HomeMy WebLinkAboutBicycling - Shared Lane Markings (Sharrows) Public Comment from Sam Haroldson, 9-14From:sam.haraldson@gmail.com on behalf of Sam Haraldson
To:Agenda
Subject:Submission of Public Comment Regarding Shared Lane Markings (Sharrows) Policy Discussion
Date:Friday, September 05, 2014 11:11:41 AM
Honorable Mayor and City Commission,
Regarding the discussion of the placement of sharrow bicycle markings as part of thepaint striping on Mendenhall Street, I urge you to follow the recommendations ofour trusted City Staff as well as the Bozeman Area Bicycle Advisory Board andPedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee - both organizations approved by theCommission whose sole purpose is to advise on matters of this exact nature.
In keeping with the the suggestions (and in some cases the requirements) of boththe 2009 Downtown Bozeman Improvement Plan and the 2007 Bozeman CityTransportation Plan every opportunity to enhance non-motorized facilities downtownshould be a priority in an effort to keep our city the most liveable place. Theopportunity to add shared lane markings (referred to as "sharrows") in the center ofeach of the travel lanes along Mendenhall Street will not inhibit automotive traffic inany way but will positively raise awareness with all street users that in Bozeman wecelebrate multi-modal transportation and hold users all in equal regard.
I urge you, Mayor and Commissioners to approve the installation of sharrows in thecenter of each travel lane on Mendenhall Street and to understand that a continueduse of sharrows on existing streets where dedicated bike lanes cannot beaccommodated is a wise choice for future projects. I also urge you to constantlykeep in mind that the removal of parking or other motorized-specific infrastructureshould not be used as a dis-qualifier for the future installation of bicycle andpedestrian-specific infrastructure but instead see the addition of other road users asa boon to health of our residents, the longevity of our roads, and a step toward thepositive future of transportation in SW Montana. The decision of a previous CityCommissions to adopt our Complete Streets Policy should be held in the highestregard in all street-related decision making processes for this and all future CityCommissions.
Sincerely,Sam HaraldsonMember Bozeman Area Bicycle Advisory BoardResident at 211 Lindley Place