City Council Members,
As a parent of two school-age children (ages 9 and 10), and a resident of the South of Seminary neighborhood of Menlo Park, I'm
writing to request that you include adding a doubleHAWKbeaconin front of the fire station on Middlefield to this year's workplan
for Menlo Park. This traffic device would have a huge community benefit in that it would provide a much-needed safe crossing of
Middlefield for pedestrians and cyclists.
My family loves to bike, but honestly we do not do it as much as we should. One reason we reconsider is due to safety concerns.
Currently, my family has no safe way to ride a bike to Burgess (let alone the train station or downtown). If we exit Vintage Oaks
at Seminary and turn right on Middlefield, we have to ride on Middlefield with cars zooming past us and only a thin white line for
protection. We then have to contend with the extremely dangerous Ringwood/Middlefield/Ravenswood triangle. Alternatively, we have
3 dangerous choices. 1. We can cycle to Willow via Nash, and then contend with the huge volume and speed of cars on Willow until
we cross Middlefield. 2. We can make a left turn onto Middlefield, and then ride on the wrong side of the road until we get to
Willow, so we can cross Middlefield there (many dangerous issues with that option). 3. We can make a right turn onto Middlefield
from Santa Monica, and either pedal very quickly to make the left turn onto Linfield or ride to the lighted cross walk and then
walk our bike across the street.
We generally use the third option but unfortunately, we do not feel very safe with that crosswalk given the speed of cars and the
number of lanes. We are never completely sure that the cars are going to stop, so it is a stressful cross with our 2 boys (or even
if we don't have the boys with us!!).
A doubleHAWKbeaconwould be much appreciated by my family, and many like ours. Thinking longer term, when my kids are old enough to
attend Hillview, having a safe crossing at Middlefield will be a huge factor in my decision to allow my children to ride their
bikes to school. When kids ride their bikes to school, it improves their health, allows them to arrive at school ready to learn,
reduces stress and provides a multitude of other community benefits.
Please do include this important project on this year's workplan, and make it a priority for our city.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,Rachel RosnerMenlo Park, South of Seminary Resident
