On Friday night, August 14th, James Langergaard was killed by a car crossing Queens Boulevard. According to his family, witnesses told police that James ran a red light on his bike and died instantly. James was 38.
On the second Friday of the month, Transportation Alternatives Queens Committee leads a "bike pool" along Queens Boulevard. By riding together in a group each month, the bike pool works not only to educate drivers that bikes are on the street and to make a statement about the need for a bike lane, but it give the borough's bike commuters a safe, escorted ride home.
Last February, 22-year-old Asif Rahman was hit and killed by a truck while riding his bicycle on Queens Boulevard. Asif's family, Council member Jim Gennaro, and Transportation Alternatives held a press conference yesterday, calling on New York City government to transform Queens Boulevard into a "complete street," with a physically-protected bike lane and safer pedestrian crossings.