This is in reference to the article concerning Durango’s “rush hour” (Herald, April 21) and the letter from Ed Lehner on that subject (Herald, May 5).
There seems to be some reluctance on the part of those in charge of planning to recognize that perhaps 95 percent (or more) of those who come to Durango and/or travel within rely on privatively owned vehicles (POVs) for transportation. Especially true, as Durango has developed a “metro area” with a population that far exceeds that within the city limits. Durango, it seems, has a very restrictive policy against annexing contiguous residential additions.
So reducing part of College Drive into the city from four (rather narrow) lanes to two is bad idea. And the discussed possibility of reducing required business parking on north Main is another bad idea.
City planners nationwide have been predicting the demise of the POV since 1975, perhaps before. Now, Durango city planners can talk about “multi-modal” transportation all they want. But the “metro suburbs” are filling up with retirees that can’t ride a bike several miles to town, there are no lawful places to park their POVs within city limits, and there aren’t that many buses. Their POVs are the only option. Cabs? Those are $6 per mile in the Durango area, which is a higher rate than in Washington, D.C.
I don’t have a sweeping solution to suggest in light of the topography involved. I can only call for the end of talk about a “multi-modal” system, because there is only one mode – the POV.
Richard H. Ruth
Durango
