The Healdsburg Bridge

From: sherry adams

To: me

Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2012 5:34 PM

Subject: Healdsburg Memorial Bridge- bike detour

According to Sherry Adams, "The Healdsburg Memorial Bridge will be closed for 18-24 months starting in mid-2013. The detour for cars will be on the freeway, but what about bikes and pedestrians? In a PD article a month ago, Mayor Plass is quoted saying it will be Westside Road. This would turn the 6 mile bike ride from Healdsburg to Windsor into a (hilly) 16 mile bike ride! However, there are at least two better options: either allowing bikes to use the freeway shoulders on 101, or allowing bikes on the railroad bridge, after needed upgrades for safety and ridability. Both of these options have significant challenges and involve other jurisdictions, but the alternative is grounding bicycle traffic between Healdsburg and points south."

The closing of bicycle traffic between Healdsburg and points south for up to two years will shock locals (who often bike south to Windsor and Santa Rosa) and turn away the many Santa Rosa bike tourists, who visit Healdsburg restaurants and shops in large numbers. I don't know how much money they spend--riders tend to be cheap--but it has to hurt a little. The lack of mental ability involved in this totally lame non-plan challenges the vocabulary of someone with his or her own brain stem. God save us from the thoughtless blank-eyed city leaders we elect.