Opinion: Sue Prant: Forget expensive studies. Boulder can make streets safer now. - Boulder Daily Camera

By Sue Prant

In late February Carlos Hernandez, Boulder’s new Transportation Division director, abruptly resigned after just a few weeks on the job. Many were devastated, including City Council members. As City Manager Jane Brautigam put it, “The thing that Carlos gave us that was so amazing is he gave us hope that things could really move forward in transportation for the city.” At the time, Community Cycles suggested the Transportation Division stop addressing every issue with an overblown expensive study and start looking at what we can do now, quickly, with our current resources, to make our streets safer. Council and the city manager agreed.

This approach has increased relevance today as the city deals with COVID-19 and social distancing. There have been dramatic increases in walking and biking on Boulder’s streets and decreases in driving everywhere. These changes to the use of our streets are expected to last for at least months, maybe more than a year.

But social distancing is becoming more difficult with more people out and about walking and riding both for essential services and recreation. Our sidewalks, paths and trails are narrow, and social distancing requirements are causing people to walk in the streets rather than pass too close to neighbors on sidewalks. Bike lanes are too narrow for safely passing other people on bikes while still social distancing.

In response, a number of Council members and citizens have brought up street rebalancing and rapid implementation of the 20 is Plenty program, which would set speed limits on neighborhood streets at 20 mph. The Transportation Division’s response has been “no,” or to propose an extensive process for even the most common sense safety measures.

This is unacceptable. Instead of being locked into rigid thinking or fearing change, Boulder should join the over 55 cities (and growing) that have responded to the current crisis with policies that put the safety and well-being of its citizens first.

Denver and other cities have deployed quick and inexpensive street closures. Oakland, Calif., just announced it will close 74 miles of streets to through traffic so people have more room to safely walk and bike. Boulder’s Transportation Division continues to assert, contrary to what has been proven in every other city, that street and lane closures are too difficult and expensive. This is misguided. New York City closed a lane on Third Avenue in Manhattan using traffic barrels. Is the Transportation Division really saying Boulder streets require a more complex solution than a major avenue in Manhattan?

To ensure equity, there needs to be enough street closures so most people can easily access a safe place to walk nearby. Community Cycles urges the conversion of of a geographic diversity of streets; for example parts of Fourth Street, a section of 13th, Cascade or Aurora on the Hill, Ithaca or Darley in South Boulder and Twin Lakes in Gunbarrel — for strictly local use, diverting vehicular through-traffic to adjacent arterials. This would allow these local streets to be used for foot traffic, cycling and local motor vehicles (including deliveries) or emergency traffic only. Additionally, closing the outside lanes on 30th Street, which has seen a marked decrease in vehicle traffic (while still allowing for buses and right turns) would improve a situation where the narrow sidewalk and bike lane do not allow for safe social distancing.

Boulder should also immediately implement 20 is Plenty. Every member of the previous and current Council supports 20 is Plenty and wants to see it get done. Yet, instead of a quick, efficient, tactical approach, city staff are recommending a long, expensive, overblown study and slow implementation.

Community Cycles strongly disagrees with staff’s process-heavy approach. There is no need for months of delay gathering costly data that wouldn’t inform a final decision. Vehicle patterns will not return to “normal” for more than a year, so it will take years to collect viable data and evaluate the results. Moreover, the COVID-19 crisis will dramatically reduce the city’s budget. Immediate implementation of 20 is Plenty would save $95,000 over staff’s proposed process.

This pandemic is a stressful time for all of us. Boulderites want to see the city taking proactive measures to support public health rather than just banning or limiting activities. By rebalancing heavily walked streets and crowded bike lanes and by implementing a 20 is Plenty policy now on residential streets citywide, the city could show its commitment to move quickly and assertively and provide safe, pleasant and healthy streets for its citizens.

Sue Prant is the executive director of Community Cycles in Boulder.

The Daily Camera welcomes letters to the editor and guest opinions from readers. Read our guidelines, and send submissions to openforum@dailycamera.com.

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Opinion: Sue Prant: Forget expensive studies. Boulder can make streets safer now. - Boulder Daily Camera
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