Letters to the Editor

+ Spring forward with your diet
Dear Editor:
After several months of crippling snowstorms and flooding, I really look forward to spring weather, green grass and flowers in bloom.

The advent of spring is also a great opportunity to turn over a new leaf on our dietary and exercise habits. In fact, I’ve been told that hundreds of communities celebrate the advent of spring with something called the Great American Meatout. 

Local health advocates host educational events, where they ask visitors to get a fresh start this spring with a healthy diet of vegetables, fresh fruits, legumes, and whole grains. For those who need a little encouragement, their website provides useful information and a chance to pledge a healthy diet for one day or more. 

Lee Latta
Longboat Key

+ Leave Gulf of Mexico Drive alone
Dear Editor:
The goal is to morph GMD from a highway into something that looks more like a street. So says Alaina Ray, Longboat Key’s Planning, Zoning and Building director. Yes, Alaina, this is exactly what the residents of, and visitors to Longboat Key want for their island. What could be better than converting our one existing, highly functional thruway into a street. You envision roundabouts, pedestrian islands (whatever those are), multiple crosswalks, and “a road that’s reduced in width at busy intersections to slow traffic.”

We have been coming to LBK for 30 years and I have always marveled at the wisdom of the powers that be in resisting the temptation to install stoplights, crosswalks, and other impediments to traffic flow. As a result, traffic on Gulf of Mexico Drive flows well. The only impediments to GMD traffic flow are located off of the island’s north and south ends. Alaina’s vision for Longboat traffic is a nightmare. I walk across GMD six to 10 times a day and I far prefer occasionally waiting 10 to 20 seconds for an opening in traffic to being virtually landlocked on this island because of some misguided bureaucrat’s idea of what is best for me. Please, leave us alone. No stoplights, no crosswalks, no pedestrian islands, no roundabouts, and no narrowing of the roadway “to slow traffic.”

 Peter Aden
Longboat Key

+ Widen Gulf of Mexico Drive now
Dear Editor:
I’m a frequent user of Gulf of Mexico Drive both as a cyclist and a motorist and strongly endorse the recommendation in the town’s recent Urban Land Institute report to widen the bike lanes.  Whether cycling or driving, visitor or resident, this benefits everyone, and I hope our commissioners act on the suggestion in your recent editorial and begin discussions with the Florida Department of Transportation now.

As a cyclist, I appreciate the consideration given by the large majority of drivers on GMD. However, there are a few who drive uncomfortably and dangerously close to the bike lane. Wind turbulence from large trucks and buses is an issue even when those vehicles maintain their proper distance. The problem is made worse by the encroachment of sand and gravel on to the bike lane in many places. This makes the existing bike lane, which varies in width between 3 and 4 feet, even narrower.

For motorists, a 5-foot bike lane will make their drive along GMD safer and less stressful.  Many are uncomfortable driving in close proximity to cyclists and, even more common than those who pass too closely, are the ones who veer toward and sometimes over, the center line in an attempt to provide ample passing room.

Widening the bike lanes would be a very straightforward project benefiting all who use GMD, so we shouldn’t allow it to be caught up in the debate of other, more controversial recommendations in the ULI report. In fact, my only disagreement with you is on timing. Why wait until the next time GMD is to be resurfaced?  Let’s ask FDOT to get it done this summer after the snowbirds are gone!

Peter Morris
Longboat Key

+ Reader enjoys April Fools’ fun
I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your annual April Fools’ paper. As usual, it was an elegant laugh, with four great pages of pertinent, timely and well-written parodies. It ranks right up there with some of the other spoofs I saw, which included spaghetti harvests in Switzerland, Niagara Falls running dry and Toronto’s CN Tower being redeveloped (we’re Canadians).  The only thing missing was a headline saying Air Canada’s Toronto flight had arrived on time, although that might have given it away!
Nice job as usual.  Congratulations.
Michael Foulkes
Longboat Key

+ Circle needs pedestrian signal
Dear Editor:
The constant flow of pedestrian traffic in St. Armands Circle continuously backs up traffic. Perhaps the installation of timed pedestrian crossing signal lights would ease the congestion. Something has to be done because the problem gets increasingly worse every year. 
Pamela Nadon
Longboat Key