Sharing mixed reviews on the Willow Glen road diet
QAdd me to the list of people who used to regularly shop and dine in Willow Glen but now avoid the area like the plague. The last two times I met friends for lunch there, it took 30 minutes to go from Willow Street to Minnesota Avenue on Lincoln Avenue. Never again. — John Ragsdale, San Jose
QYou are likely not receiving complaints, as those of us who have been negatively affected by the road diet have reconciled to the fact that that this street is backed up six blocks every morning and afternoon. — Another critic
QMaybe people in Willow Glen are tired of complaining about this. People choose other restaurants to dine because they do not want the hassle of the parking and the constant traffic from San Carlos Street to Willow Street. The attraction of Lincoln Avenue is diminishing. — Janet Wright, San Jose
QI find the Willow Glen parking behind the businesses on the west side of Lincoln Avenue to be quite convenient, so that is always my destination. Then I walk everywhere after that. But I will go far out of my way to avoid driving down Lincoln. It has few traffic lights, so people turning onto the street are obstacles, and pedestrians can activate the crossing lights whenever they wish, halting traffic.
QLincoln Avenue has become busier than ever in the last two years with great restaurants like Black Sheep Brassiere and The Table thriving. Even the yogurt shop that closed (blaming the road diet) was replaced with a Thai rolled ice cream shop that has lines out the door. Lincoln is more walkable, safe and pleasant. I love it. — John Cherniavsky, San Jose A John lives a block off Lincoln.
Q
Sidewalks are always full and more bustling, businesses are crowded and there’s always a crazy wait for tables at restaurants on Lincoln, so it doesn’t seem like parking has bottlenecked economic vitality in Willow Glen. — Chris Johnson, San Jose
QI cycle through Willow Glen and have been doing so for years. Any commute-time backup on Lincoln is no different in length from what it was before the road diet and if people stopped being so angry, they might discover that Willow Glen is much nicer now that it’s not choked with four lanes of loud and speeding vehicles. — Eamonn Gormley, Campbell
AA study last year found that the number of people exceeding the speed limit by over 5 mph has fallen 44 percent, and the number of speeders over 10 mph has dropped by 60 percent. Join Gary Richards for an hourlong chat noon Wednesday at www. mercurynews.com/livechats. Follow Gary at Twitter. com/mrroadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@ bayareanewsgroup.com or 408-920-5037.