Blocked bike paths, stop signs and selfdriving cars
CAN WE CLEAN UP THE PASEO BIKE PATH? DW asks in an email, “Can you ask whose job it is to manage the landscaping on the pedestrian/bike path on the path adjacent to Paseo del Norte on the north side of the street? This path runs from east/west from Tramway on the east to Interstate 25 frontage on the west.
“Several bushes are completely obstructing the path as well as some ‘faceslappers’ if you are on a bike. Also a lot of dirt and rocks have washed over the path around the Paseo/Wyoming stretch. ABQ has many really good bike routes. This one is a great path if it is navigable.”
Philip Clelland, marketing manager and public information officer for the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, “confirmed with our Park Management Division that we manage the portion of the trail from Eubank to Barstow, while Bernalillo County manages the rest. (On Nov. 12, he said) We’re sending a crew out to take care of any maintenance needs along our portion. Folks can definitely call 311 any time they see a maintenance need along any of the trails. Those calls automatically get turned into work orders for our crews to take care of as part of their daily maintenance routines.”
AND GET A TREE TRIMMED? Jane S. says via email that “tree branches are obscuring a stop sign ... at Yellowstone and Yosemite; this time the tree is on public land. I notified our councilor of this situation also.”
Johnny Chandler, who handles information for the city’s Department of Municipal Development, explains that “DMD is responsible for making sure nothing blocks educational road signs. We do our best to make sure these signs are not obstructed, but with 4,600 miles of roadways we need the help of the community. Please call 311 or use the OneABQ app to help inform us of roadway and roadway sign obstructions. We will send a crew as soon as possible to make sure (this stop sign and one at Chico and Dorothy that Jane also reported) are clear to all drivers.”
THE BLITZ IS BACK: Law enforcement is intensifying its search for drunken drivers through Jan. 4.
State Police Chief Tim Johnson says in a New Mexico Department of Transportation news release: “This is a joyful time of year that we spend with our family and friends, but it’s also among the busiest travel times of the year with hundreds of thousands of motorists traveling in and through the state. That’s why my officers, from every corner of the state, will be out in full force ensuring the safety of motorists — reminding those traveling in New Mexico to obey the speed limit, wear their seat belts, don’t drive distracted and don’t drink and drive.”
WAITING FOR THE FULLY SELFDRIVING CAR: And after my Nov. 10 column on self-driving technology, Mara L.S. Browning emails: “I would embrace self-driving cars if I didn’t have to monitor the car. Every accident with one of these cars that I have read about had a human along who was supposed to take over if the robotics weren’t working right. I want to be able to sleep, read, look out the window and daydream, etc. In other words, it’s no good to me if I still have to be alert to the hazards of driving. I hope they perfect them before I have to give up my keys.”