The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About4/10/2018 Item 1, D Roberts ,� �� April 7, 2018 �� Mayor Harmon, Council Members Christianson, Gomez, Peace, and Rivoire, Why has the San Luis Obispo City Council repeatedly ignored the input of Anholm residents with regards to the bike lane issue? In surveys designed to get us to commit to at least some part of a bike lane program, Anholm residents repeatedly said no to encroaching bike lanes and loss of parking spaces. Your own city employees state that the automobile traffic through our neighborhood already exceeds capacity. I have filled out the online survey, spoken publicly at a city council meeting and a community meeting, and responded to a postcard questionnaire. I resent being characterized by council members Rivoire, Gomez, and Harmon as an ignorant anti-bike person who is opposed to change and just doesn't get it. I am very pro-bike, having cycled cross-country in a pre-cellphone, pre-Internet world from Ohio to Montana, commuted to work via bicycle, and cycled recreationally. I participated in both a workshop and on-road bicycle training provided by SLO. It is patently unfair to dismiss my views and judge my values because I do not agree with the majority of the Council with regards to these plans. The path that most Anholm residents seemed resigned to, or willing to try, was using the Lincoln route, which would have impacted about 4 parking spaces. Council Member Rivoire bemoaned the fact that this was not "bold" enough. Council Member Pease had the good sense to posit pride in what had been accomplished to date and to recommend implementing the first two phases of the plan. This would give us time to assess how it's working. Council Member Pease, given her planning background, and apparent sincere interest in reaching consensus with community members (including those negatively impacted, the Anholm residents), was the sole voice of dissent when Council attempted to ram down the throats of its citizens a previously discussed and opposed plan of installing bike lanes on Broad, and eliminating far more parking spaces than the Lincoln Street plan. For everyone except Council Member Pease, shame on you! Shame on you for pretending to seek input from Anholm, shame on you for dismissing Anholm residents' concerns, shame on you for paying lip service to consensus! Mayor Harmon, please remember that you stand on the shoulders of Dave Romero and Ken Schwartz. Shame on you for taking Mr. Schwartz to task for his choice of words in his criticism of the plans. While the word rape may be controversial, listening to Council discuss the biking issue, it is clear that one must bang a very big gong in order to be heard at all! As I said before Council, I believe that the "problems" are not as dramatic as painted in terms of motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians co-existing in the Anholm area. I would recommend that we tackle the issue of inattentiveness of drivers to both cyclists and pedestrians through a public relations campaign. Also, research shows that despite the fact that 70-80% of all bicycle fatalities involve head injuries, only 18% of adults wear helmets. On a daily basis, I see adult cyclists who are not wearing a helmet. Sadly, many of these adults are in groups of riders that are a mix of children and adults, with all of the kids wearing helmets, and none of the adults. For a city that has demonstrated leadership in banning smoking, plastic bags, and straws, for the love of all things holy, couldn't we bring some influence in getting ALL riders to wear helmets?! "Bold" would be wearing a helmet. "Bold" would be taking an extra 60 seconds to pedal down the beautiful and peaceful Lincoln Street. "Bold" would be not dismissing people who are in opposition to your plans or ideas. "Bold" would be being inclusive and truly seeking consensus in decisions that will affect the quality of life of SLO residents, particularly those in the Anholm division who will be most impacted. "Bold" would be not chastising community members, Ms. Harmon, with regards to civil discourse, before they have even addressed the Council. "Bold" would be not sneaking items through on a consent agenda. I am so disappointed with the attitudes and actions of this Council! Please, listen to us! I welcome dialogue with you, and can be reached at home at 805-543-7602, by cell at 805-458-6412, or via e-mail at dhuntroberts@gmail.com. �� m .,,�..--..,...�„ �� Diane Hunt Roberts 869 Center Street San Luis Obispo