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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSafety Issues Public Comment from Mike England 5-12-14 April 10, 2014 City of Bozeman 26 E. Mendenhall Bozeman, MT 59715 Re: Two compliments and two complaints I've been thinking about these things individually for a while now,figured it was time to sum them up in a letter. 1. The hockey rink at Bogert Park is an excellent community resource and I thank you for providing it.Many Bozeman residents love hockey but cannot participate in BAHA,for various reasons,and find the other rinks insufficient or incompatible with other skating. The only improvement would be more regular resurfacing;oftentimes I find the rink empty as the '/4-inch layer of shaved ice renders hockey impossible. 2. The downtown parking attendants need better training. They seem to have an agenda,like they've been told to issue as many tickets as they possibly can,rather than identifying unequivocal violations and attempting to improve the parking situation.I and others have been ticketed when we were trying to do the right thing,maximizing parking space,which necessitated an unconventional action. Other vehicles go unticketed when they technically follow the rules, but selfishly block other spaces. Spend a little time teaching your folks the big picture and how to use their judgment,not just dumbly seeking out ways to issue more tickets. 3. Streamline is such a great service to the community and you deserve a hearty slap on the back for supporting it. Free public transportation is one sign that a town has its head screwed on right. 4. The barbed-wire fence on the north side of Durston,between N. 7 b and N. I Ph,is a safety hazard. It sits right alongside the sidewalk,no gap or buffer whatsoever,and I've watched in fear as kids walking home from school slip in the ice and narrowly miss slicing open their arms or faces. This stretch of sidewalk is on my daily running route,and in the winter I have to veer out into the street,causing safety and traffic issues. My main concern,though,is for all the kids who plod along,day after day,oblivious to the danger right beside them. Even in other seasons it's a problem, as bike riders often fly down that sidewalk,making pedestrians jump aside. I've watched people get pushed right into the barbed wire,and bikers nearly crash into it.I really can't believe the city ever allowed it to be erected so tight to the sidewalk. There are no horses or other livestock in the fields beyond. Replace it with barbless wire or move it back a foot—no harm done to the landowner,and a considerable improvement in public safety. 'n erely, Mike England 1116 N. 8`b Bozeman,MT 59715