Bike lane is slowing traffic on boulevard

Through two mayoral administrations, many residents of Blackstone Boulevard have argued against the imposition of a bike path on the boulevard for safety reasons. Although there was a pressing need to slow traffic on the avenue in light of increasingly serious accidents caused by cars traveling at excessive speed, many of us felt that both the Cianci and Cicilline administrations were irresponsible in trying to slow that traffic with the use of the fragile bodies of bicycle riders.

When it became clear that the city was intent on imposing this bike lane regardless of the wishes of the community, it was senseless to continue arguing with them, and I was not surprised to find the lane installed in the middle of the night during a period when many residents were away for the summer. Sneaky, sneaky, sneaky.

I am still opposed to people being used as a traffic calming device. However, the traffic has slowed, and I must admit that the lane is having its desired effect. I would like to know, however, how the city and RIPTA can justify the removal of bus service from the boulevard without any notice to those of us who live here and use this transportation to get to and from school or work. Why does Blackstone Boulevard, a thoroughfare that was developed at the turn of the century primarily as a route for trolley cars to bring people from town to Swan Point Cemetery, now have no public transportation (the bus routes have been moved to Elmgrove and Angel Street) and why was this done with no notice to the community?

Robin Bugbee

Providence

Who protects Rhode Islanders from reckless drivers?

This past April, Gayle Cherenzia drove her car in an illegal manner — speeding and in the breakdown lane — and the result was death for pedestrian Mary Ellen Claire Offer. And yet, she will face no [criminal] charges whatsoever — she will not even have her license suspended or be forced to retake the state driving test. (“No criminal charges in death of pedestrian,” by Journal Staff Writer Randal Edgar, Aug. 26).

Nearly a year ago, Frank Cabral was mowed down from behind while bicycling on the shoulder of Route 1 in Charlestown. The motorist, Pamela Hurst, drifted from the travel lane; her excuse was that she was blinded by the sun. (“State drops charges in fatal crash,” by Journal Staff Writer Maria Armental, Dec. 19, 2007).

Driving to endanger, death resulting: the definition seems clear to me. If you’re driving in the breakdown lane (where pedestrians and cyclists are found), you are driving to endanger. If you are driving and find that the sun is blinding you, you should pull over until you can see again; if you continue driving despite not being able to see anything, you are driving to endanger. In the two cases cited above, death resulted.

This is a story we hear again and again in Rhode Island: motorists driving in a manner resulting in the deaths of other motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians. So what does it take in Rhode Island for a motorist to have their license taken away? Or to be fined? Or to be given a prison sentence? Anything to account for the results of their behavior? When will the attorney general’s office step forward to protect Rhode Islanders from these drivers?

Eric Weis

Providence

Boulevard bike path raises the quality of life

We live several streets off Blackstone Boulevard and are very excited about the new bike lanes. Our family has been using them for several weeks now and it has definitely made us feel much safer during the heavier traffic times. The design is great. I have even been inspired enough to ride my bike to work (that won’t last).

Thank you to the development team, Mayor David N. Cicilline, Cliff Wood … this has definitely raised the quality of life in our neighborhood. Please continue this initiative and extend our segmented bike lanes and paths into a fully connected system. It would be great for Providence to keep up with more progressive European and U.S. cities.

Another positive of the new bike lanes is the slightly slower traffic pattern around the Butler area. Sometimes I observe my bike speedometer around the 25 mph mark; now, instead of commuters passing me at 45 mph+, the general traffic appears to be in the 30 to 35 mph range. Maybe now I can bike faster and keep up!

Anyway, thank you to the designers, planners and politicians for helping to improve our neighborhood.

Clay Howland

Providence

Fox Point school has always served its community

This letter is in response to “At Gregorian School, a sense of anticipation,” by Journal Staff Writer Linda Borg, Aug. 26.

I was born, raised and live in Fox Point (yes, Fox Point, not the East Side, lower East Side, upper East Side or whatever new name they are now giving us). I attended Fox Point Elementary years before it was known as the Vartan Gregorian Elementary School at Fox Point, and I am sad to know that only now is it being considered “an academic high-flier” for the simple reason that the parents that live on the East Side are taking “a leap of faith” by allowing their children to attend.

So, let’s see if I got this straight — if you can afford to live on the East Side and can afford to send your children to a private school but decide to send them to (gasp) Fox Point Elementary, that is now the grading scale as to how a school is doing academically?

I wonder how the teachers from back in the day feel knowing that the years they spent there were just not that important since it wasn’t really a school until we added “Vartan Gregorian” to the title and some of the East Siders’ children were called during morning attendance.

The article goes on to state: “Bev Rich was one of the pioneers. She sent the first of her four children to Gregorian eight years ago, when the public schools were uniformly portrayed as dirty, dark and dangerous. Rich took a chance but said she hasn’t regretted her decision.”

Why isn’t my mother and all the other parents who have sent their children there for many, many years considered pioneers? And I can’t ever recall the school being dirty, dark and dangerous, and I have lived practically across the street my entire life.

I can still remember the teachers that made such a huge impression on me while I was there — Ms. Ungsworth, Mr. Augusta, Mrs. Kerrigan, Mrs. Colletta, Mr. Picerelli, Ms. McCloud, to name a few.

I think it is great that these parents are playing such a large role in ensuring that their children are getting the best possible education that we, as taxpayers, are paying for. I just hope that Tom Brady and the whole School Department will continue to invest in our public school system for the simple fact that ALL Rhode Island children deserve a top-notch education — no matter what zip code is used to deliver their parents’ mail.

Diane Oliveira

Providence

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