After Fatal Hit-and-Run, Students Say Bike Safety is a Concern

In the wake of Thursday night in a hit-and-run accident, some students who ride their bikes off campus said the roads off campus are extremely dangerous for bicyclists.

"It's pretty bad, especially at night, because the lights are really dim," said Brian Huang, who said he lives off campus and doesn't own a car. He has no choice, he said, but to ride his bicycle to and from Stony Brook University – even though he thinks it's dangerous.

"There is a big probability that a car will hit you," Huang said. "I think the bike routes are too narrow and the drivers drive too fast."

Another student, Jimmy Zhu, agreed.

"I try to avoid Route 347 because I think it's kind of dangerous," he said.

One university official said Friday that while most students drive cars or use the bus system on campus, bike riding is becoming more common. The university even this past summer, and makes an effort to educate students about both bike safety and pedestrian safety.

"I'm sure we will step those up," said Jerrold Stein, associate vice president and dean of students at Stony Brook.

Even on campus, some said riding a bicycle can be dangerous.

"Sometimes there are cars that don't stop in the crosswalks," said Kaiyuan Liu, who said he doesn't ride his bike off campus.

"I ride the buses," he said. "It's safer that way."