To the editor:

It was with disappointment that I read in the council had voted to continue with the bridge project. I am still not sure whose idea that was, but particularly in the absence of support from the Vineyard community I don’t understand the purpose. Anyone coming on Bainbridge by bike from the ferry and who wants to go downtown will turn left or right on Winslow Way. Anyone who wants to go “uptown” will go to High School Road and turn left or right. There is virtually nothing in between that I can imagine bike riders needed to access from the middle of the Winslow-High School Road section of 305.

There is mention of connecting neighborhoods. One has officially stated that they do NOT want it. And I have seen nothing ever said from the areas on the west side saying that they needed the ability to go east. There was a mention of people crossing Highway 305 in the middle, and that it is unsafe. I would agree with the unsafe concept, but who are these people and how many are there? Why are they crossing there? They must not be from the Vineyard neighborhood since they have stated their lack of support for the project. And depending on how many there are the cost per person, to facilitate what may even be a legitimate reason, will be absurd. Has any attempt been made to intercept these people, find out their reason, and redirect them? It would seem that a fence of some sort could easily be placed there for nominal cost vs. the extraordinary cost of a bridge.

That “only” $1 million of city money will be spent here is also absurd. And that the remaining $2.1 million, being from a federal grant, doesn’t seem to be of concern, but who pays the federal government such as to turn those payments into grants? Ah, yes: us. It is our money just as much as the city money.

I would really like to know the cost per likely user as I am sure that figured into the process. The big question is who will be the users since the people of Bainbridge Island do not seem to want it.

I commend the three council members who wisely voted not to keep spending money on this. And I appeal to the other four to please pull back and stop the financial hemorrhage. I can easily recommend a very necessary project that would aid many Bainbridge Island bike riders as well as visitors; paved bike lane on the uphill, curved section of Eagle Harbor Drive. The city did do some grading and placed gravel along there a few years ago, but most of the bikes people are using have the narrow tires that cannot be used on the rough surface. There are places where there is no pavement under the white line on the side, so people on bikes struggling to go uphill have to stay in the traffic lane. While driving downhill there I have often encountered vehicles passing bicycles uphill on blind curves — in my lane.

I truly feel for the bicycle riders. And I am sure there are other such roads elsewhere on Bainbridge Island. My question here is why is the money not being spent for this type of project?

Please; the city council earned a great deal of praise for the smart decision to discontinue the city electric utility project. I have before and will again thank you for that. But here is another place where, as my grandchildren are sometimes counseled, to make a good decision.

No bridge across 305 — please.

NORMAN MARTEN

Bainbridge Island