HomeMy WebLinkAbout3/7/2023 Item 6d, Anthony
Debbie Anthony <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Anholm bikeway
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Dear Mayor Stewart and council members,
It has come to our attention that the cost for the proposed bikeway through our neighborhood has TRIPLED!
Perhaps it’s time to consider this isn’t the most prudent project at this time, and pull the plug on it?!
Or at least bring it up for conversation and vote at a future CC meeting?
The following excerpt is from a letter I presented to the previous council, 5 years ago, when talks were heavy on this
topic…
“We have been residents of the wonderful, diverse Anholm neighborhood for many years. I have walked my kids and
grandkids, in strollers and wagons, then my ailing husband in a wheelchair, all in the street, due to poor conditions of
our sidewalks, lack of ADA curbs and crosswalks.
We adapted to less than optimum conditions and enjoyed our outings.
Then a small group of bicyclists demand special, expensive paths to pass THROUGH our neighborhood, disrupting our
daily lives, while the numerous obstacles for pedestrians remains.
Most of us will be able to walk, long after our bike riding days are over, so it seems a priority should be the condition of
our walking infrastructure.”
I invited the previous mayor to join me for a stroll through our neighborhood, which was declined. I had offered to
provide a stroller and wheelchair to demonstrate the difficulties. Perhaps some of you would like to join me for a stroll,
walking along the path of the proposed bikeway, seeing how many driveways intersect the path, which I find very
dangerous. Perhaps you can knock on all those neighbors doors and tell them they’ll be losing the space in front of their
homes, to park and unload their groceries.
Many of these neighbors are elderly, and backing out of these narrow driveways is going to be a danger to the bicyclists.
Let me know if you’d like to see this area first hand.
We can make a loop, and I’ll even buy you a beer at Lincoln market afterwards!
But, please, think hard on this expenditure. Just as with a family budget, sometimes you just have to readjust plans
when reality hits.
Debbie Anthony
1
Anholm
2