Motorists have misguided sense of entitlement | LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Published 9:58 am Tuesday, February 23, 2016

To the editor:

Your newspaper’s Feb. 12, 2016 op-ed titled “Slow down, or maybe not” is an unfortunate example of the misguided sense of entitlement held by some motorists traveling Bainbridge Island’s roadways.

You first erroneously conclude, unsupported by evidence, that a lower speed limit would not prevent certain collisions referenced in the city-commissioned Perteet report. You argue that the collisions were “attributed to the drivers themselves and not the speed limit.” Since drivers cause nearly all motor vehicle accidents, stating that the drivers caused the accidents is merely reciting what is already known. The correct question is whether the accidents, which include one driver who hit a deer and another who lost control on ice, could have been avoided or mitigated if the drivers were traveling at a reduced speed. As the Perteet report suggests, the answer is probably yes.

You then acknowledge that Bainbridge pedestrians and cyclists have long lobbied for lower speed limits, but jump to another false conclusion that those interests cannot be reconciled with the alleged value people place on narrow tree-lined streets. This ostrich mentality, which essentially advocates that the city ignore the interests of pedestrian and cyclist road-users for the sole benefit of motorists, is not a solution.

Moreover, it is an irresponsible position when the city’s goals are to increase non-motorized transportation and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Communities worldwide have achieved documented success in lowering speed limits, while simultaneously improving traffic flow and roadway safety for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

Your final “argument” is that “lowering the speed limit on some shortcut routes … will only result in a long line of commuters, moving slower …through island neighborhoods.” The reality is that lower speed limits in Bainbridge residential neighborhoods will have exactly the opposite effect. Lower island speed limits will reduce the perceived or real benefit of shortcut routes to non-resident commuters and funnel traffic to its intended route, which is Highway 305.

Lower island speed limits will also return neighborhood streets to Bainbridge residents. This will restore our ability to walk safely to school, church, the bus stop or the mailbox without the threat of a stream of speeding non-resident commuters. If your newspaper wishes to improve non-resident commuter traffic on Highway 305, it should direct its efforts toward lobbying for highway expansion or the development of alternative ferry routes to and from Seattle.

Perhaps what is most revealing about your op-ed is that the majority of Bainbridge Island residents do not share your newspaper’s motorist-centric conceit. This is exemplified by the petition I recently delivered to the city proposing to reduce the speed limit on Madison Ave. NE between Port Madison Lutheran Church and Frog Rock to 25 mph from 35 mph. The petition, which is available here http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/reduce-the-speed-limit-on-madison-ave-ne, was signed by 49 residents online (in addition over 15 manual signatures). Unlike your newspaper, all of these residents believe that reducing speed limits in Bainbridge’s neighborhoods will benefit motorists, cyclists and pedestrians and improve the health, safety and welfare of our community.

JOHN DORSEY

Bainbridge Island