This opinion piece is wrong in so many ways, it’s hard to keep track.

First of all, Freeport Blvd is not downtown. It’s in a residential/commercial neighborhood. The particular segment in question has a community college, a high school, a park, a light rail station, a senior residence, a bike shop, other businesses and homes along it.

Changing Freeport to make it safer for all users is supported by the college, the high school, businesses and residents.

Streets don’t exist exclusively for motorists. They are for everybody, including those too young and too old to drive. And including those who choose not to drive for environmental, health or economic reasons.

Those who don’t drive want to go to the same places as those that do.

What is correct in this tirade is the statement that bicycling on Freeport is not safe. However, saying that is never will be safe is an opinion without a solid basis. The street can, and should be, safe for everyone who wants to use it.

That is a long way of saying I support the efforts to reconfigure streets to add bicycle lanes.

Your friend,
Just another bicyclist
(but trying to deal with it)

Seriously, though, this is not about *bicyclists* trying to get their way. It’s about everyone else who might like to ride a bicycle — that’s a good thing, right? — but chooses not to because it’s unsafe. They deserve the opportunity to transport themselves in a way that supports their own health, their community’s economy, and the nation’s independence from global oil companies and their dictator/terrorist friends.

Now, sometimes, even those reasons aren’t enough to make a big change to a roadway, but in this case, the proposed change will have almost no impact on motorists’ convenience. Practically none. So how can you possibly oppose it? I know you don’t mean to hate, but it comes across that way, as if you hate people in the neighborhood who are seeking a minor change for safety and health. Please reconsider your position and support this neighborhood safety improvement, or at least don’t complain about it since it basically won’t affect you. Please. Thanks in advance.

Here’s an idea : if you are not comfortable riding in a certain area, don’t ride there. Why should we waste money adapting areas to YOUR liking, after the fact? I used to pedal, and never once did I complain about cars being on the road, or getting too close, or any other nonsense. Sure, there’s some really bad drivers out there that are a danger to you, I get that. But those same fools are a threat to everyone. If you pedal, deal with it. It’s part of riding. Just like when I ride my motorcycle, I expect to have people pull blindly in front of me, cut me off, and try to change lanes while directly next to me, just to name a few. All part of riding. “Where’s my special motorcycle lane on the freeway….WAHHHHHHHH!” Seriously, suck it up or stick to where you feel safest.