LETTER: Sidewalks aren't the best answer

To the Editor:

Imagine Red Wing a bikeable, walkable community. This is the theme of the Red Wing Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan dated 9/27/11 which was developed as an action of the Complete Streets Policy Resolution 6196 adopted by the City Council on 1/10/11. The plan is to be accomplished in a “strategic and cost effective way” and “emphasizes integrating bicycle and pedestrian needs with ongoing road construction and maintenance projects.”

The policy notes that narrow streets are more pedestrian friendly and talks about utilizing traffic calming measures on neighborhood streets that add character to neighborhoods. The policy also mentions that “sidewalks remain a highly contested issue” and that “determining criteria for when sidewalks are needed or not should be a priority of the plan”.

Per Complete Streets, “the character of the project area, the values of the community and the needs of the users are fully considered,” and that streets will not look the same in all neighborhoods. It encourages creating a “multi-function street that can help connect the community by more than just a roadway.”

Some people that say we must sacrifice 35-40 mature trees to put sidewalks on Hallquist and Eunice avenues because it is unsafe. There are no statistics to support this. There were 26 accidents in the neighborhood during the past 11 years: NOT one was pedestrian related, there were ZERO on Eunice and 13 of the accidents were at Pioneer and Hallquist.

The number of accidents is actually decreasing with only five accidents in the last three years: four in 2009, zero in 2010 and one accident in 2011.

The overwhelming recommendation by the homeowners who own homes that are to be assessed for the project is to paint a white line on Hallquist/Eunice Avenues to designate a pedestrian/bike lane. This will result in a multi-function shared street. Statistics show that when you add sidewalks that traffic speeds actually increase. This recommendation also integrates with the bike/pedestrian/complete streets plans already adopted by the city and it minimizes costs and maximizes outcomes and preserves the character of the neighborhood.

Rose M. Burke

Lynette M. Pearson

Red Wing

Tags: opinion, letters