Are Kinnelon Bike Routes Dangerous?

Along three of the major roadways, signs boasting "bike route" imply travel sections designated safe for bicyclists. But how safe are Kinnelon's bike routes?

Less than two weeks ago, each in a separate medevac helicopter, after sustaining injuries following a collision with a car on Fayson Lakes Road. Police shut down the road for over an hour and and the also responded to the scene.

Despite the accident occurring on a dangerous curve on the road, where many residents and Kinnelon Council members have complained that motorists drive too fast, in this particular situation, police said the motorist was not at fault. The bicyclists, in fact,

Kinnelon Police Chief John Finkle said there have been many similar accidents on Fayson Lakes Road over the past several years and that the safety of the road itself is typically not the issue.

"These are accidents that were somebody's fault," he said.

However, the chief implied that the bike routes, which are posted on three main thoroughfares in the borough, themselves are part of the problem since the roads they are posted on do not have large shoulders. Bicyclists are supposed to share the roadway with motorists, but in the case of the accident earlier this month, Finkle said the bicyclists apparently crossed over the double-yellow line and into the other lane of traffic.

Creating the bike routes was part of a county project and Finkle said little can be done to increase safety along the routes.

According to the Borough of Kinnelon Open Space and Recreation Plan 2012 draft update, the county had planned a "Morris County Master Plan Bicycle and Pedestrian Element" as part of the Morris County Master Plan in 1998. The element was created to help the borough establish a bicycle and pedestrian network and identified shared roadways to be included. Those roadways are Fayson Lakes Road, Kinnelon Road and Boonton Avenue, as well as Silas Condict Park, where bicyclists are only allowed on the trails of the original section of the park.

Mayor Bob Collins said he thinks the recent accident will at least inspire conversation amongst council members about Fayson Lakes Road.

"If there's a situation that warrants the borough to look at it, we're going to take a look at it," he said. "Some of the roads that we have in town, of course, weren't designed for modern day traffic and I think that happens in a number of municipalities."

Det. Sgt. David Crouthammel, who rides a bicycle personally in the borough, said wider shoulders on the roads, and wider roads themselves, would make the bike routes safer, but that "the accidents have been more human error." He also said bicyclists should try their best to be seen for safety, wearing reflective clothing or flashing headlights.

What do you think? Are the bike routes themselves dangerous, or do the bicyclists who ride them sometimes create their own dangerous situations? Participate in our poll below and let us know what you think in the comments.