The editorial on prioritizing parking in the July 15 edition is spot on and overdue. In city planning and actions, there has been far more emphasis on bicycle and pedestrian use than on our No. 1 transportation mode – the automobile. The parking garage is long overdue. The bump-outs were a solution for restaurant problems when indoor areas were first closed, and restricted as to table distance and number. Now they are an eyesore.
Further, they are traffic hazards as they block bike lanes at their location. I sometimes think the city powers that be think that automobiles will soon be history. I hope those powers will look at our remote location, limited public transportation, limited cab, ride share and difficult slopes and realize that the vast majority coming to Durango arrive in automobiles. In decisions on street configuration, traffic patterns and parking availability, the city should give matters of vehicle use No. 1 priority.
Richard H. Ruth
Durango
