04/27/2007: "Reader Comments on Road Story & Evans Column"

To the Editor:

Your essay in regards to Scenic-versus-wider-roads issue was excellent. In addition, I suggest we all think about this: What have the Commissioners done in the past relative to speed limits, and what will the Council do in the near future? On the same note, what has the public had to say on the subject of speed limits?

Also, ask the County Engineer to say what the road design and other state-mandated standards are for bike lanes Without that information, this will be just another exercise in rhetoric. And, because of all the free federal money, they have been installing guard rails right and left, so what impact will that program (and any others) have on planning for widening?

Lastly, John Evans correctly pointed out that many of the public roads are nothing more than easements, with the underlying land owned by the adjacent private property owners. That legal nightmare alone might be enough to make bike lanes impractical.

In other words, the Council must eliminate all the practical, realistic obstacles before it heads into an analysis of any “quality of life” conflicts between tourist bikers and scenic roads.

Bob Querry
San Juan Island