LETTER: Thinking ‘inside the box’ when it comes to Hoboken street safety

In a letter ot the editor, Hoboken resident Kevin Davis explains why he wants to the city to think “inside the box” when it comes to street safety.

To the editor,

I have an “inside the box” solution to improve bike safety in Hoboken: bike boxes.

For those unfamiliar, a bike box is a painted area at the front of an intersection where cyclists can stop ahead of vehicles, reducing the risk of right-hook collisions and improving overall safety.

As a cyclist, I prefer waiting in a bike box at a red light because it puts me ahead of cars, making me more visible to drivers who might otherwise turn right across my path.

On my Twitter account (@wheeliebadbikes), I often shame cyclists for running red lights. Adding bike boxes will give cyclists a reason to wait at red lights, as they’ll have a safe and visible position in front of vehicles.

Studies have shown that bike boxes reduce right-hook collisions by up to 39% and improve overall intersection safety by making cyclists more visible to drivers.

This simple measure is cost-effective and has been proven to enhance cyclist safety without the resistance faced by protected bike lanes.

While bike advocates push for protected bike lanes, these proposals often face resistance, as seen with the Washington Street plan in 2016 and the Clinton Street pilot in 2019.

Bike boxes offer a more practical, cost-effective solution that fits into Hoboken’s Vision Zero strategy and is more likely to gain public support.

By incorporating bike boxes, we can make our intersections safer and reduce risky behavior from both cyclists and drivers.

Kevin Davis
Bicycle/Pedestrian Advocate
Hoboken