I didn’t know Edward Boye. I learned of his February 16 death in East Windsor that week. Edward had Cerebral Palsy (CP). I don’t know the extent of his disability, but he was riding a tricycle. Cyclists probably relate to him as a fellow cyclist; I relate to him as a disabled person using a mobility device.
Edward was riding his tricycle on Dutch Neck Road, which is not an especially busy suburban road, although there are some straight stretches where cars go quite fast. He was riding in the shoulder, or what was left of the shoulder after incomplete snow removal. He was struck from behind by a car and thrown off his tricycle. He was taken to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital but was dead on arrival. The driver has since been charged with vehicular homicide; that’s little comfort to Edward.
I have Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and use a power wheelchair. Though MS and CP are different diseases, there are similarities. As with several acquaintances of mine with CP, I try to live life to the fullest despite my disability. I go everywhere in my wheelchair, even in the snows we’ve had in the last few weeks. I haven’t been able to drive for a few years now, so the wheelchair is all I’ve got.
Very often I have to use the road: Often there’s no sidewalk, the sidewalk is too badly damaged by broken paving slabs or tree roots or is impassable because residents haven’t cleared brush or snow, or snow plows have used curb ramps as convenient dumping places for snow, or, also as now, I have decubitus ulcers and the jarring and bumping from even a passable sidewalk is too painful. If there’s a shoulder or bike lane I’ll use it. I have a wheelchair that goes faster than a slow cyclist or average runner, so if there’s no shoulder nor usable sidewalk I’ll use the road. I’m sure this sort of calculation was familiar to Edward.
On days when I have to go to the Kessler Institute in West Orange for therapy I make my transportation arrangements in advance. I have to take the train to Newark and use NJ Transit’s disability service, Access Link, to get to West Orange. I don’t particularly like Access Link: apart from having to make arrangements at least 24 hours in advance, the pickup time is only within a 40-minute window, the driving time is very unpredictable, and it is unusual to get exactly the times one needs.
For this trip, either it was too early (I have a home assistant who comes at 6 a.m. to wash and dress me: I’m not ready until 7:30 a.m.) or it was too late and I’d miss half the appointment. I had no choice but to take the later time. I don’t know whether Edward used Access Link, but even if he did, I’m sure he preferred to cycle whenever possible, just as I prefer to use my wheelchair whenever possible.
There is a bus from Newark to West Orange that I’ve sometimes used. However, the last half mile is on a busy four-lane road. When I was last there, the shoulder was full of snow. I was about to cancel my Access Link reservation and take the bus instead. Then I thought of Edward. I called Kessler to say I’d be late. I’d keep my Access Link reservation but get there alive. Edward, I’m sorry I never knew you. I think we’d have both enjoyed sharing fish stories over a beer.
Michael Ogg
