HomeMy WebLinkAbout8/15/2017 Item 15 and 16, Schwartz
Christian, Kevin
From:Peter V. Schwartz <pschwart@calpoly.edu>
Sent:Monday, August
To:E-mail Council Website
Cc:Robin Oswald
Subject:Item #16, Broad St. Bicycle Connection, #15, Pacheco
Dear Council Members,
On August 15, tomorrow, the council will be asked to consider plans for a Broad Street Bike Blvd and other
Safe Routes to Schools Plan improvements proposed for the Bishops Peak/Pacheco Elementary School area of
town. These plans are not only important to the longterm residents and homeowners of the immediate area
surrounding the two schools, Broad and Chorro Streets, but also to people throughout SLO seeking to access
the Foothill area from downtown and beyond. To better connect all of SLO with safe bikeways, on August 15, I
therefore respectfully request your approval of Option 1 or 2 proposed for the Broad Street area and the SRTS
Plan (which includes safe crossing options for Foothill Blvd. at Ferrini).
I have my own personal interests in bicycle safety as a father of two kids, with a family that commutes
exclusively by bike. Robin, my wife (copied) spent a week in intensive care after being hit by a minivan with a
SLO HS student late to school. Besides that, we’ve both been hit by cars on another occasion. However, there
is a larger issue of promoting long term goals to increase ridership. As a Cal Poly professor, I can say that many
students would like to bicycle, and list danger as the main reason they don’t. Given my personal history on the
road, it’s hard for me to dismiss this concern.
I think we have an obligation to take every step possible to make the roads safer for bicyclists. I’ve made my
interest known to you in the past: I think we should close Higuera to traffic and make all other SLO roads
oneway. One side would be for motorized traffic, the other side would be for bicyclists, skateboarders, scooters,
etc. I’m sorry this isn’t the item that’s being voted on. However, given what you have right now, I request that
you support the present measures to make SLO safer for bicyclists.
Thank you for your efforts.
Pete, Robin, Tekuru, Neil
Pete Schwartz
Cal Poly Physics, Sustainability
the new science building, 180-608
805-756-1220
pschwart@calpoly.edu
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