Dear Editor,
I am a runner who prefers to run outside rather than on a treadmill and in some instances I am faced with the decision to run on the sidewalk or in the bike lane. About half the time I run on the sidewalk and the other half the sidewalks are in too bad of shape to run on safely, or there are no available sidewalks and so I run in the bike lane. I wear reflective gear so I am visible to drivers but on more than one occasion I have been nearly struck by oblivious drivers. It is quite scary. I would also like to include drivers pulling out of parking lots or driveways. People exiting the Carlmont Shopping Center in Belmont are the worst offenders. This is where most of my nearly being struck incidents occur. All I ask is that people please look both ways before going over the sidewalk. On every run I usually have to jump off the sidewalk or slap someone's hood to have them pay attention and not hit me.
With the evening light hours diminishing and darkness coming earlier each night running after I get off work becomes more dangerous. I love running and living here has been a wonderful experience and I have never enjoyed running more than I do when I am running down the streets of Belmont. I just want drivers to share the road when we runners have no other option but to run in the street alongside your moving cars.
Olivia De MarsBelmont
Letter to the Editor: Drivers Need to Share the Road with Runners/Walkers
A Peninsula resident is concerned with vehicles driving too close, or in, the bike lane.
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Holly Bell May 12, 2013 at 02:59 pm
If the city council likes fake plastic nature, then let them saran-wrap their own yards! LEAVE OUR…Read More PARKS ALONE!! This is soccer special interest pressure on city government at its worst, and the city council appears unwilling or unable to withstand it.
Crestview Park is a particularly quiet, serene, simple park with lovely views which the council now wants to turn into a sports arena. Any day you can go there and see families playing on the grass, toddlers and moms enjoying picnics and play time, kids learning to ride their bikes on the nice flat paved area, athletes and older folks enjoying the flat natural track (the only one in San Carlos) to get in shape, teens throwing frisbees on the lawn. It is a perfect place for ALL residents to enjoy according to their needs, not a sports arena dedicated to one activity at the expense of all.
Belmont faced a similar lack of sports venues, but they did not choose to pave paradise. They wisely raised money and built a sports complex and spared their beautiful parks for use by ALL residents. I would like to see our city council do the right thing also.
And by the way, the opposition to this short-sighted plan is far more than "some residents"! Please visit our booth at Hometown Days.
Brenda May 9, 2013 at 04:10 am
One summer my kid had soccer camp on at an artificial turf field. It was terrible. It made…Read More everything hotter and very uncomfortable. I had to pull my kid out of camp early because of it. I do not think it is better for the environment OR for kids. Just go to any turf field and try to walk across it on a hot day. Try to go barefoot on it (good luck!) We have been told not to microwave plastic containers because of BPA and bad chemicals that can cause cancer. What about heating up plastic grass and running around on it, breathing the fumes that come off it?? How is that any different?
R. W. Dehner May 9, 2013 at 02:20 am
Artificial turf is appropriate for dedicated use sports venues, not for multi-use city parks.
Gordon cook April 15, 2013 at 11:30 am
Thanks for doing this. The one blatant thing I observe on a daily basis is the number and frequency…Read More of deputy's at Starbucks on 800 laurel street and the sky kitchen. I never see them in the neighborhoods. The police department was much better