Dear Editor,

I am neither for nor against a non-vehicular crossing of the river.  I am however astounded that the terminus on the west side of the river will come out beside Central Builders/Home Hardware which has delivery trucks of lumber, drywall, concrete blocks and other construction materials coming down a steep grade toward cyclists and pedestrians leaving the crossing as well as contractor and other vehicles leaving the same lot.  

Mayor Wells in his recently-published letter never once addressed the issue of safety.  His mind is made up. We'll all pay for it by endlessly increasing property taxes. Show me a single municipality with planning this poor.  

Perhaps another terminus for this project mayor and council?

A further example of lack of consideration for safety is the 17th Street bike lane project with 'sidewalks to nowhere,' utility poles in the middle of the drainage troughs and vehicles heading westbound on 17th Street routinely crossing the double yellow after leaving the light at Fitzgerald. Vehicles were also routinely hitting the curbs just west of the 17th and Fitzgerald intersection.  The city put them up little pieces of plastic pipe.  Nice fix. Safe too! 

It is physically impossible to legally turn either left or right leaving the lane behind Fitzgerald.

Turning east crosses a double yellow.  Turning west puts you into oncoming traffic until you can get back into your lane.

Mike Grinsell

Courtenay