This isn't a letter I wrote, it is a letter that Kolby Granville posted on his Facebook page. It has to do with the new bike lanes that have been installed along McClintock in Tempe.
"To Whom it May Concern
I am a resident of Tempe living on S McClintock Dr in between E Southern Ave and E Broadway Rd. My roommates, friends, family, associates, colleagues, and random strangers have all experienced an exceptional amount of frustration at the reduction of lanes on S McClintock Dr. Let me therefore start by saying: what half-brain came up with the half-baked idea that eliminating lanes would improve the traffic situation?
Now that that is out of the way, please pardon my outburst. I am sure whoever came up with the idea is a truly lovely, if illogical, person. I will forgo pathos and attempt to appeal to your logical selves instead.
According to the 2013 Census Survey, Tempe is the 7th highest ranked medium city for biking - in sincere honesty, a true achievement. This accounts for a whole 4% of commuters. With 2.93% utilizing mass transit and 3.19% working from home, that means that nearly 90% of Tempe residents commute via their own (or carpool) vehicle. Therefore, I must wonder, to whose benefit was it really to reduce the lanes on S McClintock Dr in order to add bike lanes?
Reducing down to two lanes has caused a massive backup heading north on McClintock during morning rush-hour and south during afternoon rush-hour. The afternoon is far worse, as the backup from the US 60 extends north often more up to two miles. Of my 8 mile commute to work, McClintock accounted for 3.5 miles. During rush-hour with this new system, those 3.5 miles have added 10 minutes to my commute. Considering my entire commute used to take about 25 minutes, that's 40% longer. I must ask, once again, to whose benefit was the reduction of lanes?
Contrary to the belief of the government established by that nice postcard, the issue does not come from "not understanding the new traffic system." Yes, we, the residents of Tempe, do understand what a bike-lane is. We know what a gore zone is. Our problem is not due to a lack of understanding. It is due to frustration at the traffic system. Therefore, adding candlestick dividers is not a solution.
Of course, if my argument is meant only to complain, that would hurt my position. I must be honest - I am not a civil engineer, I do not work in transport. Yet, there is, as I see it, a simple solution. Add a third lane heading south on McClintock and leave the north-bound two lanes since south-bound is far worse. Eliminate the ridiculous gore zone. This would leave plenty of room for bike lanes on either side and would help alleviate traffic congestion during afternoon rush-hour.
As a more substantial project, add a second turn lane onto the US 60 east. With the single turn lane, you cannot fit more than a dozen cars or so. This causes people to back up into the suicide lane extending south of the turn lane. Not only is this illegal and dangerous, but it causes huge backup, as mentioned previously.
If I have still failed to convince you then, please - I beg of you, before you dismiss my claim, time how long it takes to drive from the Loop 202 south to the US 60 at 5:00 in the afternoon. It is completely absurd and due, almost entirely, to the elimination of the third lane.
I trust, as loyal council members, that, if you are not the correct points of contact, you will escalate my claim to whomever is in charge of the traffic system.
I greatly appreciate your time and happy holidays."
