Somerset Improvements

Thanks for the info on the (possible) improvements on Somerset Avenue. Given our traffic jams, parking problems, 30% childhood obesity rate, motor vehicle-induced injuries and fatalities and environmental issues one would think our elected officials would do everything possible to encourage active transportation. Unfortunately, the choices offered in the public works survey may not represent the best option(s).

The three choices offered  (2 bike lanes/0 parking, 1 bike lane/1 side parking, 0 bike lanes /2 sides parking) seem exclusionary and tend to align a dangerous super-majority (motorists) against a vulnerable minority (active transportation users).  Somerset is 50 feet wide at most points which can accommodate two 11-foot car travel lanes, two 4-foot bikes lanes, one 8-foot parking lane, and two 6-foot-wide sidewalks.  Most street parking does NOT need to be eliminated to accommodate those travel lanes.

So - less pollution, less traffic, better health, and a better environment now and in the future.  Please keep in mind that the primary purpose of public roads is to move people and goods rather than to provide free public storage for personal property.  My youngest starts high school next year and we will be riding our tandem (or single bikes) to CVHS almost every school day.  I hope our collective long-term health, safety and environmental issues are judged to be as important as personal convenience.

–Stacy Spink, Castro Valley