HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/19/2018 Item 10, Peterson
From:Shirley Peterson <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Laurel Lane Bike Lane
Dear Mayor and Council Members
I just read the agenda for your June 19, 2018 meeting and noticed that it recommends that your Council approve the
Laurel Lane the parking buffered Class IV bike lanes in lieu of the more common buffer Class II bike lanes. Last month I
wrote and asked that you do not approve the Class IV bike lanes on Laurel Lane. In that letter, I examples as to why
Class IV bike lanes are not appropriate or safe for Laurel Lane.
I am asking you again to not approve the Class IV bike lanes. In addition to the item outlined in my previous letter, I
have since noticed that Class IV bike lands do not exist on either Johnson Ave or Orcutt Road—the two major road ways
that feed into Laurel Lane. By putting the class IV bike lanes on Laurel you will be endangering both bicyclists and
motorists as they try to juggle from one pattern to the next. No doubt accidents will happen.
I have added my original letter to the bottom of this letter so you can review my concerns again.
Please do not approve the class IV bike lanes for Laurel Lane, Instead, approve the class II bike lanes your previously
recommended.
Sincerely,
Shirley Peterson
Dear City Council
This e-mail is a request for your Council to NOT approve the Laurel Lane bike lane configuration approved by
the Transportation Committee on May 17, 2018. The majority of this small committee did not take the local
residents' preferences and needs into consideration when they voted to move the bike lane against the curbs.
Please do not allow a few members of a committee that only considers what is best for the biking community to
dictate what should happen in an area where the majority of the residents that lives on or near Laurel Lane and
use the road daily prefer that cars be parked next to curb.
Almost all the residents in attendance at the May 17 meeting spoke in favor of the bike lane being outside of
the vehicle parking and requested the same parking/bike lane configuration your Council approved at the May
1, 2108 meeting. Keeping the cars parked against the curb is a small concession considering the massive
inconvenience that residents of the area will be enduring when there is only one lane in each direction for
vehicle traffic, and the impossible situation that will occur when the Righetti housing development is
completed.
I have lived in the same home for 20 years and I can see the entire length of Laurel Lane from my house, I
know that even though there are currently bike lanes on the street, very, very few bicyclists use Laurel
Lane. That’s because, just 1/4 mile away, there is an excellent and completely safe bike trail for their use that
can be taken from downtown to Orcutt Road which includes the entire length of Laurel Lane. That bike trail
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makes it easy and completely safe to access the city pool, park, Y facilities, the elementary school, and much
of the housing located in the area.
Not everybody is capable of or in a situation that allows them to ride bicycles. Therefore, they must use their
cars. Providing parking against the curb will help the disabled and elderly more easily enter and exit vehicles.
For these individuals, it would be challenging at best to have one side of the car doors open into a packed lane
of cars and the other side opening onto potential bikers. Anyone in a wheelchair who drives, needs to get out
of the driver’s side of their car and then get to the backseat or trunk to get the wheelchair. That takes time and
they need space to be able to open the wheelchair. How will they do that without some space between their
vehicle and other road traffic? A similar situation will occur for a family with multiple children, especially if the
children are required to be in car seats. A bike lane near the vehicle traffic could provide an extra few feet of
safety for these residents and not inconvenience bicyclists.
Again, I ask that you please keep the currently approved configuration that allows cars to be parked on the
curb on Laurel Lane. It's the right decision for the safety of all people who use Laurel Lane.
I'm also asking that Council expand the Transportation Committee to include residents who can represent all
forms of transportation used in the City. The current members of this committee do a fine job in representing
the biking community, but there is no voice on the committee for using public transportation or cars. And the
voice for pedestrian traffic is limited at best. A true transportation committee should represent all modes of
transportation.
Thank you for your consideration of my concerns and for your votes to keep Laurel Lane vehicle parking at the
curb and to expand the Transportation Committee to represent all forms of transportation in our City.
With true sincerity,
Shirley Peterson
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