To the Editor:

VDOT will soon repave Sherwood Hall Lane from end to end. The county has planned to restripe it for bicycle lanes, and would like to decrease accidents by narrowing the travel lanes and providing a bi-directional left turn lane where possible. Planners called a meeting at the police station on Parker's Lane to discuss it, and the discussion was animated and passionate.

Planners had very little data on speed, volume, accident frequency and location, current bicycle and pedestrian use, etc. While all of their ideas sound good to me, to many others they sounded unworkable, insufficient, counterproductive, or unfair.

Planner Seyed Nabavi said that once the lanes are striped, it would be 10 to 12 years before they could be changed. This is silly. Put down temporary paint, watch what happens for six months or a year, and make permanent what works and change what doesn't.

How much can it cost? And after all, we're talking matters of life and death here, as well as a more livable neighborhood. Let's take the time and resources to get it right.

Larry D. Huffman

Alexandria