In support of the road diet

As a Montrose resident, I would like to express my support for the Honolulu Avenue Redesign (road diet) Test project. I believe that this project will significantly improve the safety of our neighborhood and make our streets more enjoyable for everyone.

The Honolulu Avenue Redesign is merely an extension of the wonderful traffic improvements in the Montrose Shopping Park. Anyone who has ever visited the park will agree that it is a wonderful place to spend your time with your family. This is not a coincidence. The cars drive slowly, people feel safe, and businesses benefit.

From a safety perspective, Glendale is constantly ranked among the worst for pedestrian collisions, and the rate of cyclist injuries on this stretch of Honolulu is higher than the citywide average.

Should we do something about this? I think so, and I think that a “road diet” is the perfect solution. Why? Because, according to the Federal Highway Administration, redesign projects like the one proposed could reduce incidents by as much as 44% for drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists.

And for those of you who are skeptical, this project is only a test. Who knows, you might see us having so much fun on our bicycles that you’ll decide to dust off the old Schwinn and go for a ride.

Rye Baerg

Montrose