To the editor:

Yes on the non-motorized transportation levy.

On Nov. 6, we have the opportunity to vote on the first meaningful non-motorized infrastructure levy in the history of Bainbridge Island. At first I was opposed to it for various reasons but realize now that the time to oppose it was as the city was drafting the resolution.

I am an avid cyclist and for the past eight months or so have been averaging 100 mies a week on Bainbridge roads, and have been biking on the island more or less than that for the last 30 years. I know the roads here, and what its like having to cycle in traffic because of lack of shoulders. The roads are mostly narrow and without shoulders.

If I thought about what it is like out on the road, I wouldn’t ride. So I just saddle up and go, and hope I’ll make it back home.

Even though most drivers are thoughtful and courteous, on every ride, there are a few drivers that make it exciting in all the wrong ways. These few drivers are either distracted, under the influence, ignorant of the law concerning passing cyclists on roads with no shoulders and a double yellow center line, in a hurry, or people with a point to make about having to share the road with someone in spandex.

I also know these roads as a driver and share the frustration of having to pass cyclists on roads that are too narrow to accommodate vehicles and bikes. But the frustration has always been toward the various and ever-changing city councils for failing to do their job and get the necessary infrastructure projects funded to remedy this situation.

Everybody wants to see cars on the road and cyclists on the shoulder. Now we have a chance to vote on Nov. 6 to put our money where our mouth is and fix this. The city council is making a good faith effort to remedy this situation, and we can match that effort by supporting the levy.

When we voted to incorporate as a city, we inherited from the county a lot of miles of rural roads unsuitable for the traffic that now uses them. This levy shows a commitment to increasing the efficiency of commercial and residential traffic as well as encouraging people to get out of their cars and bike and walk safely.

It also shows our commitment as a city to reducing our impact on an ever increasingly fragile Mother Earth.

I know more people would get out of their cars and ride if they thought it was safe. Right now, it is not safe.

We will never see a levy that makes everyone happy, (a sure sign of a good levy) and it might be years before the city council addresses this again, as they might see a failure of the levy as showing a lack of interest. This is not the case.

Lastly, the city council in its wisdom is going to rely heavily on a citizen advisory committee to help sort out the specific project for funding, to be in line with the already proscribed designations, and to hold the council’s feet to the fire to make sure that happens. We need this levy to pass and we need to vote “yes.”

CHARLES SHARPE

Bainbridge Island