, Colonie. (42.76066389 – 73.88201944)

November 26, 2001– Pedestrian Clark A. Gorrow, 37of Rugby Road, Schenectady was killed by a car while crossing Central Avenue at Lombard Street, Colonie. Police said “pedestrian error’ appeared to be the cause of the incident. (42.75857778 – 73.87948889)

2002

March 14, 2002– Pedestrian Robert Bryan, 34, a resident at the Blue Bell Motel on Central Avenue, was killed by a pickup truck making a left turn as he apparently tried to cross the four-lane highway to the Colonie Kmart. There was no marked crosswalk at the intersection. (42.74050833 – 73.8588)

2003

February 14, 2003 – Lisa Keene, 40-year-old mother,who was out celebrating her younger sister’s impending Valentine’s Day wedding was killed as she stood in a pedestrian crosswalk between Lexington Avenue and Robin Street on Central Avenue, Albany when an unlicensed cab driver lost control of his taxi struck and dragged her about 200 feet. (42.6601 – 73.76721111).

September 19, 2003 – An unidentified pedestrian killed on Central Avenue near Tull Drive, Colonie. (42.71811389 – 73.83335556)

October 18, 2003 – Pedestrian Todd Throneburg, 28, of 2194 Central Avenue was killed by a motor vehicle. He had apparently been lying partially in the eastbound lane near Elmwood Avenue, Colonie when struck. (42.76006944 – 73.88135833)

October 26, 2003 – There was an Unidentified fatality of a motor vehicle crash on Central Avenue, Colonie near Tull Drive. (42.71808889 – 73.83333056)

2004

March 9, 2004 – Cyclist Mary Morgan, 31, was pronounced dead at the scene of the 1:30 PM crash after being struck by a motor vehicle at the Central Avenue intersection with Berwyn Street, Colonie. (42.76193056 – 73.88344722)

April 12, 2004 – A pickup truck struck and killed Frank Tymula, 45, while he was crossing Central Avenue near Karner Road, Colonie. Because of the recent deaths, Colonie Police Chief said that officials are considering some kind of safety awareness campaign aimed at adults. “We do it for kids. We tell kids to look both ways. These are not kids. This gentleman was 45 years old,” said the chief. (42.72978333 – 73.84683889)

June 13, 2004– Unidentified man crossing Central Avenue at night at the intersection with Frederick Avenue, Colonie was killed after a passing car struck him. (42.69671944 – 73.809025)

July 4, 2004 – Vincent Pagano Jr., 24, perished after crashing his ATV into a car on Central Avenue by Manning Blvd, Albany.

2005

February 28, 2005 – Bassist Edward Wells, 38, of Lynn Street, Schenectady and the Band Seed, perished after he was partially ejected from his vehicle after it collided with another and rolled onto its side at the Central Avenue and VanHuesen Street intersection, Colonie

2006

March 19, 2006 – Randy Russell died instantly in a car crash at Henry Johnson Blvd and Central Avenue, Albany after a state trooper chase. An autopsy demonstrated a blood alcohol content over twice the legal limit.

September 8, 2006 – Pedestrian Tomas A. Aguirre of Watervliet was killed by a car just as he stepped from the curb crossing Central Avenue at Reber Street, Colonie

August 22, 2006 – Pedestrian Roxanne Chaney, 40 was chatting with her neighbors at the Best Value Inn, including a man who was showing pictures of his wife, who had been struck and killed by a car. “Roxanne says, `Man, that’s a horrible way to go,’ ” a neighbor recalled. Chaney, 40, then stepped out into a dark section of the road and was hit herself, becoming the ninth person killed on Central Avenue,Colonie in 10 years, the fourth on a section west of Route 155 alone, according to police. The nearest crosswalks – a mile apart – are 8- and 10-minute-walks away on a stretch of road that is easily becoming one of the deadliest for pedestrians in the region. (42.73789167 -73.85600278)

2009

January 19, 2009– Westley H. Williams, 61, perished after he was hit by a car on the road’s median, apparently trying to cross the busy stretch near Reynolds Street, Colonie. (42.69191389 -73.80361944)

April 7, 2009 – Segundo G. Zamora, 32, from Ecuador died from his injuries after being struck by a vehicle in front of Appletini’s Café, Colonie. (42.69016389 – 73.80158056)

2010

December 18, 2010 – Rebecca Murton, 22, 8 months pregnant with her third child, died as a passenger in a motor vehicle that crashed into a utility pole on Central Avenue at Mountain View Avenue, Colonie.

2011

November 21, 2011 – Pedestrian Kerry Irwin, 63 of Delmar was struck by a motor vehicle just east of Reber Street, Colonie and later died from his injuries. Police said the driver was not likely to face charges, as Irwin was wearing dark clothing and was not crossing the road at a crosswalk. (42.73415833 – 73.85171944)

September 5, 2011 – Pedestrian John Gesner, 57, of Ravena, who was staying at the Super 8 Motel, was struck by a car while crossing Central Avenue near Lincoln Avenue, Colonie around 11:10 pm. He was pronounced dead at the scene. (42.71605556 – 73.83104444)

May 12, 2011 – David L. Cook, 33of Middle Grovewas riding a Harley Davidson he had just purchased off the lot at Spitzie’s Motorcycle Center on Central Avenue by Campbell Drive, Colonie when his bike veered out of control and across traffic and collided with a truck. (42.74072778 -73.85929444)

2012

May 21, 2012 – Pedestrian Randall Hayes, 57, a resident of the Blue Bell Hotel in Colonie was struck by a vehicle in a hit and run crash at 9:05 pm in the eastbound lane of Central Avenue in front of a Burger King, just west of the intersection with New Karner Road. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Colonie Police Officer Pero said it was highly unlikely that whoever struck the victim was not aware he hit someone. “It was not a glancing blow,” Pero said. (142.73313056 – 73.850475)

2013

February 21, 2013 – Katherine Parker, 28,of Albany died from injuries after being struck by a minivan while she was crossing Central Avenue at King Avenue just East of the (now closed) ShopRite, Albany. During a vigil for Parker, another pedestrian was hurt just two streets up from Thursday’s crash, police said.

March 2, 2013 – William Jennings, 28,of Schenectady, was killed instantly by an eastbound U.S. Postal Service tractor-trailer around 3:30 AM Saturday on Central Avenue near Lombard Street, Colonie.

2014

July 3, 2014 – Pedestrian Kyle Canabush, 29, was crossing Central Avenue at about 8:50 PM, near Kraft Avenue, Colonie when a motor vehicle struck him. He died later from his injuries.

2015

February 2, 2015 – A pedestrian, 4-year-old Ashiqur Rahman was struck and killed by a waste truck in a Central Avenue crosswalk at Quail Street, Albany while holding his mother’s hand. Mother and son had a green light to cross, police said.

March 3, 2015 – An unidentified pedestrian was killed on Central Avenue and Wilber Avenue, Colonie.

April 13, 2015 – Pedestrian Renee Bruneau, a 54-year-old mother was killed by a hit-and-run driver between Madison and Hudson Avenues, Albany in front of Ralph’s Restaurant

September 19, 2015 – An unidentified motor vehicle fatality involving drunk driving at Central Avenue and Grounds Place, Colonie

December 6, 2015 – There was an unidentified pedestrian fatality at Central Avenue and Osborne Road, Colonie.

2016

May 24, 2016 – Pedestrian, Borziloke Zakolli, 62 of Colonie was struck and killed on impact crossing Central Avenuebetween Tull Drive and Breeman Street, Colonie. “Safety is our top priority there, and we’ve done a lot of work and studying on Central Avenue,” New York State Department of Transportation spokesman Bryan Viggiani said Tuesday, pointing to a Central Avenue Pedestrian Safety Study examining human behaviors and the road’s infrastructure. After publication of the safety study, the state allocated $2 million for road improvements, with 60 percent designated for Albany and Schenectady. The department’s goal, Viggiani said, is for both drivers and pedestrians to understand the rules of the road. (42.71744722 – 73.83268889)

July 17, 2016 – Akbar Perkins, 17 died after a police pursuit, crashing a stolen van into a utility pole on Central Avenue just west of Route 155, Colonie. (42.73301944 – 73.85040833 )

Jun 2, 2016– There was an unidentified pedestrian fatalitynear the confluence of Central Avenue and Washington Avenue, Albany. (42.6573 -73.763975)

2017

March 16, 2017 – Jajuan L. Williams, 21, died on impact after the car he was driving crashed into a snowbank, became airborne, and hit a utility pole on Central Avenue near Arrow Street, Colonie. (42.76134444 – 73.88262778)

July 3, 2017 – An unidentified pedestrian, a 54 year old woman, died after a pickup truck struck her as she crossed Central Avenue near Vly Road, Colonie.

October 18, 2017 – Pedestrian Garry F. Cognetti, 67died from his injuries after being hit by a car on State Street, Niskayuna east of Mansion Boulevard where Central Avenue becomes State Street as it enters Niskayuna. (42.77281111 – 73.89543611)

2018

December 22, 2018 – An unidentified 78-year-old Schenectady woman died after what witnesses say was a possible medical incident that led to her crashing her car into a tree on Central Avenue between New Karner Road and Reber Street, Colonie.

February 15, 2018 – An unidentified person died in a head-on motor vehicle collision on Central Avenue by Interstate Avenue, Colonie

2019

December 25, 2019 – Vehicle passenger Lakhraj Premnauth perished after a crashon Central Avenue by Evergreen Memorial Park, Colonie. The sedan they were in slammed into a utility pole with such force that it snapped the car in two. (42.757225 – 42.757225)

2020

September 6, 2020 – An unidentified motorcyclist died at the scene after crashing into a car near the intersection of Central Avenue and Old Karner Road, Colonie

July 17, 2020 – Driver Naquain Key, 35, and his passenger, Najee Parks, 31, died in a high-speed crash on Central Avenue near Lombard Street, Colonie.

2021

April 15, 2021 – Pedestrian Sa’Nya Blaylock, 16, died when a motor vehicle struck her as she was crossing to the bus stop after her shift at Kentucky Fried Chicken, 1235 Central Avenue, at Frederick Avenue, Colonie.

August 20, 2021 – Christopher Welter, 36,of Medford, MA, died at the scene after his vehicle ran into the back of a tractor trailer that was stopped at a traffic light at the intersection of Central Avenue and Jupiter Lane, Colonie.

September 21, 2021 – Cyclist Jeremy Williams, 39was killed when he was struck by a motor vehicle on Central Avenue, Colonie, near the entrance ramp to southbound I-87.

2022

January 25, 2022 – Pedestrian David Madden, 31, was crossing the street in front of Dollar General, 1935 Central Avenue at Reber Street, Colonie just before 8 PM when a sedan struck him resulting in major trauma. His fate is unknown.

February 16, 2022 – An out-of-control car crashed through several telephone poles on Central Avenue near Lansing Road, Colonie. The unidentified Brooklyn man was in grave condition. His fate is unknown.

July 7, 2022 – Albany police identified Kathleen McBride, 52, of Albany as the pedestrian who was struck and killed by a drunken driver at 10:15 PM on Central Avenue at Robin Street, Albany. Police said officers responded to reports of a serious motor vehicle crash. Upon arrival, officers determined that a pedestrian had been struck by a van that then crashed into a building. McBride sustained serious injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Driver Jose Guaman-Bunay faces 6 to 18 years in prison.

August 22, 2022 – Stacy Benoit, 40, of Albany was hit around 8:35 PM. Witnesses said she was walking in the center turn lane near Fairfield Avenue. Colonie. Police said the driver was traveling west and the woman was walking east. The driver who hit her stopped and was not impaired, officers said. (TU online 8/23/22)

2023

November 11, 2023 – David Herskind, 49, died at the scene of the 11:55 PM, crash near the intersection with Fuller Road. A Ford F-150 was driving westbound on Central Avenue when it hit the pedestrian, said Colonie Police. The driver immediately stopped and called 911. Colonie EMS arrived shortly after, but the victim died at the scene. Police say speed or driver impairment do not appear to be factors in the crash. The pedestrian was in the vehicle lane of travel at the time of the crash.

November 22, 2023 – A 33-year-old motor vehicle driver struck and killed pedestrian Mark Schimmer, 67 at 6:03 PM on Central Avenue at Mountain View Avenue, Colonie. Police said the pedestrian was pushing a shopping cart, was in dark clothing, and not near a crosswalk or traffic signal at the time. Rain and snow may have made visibility poor. The driver maintained that she did not see the pedestrian until after the collision. Police held that speeding and intoxication were not involved and there were no charges made.

November 27, 2023 – Joseph Crandall, 62, was the third person to die after being struck by a car on Central Avenue in the town since November 11. Police said Crandall was riding his bike at 11:30 in the morning near Elmwood Avenue when the truck struck the back of his bicycle. Crandall was knocked off his bicycle and the truck driver, a 55-year-old Glenville man, stopped to call 911, police said. People passing by also tried to help Crandall, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the driver was not impaired and that Crandall was wearing reflective clothing but was not wearing a helmet.” (TU 11/28/23, B2)

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Filed under Central Ave., City Review, Death on the Road, safety

by Lorenz M. Worden | December 13, 2023 · 9:14 am

New Scotland Ave. Bike Lane Celebration

At Long Last – Bike Lanes on New Scotland Ave. –

The Ride – Sixteen happy riders departed from Martell’s Restaurant off New Scotland Ave. for an ABC-hosted tour of the new bike lanes running from O’Neill Rd. to Manning Blvd. After starting at Martel’s on a fine late autumn day, the group headed to Washington Park over Albany city streets with and without bike lanes. They then returned to Martel’s for a total distance of 8 miles. Many of the riders adjourned to Martell’s for refreshments following the ride. You can see the complete route on google maps: From Martell’s to Washington Park and Washington Park back to Martell’s

The Setting – New Scotland Ave. is a major thoroughfare in the City of Albany for both residents and commuters. Heretofore, it had a strange mix of two- and four-lane segments. There were turn lanes for both right and left turns, but the pavement markings had long ago disappeared. The road surface itself was rough and unpleasant for people in cars and dangerous for bicyclists. The street was also characterized by a number of high-speed, no-holds-barred intersections that presented challenges for both people walking and bicycling as well as those driving cars. For bicyclists, it is only one of two paths into the city from Bethlehem. Neither path is particularly good, but the New Scotland holds a bit more promise. STRAVA data show that many riders used this route perhaps as their only option.

The Study – In 2019, St Peter’s Hospital funded a traffic study of New Scotland Ave. from Manning Blvd. to the Thruway bridge at Whitehall Rd. St Peter’s is a major generator of motor vehicle traffic for both its patients and staff. The area surrounding the hospital presents challenges to residents for parking, and the amount of vehicular traffic presents challenges for all road users. Creighton Manning Engineering firm, a longtime partner of city government conducted the study. The city held several public meetings and there was good support for bicycle lanes to replace the unused parking lanes that were presently installed. The bicycle lanes would calm motor vehicle traffic. Curiously, when the final plan came out, it called for retaining the parking and not adding bicycle lanes. Fortunately, and with our gratitude, Meghan Keegan, Common Council Member, 9th Ward, supported the return of the lanes, and installation is now complete. They run from Manning Blvd. to O’Neill Rd., the entrance to the municipal golf course.

These new lanes connect to Manning Blvd. which is to have protected bike lanes per the Albany City Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan. Also, the multi-use path on Hackett Blvd. can be accessed from New Scotland Ave. over busy, non-protected streets in just under a mile.

Cyclists can find the new bike lanes, and existing connections, on ABC’s CapitalNYBikeMap.com. Using the map, one can identify “neighborhood routes” to get to favored destinations. The ride might be a bit longer, but the enjoyment will offset that. Nonetheless, the city still needs to create safe connections between these new lanes and existing bicycle infrastructure.

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Filed under Bike Lanes, City Review, Riding in Albany

by Lorenz M. Worden | November 24, 2023 · 12:23 pm

World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims

Introduction – On Friday November 17, 2023,the Albany Bicycle Coalition, Walkable Albany, and Capital Streets, held a demonstration for Albany City Victims of Traffic Violence as part of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. Elected leaders and city officials gathered with us along with people around the world to remember those needlessly killed and seriously injured in crashes. We called for specific actions by the City of Albany to respond to the needless deaths of at least 19 people on bicycles or walking in the city between 2013 and 2023.

Presentation – We thanked the following for joining us in support of the event: NY Assembly Member Pat Fahy, Albany Police Department Chief Eric Hawkins, Mayor Sheehan’s Chief of Staff, David Galin, Albany City Treasurer Darius Shahinfar, and Albany County Legislator Susan Quine-Laurilliard.

Prepared Remarks by Ed Brennan, ABC President – In a few minutes, those who have gathered here will read the names of pedestrians and cyclists who died from traffic violence in our city. Sometimes we may know a pedestrian or cyclist died from a crash at a location, but we don’t know their names. I suspect some of these people may have hung on for a while in a hospital before they passed. They may have outlasted the news cycle, so their names were never reported. All we have – without FOILing their records – is statistical information such as that found in the Federal Fatality Analysis Reporting System and in local media. Try to remember that these were actual people – with families that lost them – and not just statistics. We have seen at least 49 traffic violence deaths on Central Avenue since the start of 2001, including David Herskind just 6 days ago.

Sa’Nya Blaylock, died on Central Avenue, Thursday April 15, 2021, around 10:30pm. She was an Albany resident and Albany High student, Unlike the other victims, we recognize Sa’Nya wasn’t killed in Albany, but she was killed on Central Avenue – the deadliest stretch of road in the Capital Region. A road that Albany shares with the Town of Colonie.

Sa’Nya had gotten off her late shift at Kentucky Fried Chicken, crossed Central Avenue to catch her bus, and was struck and killed by a motor vehicle.

Maybe she was tired after a long day at school and night’s work at KFC.
Maybe she was in a hurry to get home and do homework.
Maybe she was in a hurry to get off work and get back to being a teenager.
Maybe she thought the vehicle coming was her bus and she didn’t want to miss it.
We don’t know if she made a mistake in the way she crossed the street or not, but if she made a mistake, she didn’t deserve a death sentence.

Central Avenue was the subject of an extensive 18-month road corridor safety study published in 2015 that came back with what they call a “Three E’s” Approach: Education, Enforcement and Engineering

“Safety is our top priority there, and we’ve done a lot of work and studying on Central Avenue,” said the state DOT spokesperson. “The department’s goal,” he said, “is for both drivers and pedestrians to understand the rules of the road.”

New York State Department of Transportation did a number of things, including $2M in improvements such as better crossing signals – but they would not lower the speed limit or change the road in any way to encourage drivers to slow down.

Since the beginning of 2016 we figure another 19 people have died on Central Avenue.

Looking at state statistics and comparing 2019 before COVID with 2022 in Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer, and Saratoga Counties, we have seen fewer collisions in each county – but more fatalities with those fewer collisions and more serious injuries with those fewer collisions.

How does that happen?

There are two primary factors that determine how violent a crash is – mass and velocity. Since 2019, both these factors have gone in the wrong direction.

We all know that speeding has increased.

Every year our vehicles have also gotten bigger. Earlier this year the three highest selling new motor vehicles were the Ford F-Series Truck, the Chevy Silverado, and the Dodge Ram. Massive vehicles that will do more damage in a collision.

Our newer, more massive trucks and SUVs are also built higher so they are more dangerous – especially to pedestrians. What used to be a lower body injury, like a broken leg or pelvis, is now an upper body injury to one’s organs or for shorter people, like children, there are often more devastating head injuries.

The city cannot do much about the size of vehicles, but the city can lower speeds to make collisions less devastating and less likely.

We see laudable efforts to get alcohol- and drug-impaired drivers off the road. But we need to understand that speeders are also impaired drivers.

The speeder impairs their ability to stop their vehicle within the distance necessary to avoid a collision.
The speeder impairs their ability to react to a potential collision by giving themselves less time.
The speeder also impairs their ability to recognize a potential collision. There are limits to how much visual information we can process in a given space of time. The faster the speed, the more to process and the narrower speeder’s effective field of vision becomes. This problem is worse in dense urban environments where there is so much more to watch out for.

As we remember these people that have died and suffered serious injuries from traffic violence, we ask that the city honor them by doing three things that make it less likely that more people and their families face such loss and suffering.

Lower the city speed limit on all non-limited access roads to 25 miles per hour to make crashes less likely and less devastating.
Install speed cameras in our school zones to protect our young people using the law that our State Assembly Member Pat Fahy and State Senator Neil Breslin fought to pass.
Carry out the recommendations of the Washington Park Study. Make this Historic City Jewel a park for the safe enjoyment of the people of Albany and not a high-speed parkway for cars.

Ten Years of Traffic Victims in Albany (2013 – 2023 as of November 14, 2023) – The Albany Bicycle Coalition developed this list based on local media reports, Federal Fatality Analysis Reporting System, and other sources. At this point in the demonstration, 19 volunteers stepped up one at a time to the microphone and read the essentials of each victim’s demise.

Unidentified Pedestrian – 11/8/23 (age 67) Two cars hit and killed the victim near Exit 2 on southbound I-787 in Albany. The man was struck by one car as the vehicle tried to merge into traffic at 7:16 PM. State Police said the driver was initially unaware the vehicle had hit someone. The man was then struck by a second vehicle and died at the scene.
Larry Cunningham – 10/24/22 (age 62) A drunken car driver struck and killed pedestrian on a sidewalk near the intersection of 3rd Ave. and Elizabeth St. Albany. Driver Jose Guevara-Bonilla, a 26-year-old city man was charged with aggravated drunken driving and leaving the scene of an accident and other offences. Police issued several tickets and said more charges are possible.
Pernell Compston – 10/6/22 (no age) Compston was hit by a SUV and a pickup truck just after 10 pm when he was crossing the street near the intersection of Northern Blvd. and Shaker Rd., Albany.
Tanisha Brathwaite – 7/14/22 (age 31) Drunk driver killed pedestrian. Hit-and-run driver struck and killed pedestrian at 6:00 PM on Clinton Ave. at the intersection with Henry Johnson Blvd., Albany. Driver sentenced to 8 to 24 years for aggravated vehicular homicide and several DWI counts.
Kathleen McBride – 7/7/22 (age 52) Van struck and killed a pedestrian on Central Ave.
Unidentified Pedestrian – 5/21 (no age) Per the New York State Traffic Safety Statistical Repository, there was a pedestrian death in Albany during this month. Could not find report in the local newspaper.
Unidentified Pedestrian – 3/21 (no age) Per the New York State Traffic Safety Statistical Repository, there was a pedestrian death in Albany during this month. Could not find local newspaper report.
Unidentified Pedestrian – 9/24/20 (no age) A pedestrian was killed in a collision between 7 and 8 PM on Church St. Albany. This was not at an intersection, there was no drunk driving involved, and the weather was clear but dark.
Richard Harmon – 5/21/20 (age 76) Pedestrian hit and killed at North Allen St. and Manning Blvd. [Times Union, Saturday, 5/23/20, pg. D3]
Unidentified Pedestrian – 9/24/19 (age 50) A car driver going west on Washington Ave. Extension hit and killed a male pedestrian who apparently tried to cross the street in the evening. [Times Union, 9/26/19, Section: Obituaries, pg. C5]
Unidentified Pedestrian – 8/8/19 (age 67) Truck hit and seriously injured a male pedestrian, intersection of Madison Ave. and Dove St. around 1 PM. After being treated at the scene, the man was taken to Albany Medical Center Hospital by ambulance. His condition was not immediately available. [Times Union Friday, 8/9/19, pg. C4. Apparently this individual later died as the Federal Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) lists this a pedestrian death.]
Ludmilla Vink – 2/20/18 (age 92) Pedestrian, was identified as the victim in the fatal car-pedestrian crash on Washington Ave., Albany. [Times Union Thursday, February 22, 2018, pg. C2]
Roger L. Sawyer – 10/19/17 (age 30) Bicyclist run down and killed by a SUV, Washington Ave. Ext., Albany.
Edston J. Kirnon – 7/22/17 (age 42) Bicyclist collided with side of CDTA bus, N. Pearl St., Albany.
Rajine Martinez 2/4/17 (age 21) Killed by hit-and-run SUV driver, Washington Park Rd. near New Scotland Ave., Albany
Gregory Abram-Skinner – 12/23/16 (age 21) At 7:00-8:00 PM on Washington Ave. Ext. at Springsteen Ave., Albany, a drunk driver struck and killed the pedestrian.
Ashiqur Rahman – 12/2015 (age 4) The driver of a refuse truck struck and killed the victim at 8:00-9:00 AM on Central Ave. at Quail St., Albany as he was crossing in the crosswalk, holding his mother’s hand, and walking with the pedestrian “walk” light.
Qazir Sutherland – 6/15/13 (age 7) The car diver, 37, of Albany, was traveling north in her sedan on S. Pearl, Albany when she struck and killed the victim as he was crossing the street to meet his mother. The driver was not charged.
Katherine Parker – 2/21/13 (age 28) At 10:22 PM a minivan driver heading west struck and killed the victim on Central Ave. at King Ave., Albany. The victim was walking north to cross Central Ave.