Dear Members of City Council,
Reading the numerous letters and articles regarding the proposed changes to the Middle Avenue corridor, it seems that the proposed solutions continue to be very divisive. As a result one thought keeps coming back. When change occurs there is a greater degree of acceptance when it occurs incrementally and SLOWLY.
We live on Middle Avenue and are concerned with safety. I was raised on Middle Avenue, my family built the house we live in in 1946. Additionally, we live on a street corner so the impact of the proposed elimination of on-street parking on Middle is slightly less of a concern.
But by my count there are 74 single family properties which have only Middle Avenue street frontage and would be severely impacted by total or partial parking elimination on the street. On top of that, the church, Rosener House and Little House would see a significant impact, as well. Elimination of on-street parking in front of those 74 homes is also a safety concern for those homeowners and their visitors as it would require some visitors who might have to park on the opposite side of the street or a side street to possibly jaywalk across Middle, possibly in darkness to enter their property.
I was a member of the very first Safe Routes to School Committee over 30 years ago. Thus, I have an equal concern for the safety of young children riding bicycles to school.
The compromise we are suggesting is to prohibit on-street parking on Middle Avenue for set times during the day, perhaps 2-3 hours in the morning and 2-3 hours in the afternoon, on weekdays when children are going to and from school. This would also benefit those going to Stanford across the creek bridge, as well.
Interestingly, my suggestion seems to align with the proposal made by Alicia Payton-Miyazaki, the Principal of Oak Knoll School, in her February 11th letter to you.
Michael and Debra Lambert
