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Category: Readers' Opinions

risks, remedies at the oceanfront

May 08

7:24 AM

Jim Murphey ('Take back the Boardwalk,' letter, May 3) is right about the dangers on the Boardwalk. I walk the Boardwalk in late afternoons three days each week, and the risk posed by bicyclists is getting worse, and it was already very bad.

I was hit from behind by a bicycle 16 months ago and ended up at the hospital. I'm still having pain in my right shoulder and arm from those injuries. I have almost been hit several other times, although I have kept as close watch as possible for bikes illegally on the Boardwalk.

Something needs to be done; otherwise there will be more injuries, since some of the bikers not only ride on the Boardwalk but ride fast. With no one to enforce the law, it is really out of hand.

Charles L. Watkins Jr.

Virginia Beach

View 4 comment(s) Link to post

asnerj

Submitted by Just_my_opinion on Fri, 05/09/2008 at 7:55 pm.

Bikers routinely use the boardwalk...I've never been there without dodging bikes (and I've worked down there for several summers). Maybe you should get down there more.

In defense of bikers - those four-wheel-rental things and walkers block the bike path. There is really no alternative for **local** bikers, other than to stay away. And cops have much more important things to do than ticket boardwalk bikers. I'll stick to my policy of staying away except for when company comes.

jmo

A constant never changes

Submitted by gknutson on Fri, 05/09/2008 at 3:40 pm.

The cyclist get tickets when forced onto the boardwalk by the walkers on the bike path but the walkers on the bike path are ignored. That's the way it is and there clearly is no incentive to do otherwise.

There is more of an issue with Pedestrians walking on bike path

Submitted by asnerj on Fri, 05/09/2008 at 2:05 pm.

I ride three times a week from end to end of the boardwalk on the bike path.
I rarely see bikes on the main walkway unless cyclists are walking their bike for the view. If anything, I have to question where this gentlemen was. Police heavily patrol this area and I have seen tickets written to people on bikes and they were not locals. There is a respect from Cyclists but pedestrians need to be aware when they just dross the bike path just like crossing intersection

back to the path

Submitted by Ira Tateu on Fri, 05/09/2008 at 9:39 am.

however, the bike path has been rendered useless by walkers and those 4 wheeled contraptions. Folks wil lwalk on the bike path w/ immunity while bikers are told to watch out for the by the police. And of course we are being attacked by the drivers of the 4 wheeled contraptions.