🚀 go-pugleaf

In Santa Cruz we built a huge Costco discount store. 
Not enough thought was given to any traffic that may be the result. 
At present, since this store is located in our main industrial area,
 workers here find themselves stuck in  traffic jams that can last as
 long as half an hour. To add insult to injury, such waits precede the
 waiting game that then takes place on our only freeway. The following
 is a copy of the letter I sent to the editor of the Santa Cruz Sentinel
 newspaper:
 
	How about using bike taxis to solve the Costco traffic 
problem? I say we give those who work in the Harvey West industrial 
area the option of parking their cars for free at the garages we 
recently built downtown.  This shouldn't cause a problem since these 
structures are almost always empty anyway.  From here they can enjoy 
the fresh air of a free bike shuttle (one or two miles) to their 
places of employment.  
        With such a strategy everyone wins.  We 
create a new job base by employing our youth as "drivers" of such 
taxis.  We cool down the tempers of those waiting in line along the 
streets in this area.  We maintain the integrity of the River Street 
business neighborhood.  We introduce a whole new customer base to 
the downtown area.  And we rid our air of the many unneeded tons of 
pollutants these idling motors create.  
        For those who still choose 
to drive and wait, we can easily point to the much more enjoyable 
alternative.  Weather cannot be used an excuse since bike taxis can 
be outfitted with roofs.  Nor can the amount of "things" one must 
carry - bike taxis are built to transport both passengers and their 
luggage.  
        We can offset any "lost" parking revenues and buy hundreds 
of bike taxis for the cost of just one traffic signal.  The 
associated widening of River Street will pay for tens of thousands 
of free human powered rides.  During the weekend, we can reap a 
double windfall for our three-wheeled workhorses by charging our 
tourists for such shuttles to and from the Boardwalk.
        Since such a 
solution is probably too far ahead of the way government wants to 
spend our money, I say we at least replace the traffic cops with 
just one bike taxi concession.  Or better yet, let's educate the 
driving public on the advantages of using the bicycle for 
transportation.

  Martin Krieg Author/Publisher Cycle America/Santa 
Cruz 

-- 
Martin Krieg of CYCLE AMERICA, Transam Vet 1979 Upright & 1986 Recumbent
Author of the new book, AWAKE AGAIN (WRS Publishing)
Voice: 408/426-7702, Fax 408-426-8533, email: cycleam@cruzio.com
Momentum for the National Bicycle Greenway