Pedestrian infrastructure has historically been and remains to be an afterthought when funding and projects are considered. Too many towns and villages in Ulster County see the effect of this, with their Main Streets too often split in half by a state route. This has numerous negative impacts, from air quality to the overall economic and social impact a downtown can have.

Worst of all, the streets and surrounding infrastructure we have is not safe for pedestrians, cyclists, or any non-motorized road user. We've lost four pedestrians since the beginning of this year, and every single one was due to the lack of pedestrian infrastructure including sidewalks, streetlights, safe crossings, and traffic signals.

If there's anywhere in New York that can change the relationship we have with our streets, it's Ulster County. We need to start with making our main streets safe, accessible, and comfortable spaces that aren't just an artery to somewhere else.

To start, we need basic traffic calming measures on Main St, and then we need to expand these measures, and fast. These include:

1. Lowering the speed limit to 25mph in the village (instead of 30mph)
2. Creating a curb extension on Oakwood Terrace to prevent vehicles swerving around vehicles yielding to pedestrians
3. Installing Rapid, Rectangular Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) at all crossings on Main St that don't have a traffic signal, as cars will be inclined to allow pedestrians to cross instead of "letting the next car stop"
4. Implementing "No Right on Red" at signalized intersections including Ohioville Rd x Rt. 299 and North/South Putt Corners x Rt. 299

These are just the first steps, but we need to start taking steps if we're ever going to have safe streets. By implementing these measures, we can provide a more accessible, safe, and equitable space for everybody, regardless of their mode of transportation.