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Letter to the Editor: Proposed Pedestrian Bridge is 'Wasted' Money
Chuck Rann is against building the approved pedestrian bridge that will soon link Roswell with Sandy Springs.
I read about the proposed pedestrian bridge across the Chattahoochee River in several Roswell news sources and I am appalled that anyone is considering such a project. I am a bike rider. I enjoy the parks. I have been a city of Roswell taxpayer and voter for almost 30 years.
Four reasons not to build the bridge:
1) We have enough bike paths and parks in the city of Roswell and they are not suffering from over capacity use. Some people within city government may have an obsessive compulsive need for more paths and access points to other cities' future bike paths, I do not. I am interested in the services that I get for the tax dollars that I pay. I don't need more and more seems to be a real problem in today's government.
2) The bridge will invite people from Sandy Springs to flood across it and use the Roswell parks along the river. Many of these people live in apartments between the river and Northridge and do not directly pay city taxes, much less taxes to the city of Roswell.
3) There will be an increase in crime in the river parks and therefore an increase in the police department budget by doing this. More money wasted during a time of economic downturn.
4) The proposed three million dollars of federal money means an increase in the federal budget and deficit. Shame on the politicians giving this a green light. I do not understand why the city of Roswell is proceeding with this idea. It is a reflection upon your reasoning ability and should be taking into consideration at the next election. I would like to know who is sponsoring this and supporting this.
Chuck
Roswell
Thanks. We'll email you the next time we update this story.
Florence Anne Berna
8:49 am on Sunday, December 4, 2011
Roswell needs pedestrian bridges but NOT to Sandy Springs. They need them between the visitors center/Canton Street and the historic homes so unsuspecting visitors don't get creamed trying to cross the highways to enjoy all that Roswell has to offer.
Lee Fleck
9:19 am on Sunday, December 4, 2011
FYI,
Roswell currently has 37 miles of bicycle paths throught out the city and we have a Dept of Transportation Director more interested in satisifying the wishes of his fellow cyclists than moving traffic through the city.
Lee Fleck
Dan
8:39 am on Monday, December 5, 2011
Chuck, can you provide evidence for item #3? How will a pedestrian/bike bridge affect crime in the area? Isn't that the same semi-racist excuse that suburban cities used to push back on mass transit? Please explain your position.
Eric
1:57 pm on Monday, December 5, 2011
Has Chuck ridden his bike in the last 3 years in Roswell? Has he seen the parks overflowing with cars parking to ride their bikes? Has he ridden his bike over the bridge on HWY 9 to work? How are we ever going to tackle the lazy society we have become if we don't have a safe active lifestyle choice?
A bike path is for the exclusive use of bikes only. In GA we have ZERO bike paths! We have multi-use trails that runners, strollers, dog walkers and others use. In Roswell there are 7-8 miles of multi-use trails in the river area and the Greenway. Lee Fleck should remember the presentation he was given in Oct that Roswell has 11.9 miles of bike lanes 4ft, 25.4 miles of bike shoulders 2-4ft, 6.2 miles of paved shoulders 0.5-2ft.
The project funds have already been counted in the current federal debt from about 5 years ago. Call Tom Price's office and ask, you might learn something. The cities are co-funding the remaining cost. This project will help with the entrance beautification to Roswell and help the people that can't safely walk over the bridge or ride over the bridge plus help people have a way to Island Ford Park in Sandy Springs.
I am always amazed at the statements people make without any facts or understanding. Oh I forgot how lazy we have gotten, excuse me. I realize we all have the right to make these statements, but it is how we use this right that defines our character and whether people actually are listening to you.
Steve
2:00 pm on Monday, December 5, 2011
Chuck, as a fellow rider it's surprising that your perspective is so myopic. The benefits of expanding alternative methods of transportation including commuter and recreational use for pedestrians as well as cyclist is huge for the city of Roswell as well as the federal budget. The lifestyle promoted by Roswell's pursuit of a Bicycle Friendly Community benefits us all. In addition, your myopic view also encourages driver disregard for cyclist everywhere and cost a friend of mine his life. Chuck, time to wake-up and be part of the solution...or move.
Upchuck30075
9:12 pm on Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Dan,
2011-11-24
300 Block WINDING RIVER DR
ID 2011014608
18:29:21
AGG ASSAULT/BATTERY-GUN
2011-11-26
500 BLOCK GREYFIELD LN
ID 2011014684
17:00:46
STOLEN AUTO/OTHER OFFENSE
2011-12-02
900 BLOCK SANDALWOOD DR
ID 2011014952
01:30:21
LARCENY - FROM VEHICLE
2011-11-27
1500 BLOCK GREYFIELD LN
ID 2011014708
23:00:00
LARCENY - PARTS FROM VEHICLE
2011-12-01
3200 BLOCK SANDALWOOD DR.
ID 20110149953
19:30:38
LARCENY - FROM VEHICLE
2011-11-30
1 BLOCK CEDAR RUN
ID 211014898
21:30:33
LARCENY - PARTS FROM VEHICLE
2011-11-24
9100 BLOCK CARROLL MANOR DR.
ID 2011014794
16:00:00
LARCENY - OTHER OFFENSES
2011-11-25
2100 BLOCK SANDALWOOD DR.
ID 2011014639
119:22:41
LARCENY - OTHER OFFENSES
2011-11-30
1 BLOCK CEDAR RUN
ID 2011014897
20:00:45
LARCENY - PARTS FROM VEHICLE
2011-11-23
1 BLOCK CEDAR RUN
ID 2011014806
21:00:00
SIMPLE ASSULT/BATTERY
2011-11-25
8700 BLOCK ROSWELL RD
ID 2011014657
21:00:12
LARCENY - FROM BUILDING
2011-12-02
8700 BLOCK ROSWELL RD
ID 2011014976
16:45:00
LARCENY - FROM VEHICLE
2011-11-23
400 BLOCK WATERPINE CT
2011014597
07:30:35
THEFT OF AUTOMOBILE
SOURCE: www.crimereports.com
janet h russell
11:55 am on Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Dear Chuck,
You use faulty logic when you list a series of crimes in Sandy Springs as the reason we don't need a pedestrian bridge.
I do not see how a pedestrian will be able to walk across a bridge , break the law, then wander back across the bridge on foot.
As a homeowner who has lived off of SR9 in Roswell since 1973 I look forward to the day when I can walk safely across the Chattahoochee so that I can continue the walk to Publix. Currently Roswell has NO grocery store on SR9 that is accessible by foot, bike or public transit. That should concern you more than the potential crime. Your comments remind me of the days gone by when the people of Cobb County rejected Marta because of the criminal element. I often told them that I don't recall seeing anyone waiting at a bus stop with a television, chest of silver or anything else so they could "get away". Such myopia is what got Atlanta into the predicament we are in now.