The scoop on Viva CalleSJ and bike lanes on Saratoga Avenue
QMy husband and I attended the recent Viva CalleSJ street festival along Monterey Highway. It was a ton of fun. But I think it would be better if two rules were added. Horses should wear diapers or have a pooper scooper following them. Smelling, stepping in or riding through horse poop is no fun. There were a lot of stinky piles everywhere. — Karen Thompson, San Jose
AThere were some pooper scoopers trailing the horses, but more would be welcome next year. Dung of this magnitude is no fun. Your next concern involves much smaller critters and absent-minded humans.
QDog leashes should be limited to six feet. Those thin, extendable leashes are incredibly dangerous. I witnessed an oblivious woman walking her tiny dog on one near the curb on the far right side of the street. The dog saw something on the opposite side and made a mad dash, perpendicular to the road. His thin leash was extended to its full length, forming a lethal tripwire.
A group of young people on bicycles was approaching and very nearly had a 10-person pileup. Fortunately, a sharpeyed teenager saw the thin leash and shouted a warning, and everybody stopped until the dog ran back to his owner, who never once noticed the danger she had put them in. — Karen Thompson
AI’m not sure how the city would enforce a shorter leash policy. They may add a notice on its FAQ page and remind folks how extended leashes can be a tripping hazard.
QBike lanes on Saratoga Avenue between Stevens Creek and Williams Road in San Jose is the worst idea I have ever heard.
Saratoga Avenue at Interstate 280 is the worst traffic situation on the westside. The traffic flow through the Moorpark-280 interchange is already bad. And when the Harker School dropoff is occurring, the entire intersection is in gridlock.
Would adding the bike lane remove a traffic lane? What the intersection needs are additional lanes. I won’t even start with the Mitsuwa grocery store lot situation.
Drivers in this area have already had to suffer due to the Moorpark bike lanes and lane diet. It is getting to be as bad to be a driver as it is to be a smoker. — Christopher Anthony
AThere is no road diet coming. The city is just adding bike lanes. This is a difficult area to negotiate, but city planners believe that by connecting with existing bike lanes on Moorpark and Williams, it creates an alternative to driving alone and a more balanced transportation system. Join Gary Richards for an hourlong chat noon Wednesday at www. mercurynews.com/ live-chats. Look for Gary at Facebook.com/ mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@ bayareanewsgroup.com.