Narrow residential streets may create more problems
I was shocked to read the article in Fast Forward, "Greensboro is slimming down streets" (Oct. 29). The article reports that, beginning Jan. 1, the city will drop the minimum width of the streets from 30 to 26 feet, will rein in the speed of traffic and make walking more comfortable and pleasant. That's great.
Did the City Council ever consider leaving the width as is and marking off designated bike lanes? How is this city ever going to be considered bicycle-friendly if it starts making the streets less wide? I have to believe that, as in most cases, it all comes down to dollars and not common sense.
While you're at it, did anyone ask fire and police how they like the idea of slimmer roads in residential neighborhoods? It must be exciting to try to get those big hook-and-ladder/pump trucks down slimmer streets for emergencies.
Perhaps the title of the article should have been, "Greensboro is slimming down streets while adding pounds to its residents."
Troyce Hood
Greensboro
Comments (2)
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t.hood,
you made some valid points. let's apply some math to this reduced road width issue. i will make some assumptions in my calculation (i.e. avg. car width=5').
with the road at 26' wide - with a vehicle parked (assumption#2 is 6" away from curb) in front on homes on both sides of the street now reduces the drivable road width to 15' - now place a vehicle travelling in both directions, these two cars take up 10' of those 15', leaving 15" on either side of both vehicles. now 30" (15" either side of each car) of manuverable area doesn't seem like much room for error to me. but then again i've noticed many n.c. drivers fancy themselves as nascar drivers so this reduced area might just excite them ! good luck to all those driving on narrower roads. i just thought of something....this could be a windfall for us tax payer - if road widths are reduced by 13.3% will our road tax dollars be reduced :-) ---nay verily me thinks.
Posted on November 5, 2007 8:50 AM
Troyce,
As a write-in candidate for Mayor of Greensboro and someone who rides a 200 MPG motorized bicycle as my primary means of transportation I too am very concerned with how Greensboro streets are designed and traffic laws enforced.
http://www.musecrafters.com/bloggingpoet/2601/Write-in+Billy+Jones+For+Mayor+Of+Greensboro.html
Stay safe out there and don't become a victim of the cagers.
Posted on November 5, 2007 9:29 AM