Thank you, Durango Herald, for the May 21, editorial on the city’s sit/lie ban. I walk all over Durango and am never inconvenienced or treated rudely by any homeless person or panhandler.
However, other things I encounter are very discourteous, inconsiderate, and even dangerous. Oversized pickup trucks and SUV’s extend into the traffic lanes in the parallel parking spaces downtown. These vehicles make two-way traffic difficult and even unsafe. Backing out when parked next to an oversized vehicle does not allow a good view of oncoming traffic.
Huge pickup trucks towing enormous camp trailers park in the fire lanes at the Recreation Center and La Plata County Fairgrounds. Parking in fire lanes also occurs at city motel lots. While this is not a city problem, it is unsafe and inconsiderate. Town Plaza often has RVs towing trailers parked diagonally across six to 10 spaces. That could be a loss of many shoppers. Last Saturday I saw a camper-trailer parked diagonally across three handicapped spaces at Town Plaza. No handicap stickers on the camper. Also saw a truck/camper unit parked in the city bus stop opposite Nature’s Oasis, right beside the “No Parking, Bus Stop” sign.
Perhaps Durango city management and local businesses should consider hiring panhandlers to ticket and police these drivers who inconvenience others and create unsafe conditions.
Susana M. Jones
Durango
