Dear Editor,
Earlier this month self described ‘happy bicyclist’ Mike Kilgore wrote a letter of public thanks to the city of Santa Monica for the new bike lanes on Ocean Park and 14th. As a ‘happy resident’ or 14th street I would also like to thank the city of Santa Monica for the bike lanes. However my reasons are very different than Mr. Kilgore’s.
As a resident of the east side of 14th, we lost approximately 12-18 inches from our already narrow road. With three schools and numerous stop signs that are often run by careless motorists it was not always easy to safely enter my vehicle before the bike lanes were added. Now with even less room on our tiny yet busy street, motorists are swerving into oncoming traffic instead of slowing to allow residents a few seconds to safely enter their automobiles. In the few weeks since the bikes lanes have gone in, I have taken great joy in seeing the terror on the faces of individuals who drive south on 14th as they fear a head on collision. Thank you for this wonderful gift each and every time I attempt to enter and exit my car.
So a big thanks to the city of Santa Monica who has decided to put both property owners and automobile drivers in danger for bike lanes often ignored by the individuals whom they were created for. I look forward to the day when I get to witness two cars collide before my own two eyes as a result of poor city planning.
Justin Watt
Santa Monica
