HomeMy WebLinkAbout9/4/2018 Item 15, Raj
From:Diane Raj <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Welcome cyclists with calming; NO diverter on Broad and Meineke
Dear Mayor Harmon and City Council,
I live on Chorro Street. I especially like my location because it is walking distance to many places I
like to go. My husband walks to work. My teenagers can walk downtown. The character of our
neighborhood makes it a pleasant prospect to step out our door and keep going on foot. I think this is
worth protecting and preserving as much as we can with the 3 large housing complexes moving into
our area. I support calming throughout our Anholm neighborhood without reclassifying our streets to
reflect higher traffic loads which installing a diverter on Broad and Meineke/Ramona streets would
necessitate.
Also, why not make Lincoln Street part of the Anholm Bikeway? It is a natural choice. Those familiar
with the area who care about safety already use it. My teenage son would bicycle on Lincoln Street
quite frequently. With helpful signage, people can be informed of its existence or reminded that it is a
good option.
More education for both motorists and cyclists would be effective. Some motorists may be
uninformed about the rules. When our street was painted with little bicycles down the middle of the
lanes I wondered what it meant. I looked it up. Before, I always kind of thought that the middle of the
road was meant for cars, and bikes were always supposed to ride way over on the side out of the way
of the cars. These new symbols informed me that bicycles can and should ride in the middle or
slightly off center (if that’s where the symbol is located) with the same rights to that space as any
car. It changed my expectations and after that I just felt it was as it should be if a bicycle in the
middle of the road in front of me slowed me down to their speed or forced me to gingerly pass.
Can we welcome bicyclists by calming traffic in the Anholm neighborhood and encouraging them
down a route with no stops and very little traffic (Lincoln Street). If more cyclists take to our streets,
then let’s think about drastic infrastructure changes for this neighborhood.
Sincerely,
Diane Raj
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