This Nov. 8 I went for a Sunday drive from Mineola north on Roslyn Road.
I have traveled that route many times, mostly to the Northern Parkway. In both directions.
I took the cut-off onto Locust Lane where I had never gone before. I turned around and went back to Roslyn Road.
I went on north and saw Powerhouse Road which is the North Service Road to the L. I. E. and that’s no lie.
I turned around and headed back to Mineola.
At Locust Lane, besides two lanes in each direction there is a left turn lane for southbound traffic besides the cut-off. It is that wide there.
There are thousands of vehicles going north and south on Roslyn Road every day and over the years, millions of drivers have used this route.
No doubt about it, these are good drivers.
The change from two lanes to one and back again is managed without a thought. They also accommodate the ‘pokeys’ just like they do on the Northern Parkway.
Along that stretch of roadway there is seldom a driveway: Only streets. There are no sidewalks or parking. The properties are walled. No chance for a human or animal to take a driver by surprise.
Forty miles per hour is the correct speed limit!
Where the aforementioned conditions change, drivers take it into consideration and abide with common sense.
Now, because five or so drivers out of the millions made a mistake for whatever the reason was, the authorities have gone berserk and want to ruin it for everyone else.
At the moment, there has been almost every sign and traffic directive ever invented by man erected on that stretch of roadway.
They won’t prevent an error especially by someone who is so out of it who should not be driving.
My only suggestion is that the cut-off should be made into a normal right turn lane with arrows and a stop sign to give the right of way to a southbound driver having the opportunity to turn left due to a break in northbound traffic.
A situation not long ago was when a traffic light was wanted and needed on Herricks Road where it is convenient for students from the Mineola High School to cross.
The official blocking the installation said that it would cost $100,000. Then that the students should walk close to a quarter mile to Jericho to cross and then back again.
Two cases: One doesn’t need a light, the other did.
Finally, the people got the light.
I hope that the proper simple decision can be made regarding Roslyn Road and that the drivers can have what is correct without being hounded by cops.
Charles Samek
Mineola
