Well, the city has decided to ruin yet another road with their ridiculous bicycle lanes. This time it is Central Avenue between McCallie Avenue and Main Street.
Someone in their infinite wisdom decided we needed to take this busy 4-lane road with a two way left turn lane and turn it into a two lane road with bicycle lanes on each side that are big enough that you could drive a bus in. I can probably count on one hand how many bicycles I have seen on this section of Central Avenue in the last five years.
Now when you get to the traffic light at the intersection of McCallie Avenue and Central Avenue you have to watch out for “cheaters” running down the left turn only lane and trying to jump ahead of the line of cars waiting at the traffic light to go straight or turn right. I'm sure there will be numerous accidents here due to this. Just remember, the police won’t come to a vehicle accident unless there are injuries or a vehicle must be towed.
Then, when you get to the intersection of Central Avenue and Main Street, you have to wait through a number of traffic light cycles to get through the intersection. It took me five light cycles to turn right onto Main Street last Friday afternoon around 5:15 p.m.
This boneheaded move is bound to cause more accidents and gridlock on our already overcrowded streets. This really does make one wonder in amazement which road is next. Maybe Brainerd Road? Heck, while we’re at it, we need to add bicycle lanes on Highway 153. It would not surprise me to see it happen. How many more roads are they going to ruin?
Here’s a better idea…. let's pave some roads. That’s what our illustrious mayor campaigned on to get elected. Remember the commercials with him with a shovel patching potholes? Then he touted he had a million dollars to go to road improvements. I guess Mayor Kelly thinks bicycle lanes are an improvement? What a bunch of buffoons at city hall. Let’s vote them out next election.
Bob Clayton
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Bob Clayton, your opinion letter was right on and very well stated. However, you must consider this: as citizens of our beautiful city we are both irrelevant. Your letter made perfect sense and it is my hope that it was and will be read by many others.
Please indulge my effort to even more enlighten any readers. The “bunch of buffoons at City Hall” you refer to are most likely engineers for the city of Chattanooga. My Nanny used to say “bless their hearts, they have all that schooling and no common sense.” She was right. They can’t see the bigger picture. They are doing to same thing with Frazier Avenue because of the road rage of an impaired driver resulting in the death of two people. I’m just sure that the exacerbation of the problem will be solved by making the problem worse. If any of us believe the mayor of Chattanooga is going to path the potholes, that’s on us. He’s a politician. Need I say more.
But herein lies our hope. This city is overcrowded with accident lawyers and this will be a very profitable solution for then, as like you stated, the accidents are just waiting to happen. Let’s take advantage of this. You and I can form a company which will place “spotters” at strategic locations and witness the carnage. We can furnish them with lawn chairs, umbrellas and a cooler filled with snacks and cold drinks. I promise it will be more adventuresome than being a Walmart greeter.
We can sell our videos to the accident lawyers, the highest bidders of course, and also provide eye witnesses. We both know it’s going to happen so lets make some lemonade our of the lemons. I can already see the accident lawyers drooling.
J. Pat Williams