Perhaps the Herald should rerun the Dec. 24 article “Changes Coming – City Council wants dedicated bike lanes.”
Many readers were probably too busy with the holidays to be aware of the newest brainchild of our City Council members. Their plan is to reduce vehicle lanes on College Drive and East 8th Avenue to “slow traffic and make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists” while making room for bike lanes.
I realize that our council members are forever concerned about everyone’s safety, but in that vein, why not focus on dedicating bike lanes on streets that are not major thoroughfares for vehicular traffic? Side streets are readily available for all cyclists and pedestrians, and are already safe because of their lack of major traffic.
If cyclists and pedestrians are concerned about their own safety, they should already use alternate routes to avoid the few heavily trafficked streets we have. If the issue is dedicating bike lanes that allow cyclists a clear route to their destination – no stop signs or lights – then pick a side street route and move some stop signs to accommodate the flow.
Surely, that would cost much less to implement than the $200,000 allotted for just a design phase of a plan that would create more vehicle congestion by eliminating traffic lanes on major travel arteries.
I truly hope that this initial plan is just an ill-conceived first stab at this issue rather than yet another example of their (and Amber Blake’s) disdain for vehicles and drivers.
Is this really about cyclist safety or just another attempt by our elected officials to compel more of us to walk, bike or use public transportation?
Barb Bell
Durango
