I agree with Mike Smedley’s “Action Line” (Herald, Aug. 29): Elk must be included in this important consideration the city is undertaking.
Anyone who lives in Durango knows that bicyclists pay little or no attention to the lanes we provide for their safety and that of the motorists they share the road with.
When was the last time (or maybe the first) that a bicyclist got a summons for lane violations? This probably doesn’t happen because the officer would have to write a summons for all 12 of them, and this of course wouldn’t be fair because they already pay those hefty road taxes that are used to create the lanes they never use.
On the other hand, our cervine friends are often seen patiently waiting on the roadside for a break in traffic so they may safely cross. Yeah, there’s a few that break the rules and sometimes pay for the mistake with their lives.
I’m sure there are some well-paid conservationists among our city staff that can design some more signs, maybe with purple flashing lights, that will tell traffic when to stop for deer and elk.
But even without them, our cervines will continue to use the sense they were born with, and herds will not try to cross the roads in mass like our town cyclists who just dare cars to get in their way.
Vote “Yes” to include cervine signage in brown lettering on all city streets.
Ronald Cornelius
Durango
