LIBRARY: Speed bump appeal

As usual there are two sides to a story. I did not fully understand the need for the speed bumps at the Hayden Public Library until talking with a staff member. With warmer weather and the libraries opening to indoor participation, foot traffic is increasing.

The problem is that big, heavy delivery trucks servicing Albertson’s grocery store on Prairie Avenue and 95 cut through the Hayden library parking lot for faster access to the back doors of the grocery store. They disregard the 15 mph speed limit. Since they cannot stop quickly for small children and other pedestrians, they are a safety hazard.

Members of library staff have spoken to management at Albertson’s, to the soft drink companies who service the store and to private mail delivery trucks. Managers say they talked to the drivers, warning them to slow down and use more conventional roadways, but without success.

The trucks continue to zoom through the library parking lot. The big trucks drive over normal-sized speed bumps with barely a blip of notice to truck drivers ergo the need for larger speed bumps. These bumps have to be removed during the winter because the snow plows cannot maneuver over them.

When I go to the library, about twice a week, I drive 1 mph over the bumps because my car is low slung. Now I better understand the need for the big speed bumps and implore truck drivers to use alternate routes and obey the speed limits for the safety of everybody. Let’s work together to keep people safe.

JENNIFER ROVA

Hayden Lake