SMC Road Changes
Dear Editor: I’m really hopeful for the proposed changes to SMC Road between Baranof and Jeff Davis. I’ve been bike commuting in Sitka for about eight years now, and this small chunk of road is easily one of the most dangerous stretches for a biker in town. It might seem like a lazy little street to a driver, but for a biker it’s a choice between being firmly in traffic, or riding along in the “door zone” of all the parked vehicles. It’s a no-win situation either way since a bike accident along this road is almost guaranteed to jam up some poor driver’s axle.
I have a baby I’m now hauling around in a bike trailer almost daily, and I absolutely dread this section of road. Honestly, I’m really surprised we’ve been providing parking to a handful of residents at the cost of safety along a major road for so long. When I read we’d only give up parking along one side of the road to create two bike lanes it sounded like a dream come true to me. Especially, since the area is being improved one way or the other, it would be strange to “upgrade” it to be a new version of the same terrible layout.
I will truly and honestly be eternally thankful to those who walk across the street each morning to get to their cars to make our roads safer.
William The Giant, Sitka
