HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/28/2023 Item 1, Otto
From:Garrett Otto <
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:ATC 2/28/23
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I am writing in my support to adjust/remove the ordinance around riding on the sidewalks. As a skilled rider, I
would(have) opt to ride on the sidewalk if I felt unsafe on the roadway sharing space with vehicles. In all cases I have
adjusted my speed and give the right of way to pedestrians on the sidewalk. Typically in dense pedestrian areas I often
just push my bike on the sidewalk. I would prefer a nice protected bike lane to ride in, but that isn't the case in many
areas of town. Changing the ordinance to remove/increase penalties to riders does not change my behavior. If I feel
unsafe, I will opt for the sidewalk. In many cases, I would encourage my young son to be on the sidewalk instead of a
shared street.
If there is a high frequency of bike riders on the sidewalk, then this should be looked at as an opportunity to make the
right of way more multimodal by providing more protected space for people biking. That seems to be the case with
Foothill, near the student housing. It is unfair to ticket people biking on sidewalks out of fear of being squeezed in
with the high density fast moving vehicles/drivers that are often distracted.
It seems obvious that the ordinance needs to reflect our community goals to make our vulnerable roadway users safer,
and not penalize them for feeling unsafe and trying to protect themselve.
Thanks
Garrett Otto
San Luis Obispo
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