Letter to the Editor: Plan to Narrow Maple Road Is 'Ill-Conceived'

This letter was received by Birmingham Patch Editor Laura Houser and comments on , the subject of a Feb. 13 public hearing by the City Commission.

The plan to modify Maple between Eton and Adams is the most ill-conceived idea since the railroad station tunnel.

What possible advantage to anyone would there be in directing automobile traffic off Maple? From where would the bikes come and to where would they be going?

People riding bikes want to be riding through neighborhoods on their bikes. Evidence of that is every Wednesday night through mine. Those people are riding bikes for recreation. From what I understand, most of them don’t live here and don’t buy anything while they’re riding around or after.

Maple is a road for commerce. People are going to work or going to buy things that don’t fit in their bike baskets.

If the purpose is to energize the Rail District, let’s have some promotions specific for the district so that people will drive there. If parking is a problem, address that.

Let’s hope wisdom prevails in this matter. Some of the plans for safety paths were defeated by people recognizing that trees, hundred-year-old gates, and personal safety are more important than getting federal funds -- which are never "free."

I read of this plan and I wonder how an idea like this one ever got into the position of being considered sensible. What’s the payoff?

Pat Olson