Published On: October 14th, 2019Categories: Uncategorized

Simon Martin: Make sidewalks safe for all

Boulder’s “village” council, in thrall to an anti-car bike lobby, has spent thousands of dollars on cycle lanes, road markings, speed bumps and special traffic signals … and yet cyclists are still complaining that it is dangerous to ride in Boulder.

Here’s why. Cyclists are coming at us from all sides; with increasing traffic density in Boulder, it is nearly impossible to see all of them, all of the time; particularly as they assume right of way and often have no lights at night.

Every day as I leave my home, I may have cyclists coming at me from my right and left on the sidewalk — yes, despite the $170,000 segregated bike lanes, cyclists still use both sidewalks, in all directions; farther along, they’ll be bombing across “pedestrian” crossings without even pausing; they’ll ride up the inside of vehicles attempting to turn right — and they’ll do this from sidewalks as well as bike lanes.

We’re now getting not just bikes on sidewalks but also powered bikes. E-bikes, motorized scooters, mini-Segways, powered skate boards … where’s this going to end? It’s bad enough on the paths, but the sidewalks are becoming infested with powered vehicles.

My experience in running groups using multi-use paths is that it is now rare for cyclists to give the required audible warning. (I started riding bikes seriously in 1967; now mostly a runner.)

Given that our Council is rabidly pro-bike, anti-motorist and anti-runner (no public running track, but plenty of bike parks and Frisbee golf courses), it’s probably a lost cause, but I suggest that they start making the sidewalks, paths and roads safer for everybody. Getting cyclists off sidewalks where there are designated bike lanes built for them would be a start.

Simon Martin

Boulder


Sue Prant: Elect someone who understands all sides of the issue

Providing a safe, functional transportation system is one of the key roles of government and Boulder City Council.

This year we have the opportunity to elect someone to Council who truly understands all sides of this issue and has shown incredible leadership towards making our city streets safer: Mark McIntyre.

In the year and a half McIntyre has served on the Transportation Advisory Board, he has proven to be a quick learner and a reasoned decision-maker. Make no mistake — the material that comes before TAB is technical. But McIntyre quickly came up to speed — a skill that will serve him well on Council.

On TAB McIntyre dove in, did his homework, listened to all sides and showed leadership by helping us come to sensible, reasonable compromises. I’m confident that Mark will deliver the same success as a Council member.

And while I’m thanking public servants for the work they’ve done, two incumbents deserve kudos. Aaron Brockett has been a leader for the Vision Zero program. Safety for all road users would not be the priority it is now in Boulder without Brockett’s leadership on Council. Bob Yates has been a champion like no other for the nonprofit community. Ask almost any nonprofit executive director in town and they will tell you Yates has provided more opportunity for support than any Council member in recent memory.

Please vote for McIntyre, Brockett and Yates for City Council on Nov. 5.

Sue Prant

Boulder


Dennis Zuiker: ‘Build, baby, build’ is a crazy notion

Many years ago, my brother visited from Hawaii. I took him on a bike ride on Marshall Mesa trail and my brother was in awe at the beautiful city of Boulder.

He asked me why there were no housing tracts and developments spread out across the foothills. I told him it was because our insightful and forward-thinking elected officials wanted to keep Boulder from becoming overgrown.

Now we have people saying everybody has a “right” to live In Boulder. The new mantra is “build, baby, build.”  If this crazy notion becomes the next national movement, I am taking one half of my school bus driver pension and moving to Malibu, Calif., with my wetsuit, my bathing suit, and my surfboard. I want the movie stars and the surfers to find me a place to live out my golden years.

Dennis Zuiker

Boulder


Dan C. Winters: What if Trump refuses to leave office?

What could possibly be worse than Donald J. Trump winning the election in 2020? Answer: It would be worse if he loses the election and refuses to leave office, claiming the election results were fraudulent and he must protect the republic by holding office.

In July 2017, I wrote that there was a small single digit (3-4%) possibility that Trump would hold onto the presidency no matter what. In July 2018 I updated my concern to 10%. Today, in October 2019, I think the doomsday scenario (borrowing from the atomic clock) has reached 20%.

For readers who are not worried about a “mere” 20%, I suggest the following: Say you had a gun with a capacity of 20 shots and you loaded it with four bullets (20%). If you were promised to receive cash if you pulled the trigger on yourself, how much money would you have to be paid? You would have to be desperate to take the chance. Does 20% still seem like a small number? And what would it take if the person promising the deal were an erratic, unstable self-proclaimed genius?

Today even some national commentators and elected officials are beginning to raise the specter of such a possibility. We have almost a year before the next election and then another two months prior to the swearing in of a new president. Can the center even hold at a 20% possibility or can it go higher?

Dan C. Winters

Boulder

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