Cd'A LAKE DRIVE STRIPING: Hazardous and baffling

Addressing Rick Carr’s letter of Aug. 16 regarding the bizarre striping recently completed on this “busier than ever” street: I live off it too and agree — we needed those four lanes! This new design needs to be simplified and redone. It worked well before, now it’s unsafe and a challenge for all who use the street and trail.

The new “Bike Lane” makes cyclists’ proximity to cars very dangerous. It’s no wonder they are still riding the trail’s lane as they always did and continue to create risks for walkers. See it every single day. The trail’s blacktop path could have easily been widened creating an assigned bike lane alongside it. I can’t understand how such a hazardous and baffling design could have been approved. However, if committed to having designated lanes for bikes, why aren’t they being enforced?

The many double white lines make it confusing as to where you can legally and safely turn, enter or exit streets & businesses. Example: To enter into the driveways for the bakery and the Mexican restaurant you have to cross over two sets of double lines and the bike lane to enter. If a biker is coming you’d have to stop in the middle of your lane, most likely with traffic behind you before turning. Entering and exiting Potlatch Road is now also perilous without the extra lanes.

Please officials, fix these safety & traffic issues.

JANIS ILLENSTINE

Coeur d’Alene