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Dear NYTC, Congratulations on the Queens Biathlon, 2002. You and all your New York Triathlon Club colleagues and volunteers, the New York City Police Department, and the New York City Parks Department, did an outstanding job with this race, just as they usually do. I want to compliment especially New York's finest. With the large force that they obviously turned out for the event, they provided a very important feeling of safety and security for those of us competing on a route that is of course otherwise an open highway. Police officers were present at every road entry point and were obviously making absolutely sure that no cars were going to inadvertently get onto the Cross-Island while we were there. And when one would smile and wave at an officer, one got a smile and a wave back. A great day for the NYPD, indeed, as usual. By the way, I did hear the rumor that the Police Department command might consider re-routing our race onto the jogging path that -parallels the Cross-Island. Aside from the fact that one wonders just how one would get to that path from the transition area at Alley Park (which has that great running trail along the old Motor Parkway, which one certainly would not want to give up), the race would not in any way be the same. It is riding on that relatively short stretch of the Cross Island Parkway, with the open road, the smooth pavement, the vistas, and the two-time challenge of "the hill " that give the Queens Biathlon the character that it has had for so many years (I did my first in 1987; this year was my 11th) I know that the closing of the road does cause some inconvenience for drivers (and I myself use that road regularly). But the race is held fairly early on a Sunday morning. I do hope that after due consideration, the powers that be will allow us to continue using the Cross-Island, and will not make a decision that will totally change the nature of one of the best races in New York City.
Sincerely, Steven Jonas, MD Port Jefferson, NY
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