Dear Menlo Park City Council,
Ill try to keep this short but want to first express my appreciation for all the work you do on our communitys behalf.
Our family lives on Middle Avenue, a road recently updated by removing all parking to make two dedicated bike lanes for cyclists. We walk our dogs every morning along this road and have noticed a meaningful increase of bicyclists commuting along Middle Ave of all ages, including much younger children, than prior to the update. Its clear that people in our community feel safer using a busier street because space and visibility has improved immensely. An outside observer might think my home might have been negatively impacted by having convenient parking in front of our house removed, but it has been quite the opposite.
My godchild bikes along Coleman Ave to attend school, and their entire family uses that thoroughfare nearly daily due to their commitment as a one-car family. Our city has an opportunity to help their community be safe for children, parents with strollers, older folks with mobility issues, and other vulnerable populations rather than forcing them to walk or bike in the dirt and squeezing alongside speeding vehicles.
If we only prioritize vehicles we will continue to see the same results- heartbreaking accidents with familys changed forever in seconds. Im proud of the Vision Zero Action Plan, and our city councils commitment to supporting safety and empowering mobility for more than just cars.
Best regards,
Heather Duke
