City streets unsafe for many

The streets of Oak Harbor are unsafe for pedestrians, bicyclists and people in wheelchairs, none of whom are protected by a ton of iron and metal. Those right turn lanes that feed SR 20 from city streets from seventh all the way to Pioneer look like little freeway ramps and are death traps. The right turn lanes need well marked crosswalks, with white lines and signs, not “unmarked crosswalks” like we have now.

I ride a bike for all my errands all over town sunny day or blizzard. I live up by SR 20 and Whidbey Avenue. I have to cross it two or three times a day. I have been run down once, bumped once and had dozens of close calls. I have seen the near miss of a mother pushing two babies in a stroller and a man in a wheelchair bumped.

Why can’t the city spend the money for a little paint and some signs to make these intersections a little safer. We bicyclists are crowded up on the sidewalks along SR 20 and other busy streets by too many cars and trucks. It would be nice to have bike and pedestrian paths and trails all around and across the city. Oak Harbor would do well to become bike and pedestrian friendly. Global warming and critical mass traffic are here now. We should encourage people to leave the cars home, not scare them off the sidewalks.

I hope people who ride or walk in Oak Harbor will get in touch with the mayor and council and let them know what they think. I have written to all the officials but it’s like preaching to the wind, I never did get a reply.

Jonathan Morse

Oak Harbor

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