As our hearts go out to the victims and families of those needlessly killed and injured in the Hudson River Greenway attack, we must now act to prevent such future tragedies.

Unfortunately, the installation of dangerous concrete barriers across the Hudson River Greenway bike and pedestrian paths by the Governor’s State Department of Transportation is an ill-advised, unacceptable, and short-term solution to a critical long-term security and safety problem. Now more than ever, our elected leaders should be actively encouraging more New Yorkers to ride, because continued growth in daily bicycling is a great thing for New York City. Instead, by installing these brutal barriers, Governor Cuomo is creating another safety hazard actively discouraging bikers, walkers, and commuters from using one of the country's vibrant public spaces, and offering a temporary solution when the risk is foreseeably permanent. We need to protect our public spaces without making them uninviting and difficult to use.

The state must publicly establish a hard timetable for the removal of these barriers, and implementation of more thoughtful, permanent solutions that maintain the safety and integrity of the greenway.

New Yorkers have the right to bicycle, walk, and commute safely and without fear of traffic violence -- anytime, anywhere, and regardless of age, ethnicity or income. There are smart policies we can implement, like retractable metal bollards, that will largely and inexpensively eliminate the risk of traffic violence, without compromising the easy flow of pedestrians and bicyclists. But until they can be installed, demand that the State and the City refine the placement of their concrete jersey barriers so that the integrity of the busiest bike path in the country can be maintained.