To the Editor:

I am writing in response to the “Neighborhood” “Taylor Run” item in the Feb. 6 edition of The Alexandria Gazette Packet. I am a resident of Alexandria, living in the affected area — my home is one block off the at-issue stretch of King Street. I use this part of King Street as an automobile driver, a bicycle commuter, and a pedestrian, frequently walking to the King Street Metro Station or to Old Town. I am concerned that the city may miss the opportunity to make this stretch of King Street safer for all users.

The city’s professional staff recommended the at-issue compromise plan for King Street — which was vetted by a civil engineering firm — after several meetings with residents and after making numerous changes to address their concerns.

Starting in the 1980s, I commuted by bicycle from my home in the affected neighborhood to my job in D.C. for several years. I again began commuting to my job in D.C. by bicycle three years ago. When I do not commute by bicycle, I walk down King Street to the Metro Station. So I have a long-term, personal perspective on this issue.

Bike lanes and shared lanes along this stretch of King Street will make it safer for vehicle drivers, bicycle riders, and pedestrians by separating vehicles, bikes and pedestrians and, where vehicles and bikes share the lane, signaling to drivers to expect the presence of bicycles. Bike lanes and shared lanes have a proven traffic calming (i.e., slowing) effect — and this stretch of King Street is a 25-mile-per-hour zone, which vehicles frequently exceed. Bike lanes and shared lanes help vehicle drivers know what to expect, causing them to slow down. In addition, bike and shared lanes on King Street will get bicyclists off of the sidewalks. When walking down this stretch of King Street, I have frequently been startled by bicyclists suddenly appearing on the sidewalk behind me and have felt physically threatened. Also, on portions of this area of King Street, the sidewalk is right next to the vehicular traffic, and in addition to the fast-moving traffic being very close, in rainy weather, passing vehicles splash water onto pedestrians walking down to the Metro Station. The buffer of a bike lane will provide needed separation between vehicular traffic and pedestrians.

I have personally witnessed the changes that bike and shared lanes make. For example, my commute today along Commonwealth Avenue is vastly improved with bike and shared lanes compared to what it was like in the 1980s, when there were no bike lanes and no designated shared lanes. The vehicular traffic along Commonwealth was faster, and I frequently was yelled at by drivers, and even on one occasion was hit by food a driver threw at me.

The proposed changes to King Street will make this route safer for all users.

Sue D. Gunter

Alexandria