HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/18/2019 Item Item 5, Rivoire
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Dan Rivoire <
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:ATC communication
Dear Active Transportation Committee Members and Mr. Fukushima,
First and foremost I want to say thank your for your incredibly valuable service to our community. As most of you know,
I recently wrapped up a term on the City Council so I know first hand what it takes to contribute to our public decision
making process and just wanted to express how much I appreciate you all!
I've been very excited to be watching the progress made on the Active Transportation plan update. You are well on your
way to updating this valuable and powerful planning document to provide a more innovative and modernized blueprint
for San Luis Obispo's active transportation future.
I'm writing today to weigh in on your discussion of transportation improvements in southern area of San Luis Obispo.
While I approve of all of the proposed projects in this portion of the bike plan there is one newer concept I would like to
draw your attention to and one existing set of improvements I believe the City should prioritize at this time.
1) The South Higuera corridor from the city limit to Marsh street needs a cycletrack or protected bikeways and by adding
them via the bike plan you will start building the foundation for them to be established in the coming years as the street
is resurfaced and reconfigured. My wife and I ride this corridor regularly and often do so with our 2 year old daughter on
the child seat of our cargo bike. Sadly, recent experiences that both of us have had riding along South Higuera trying to
commute to and from work / day care have left us frightened and truthfully, unwilling to use our bikes for everyday
transportation. Trying to use a narrow bike lane adjacent to fast moving traffic simply doesn't work for encouraging bike
transportation. As a community striving to improve the percentage of people biking and walking for everyday
transportation it is absolutely imperative that cycletracks become commonplace, especially on major commercial
corridors such as South Higuera. Families like mine want to ride our bikes to destinations, parks, restaurants, coffee
shops and more. We understand that segments of the Bob Jones Trail are also featured throughout this corridor and we
appreciate those plans but, paths along the creek will not empower us to choose our bike for everyday transportation
while cycletrack undoubtedly will. As we have learned from our counterparts throughout the globe that have the highest
bike mode share, safe bike routes must be established along major corridors for the active transportation system to
really work. Having a road diet, narrowing lanes, or removing the center turn lanes are all ways that we could make the
room for a cycletrack along South Higuera from downtown to Buckley. Please add these improvement into the Active
Transportation Plan update.
2) The Prado Road Bike path across to broad street as proposed in the Margarita Area Specific Plan (or even a cycletrack
along Tank Farm) will create an important cross town connector that is desperately needed. As it is now, my family
never rides our bike to much of the broad corridor, we cannot go to destinations near the airport or really anywhere in
that side of town. Please push the city to step up to making that connection a reality as soon as possible.
Thank you again for your consideration, time, and service.
Sincerely,
Dan Rivoire
danrivoire@gmail.com
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805.234.3024
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