Menlo Park council: Remove street parking along Middle Avenue

This article does not seem well balanced or researched. I went to multiple community meetings regarding this project and there were many residents who commented in favor of these changes, including residents who live on Middle Ave. During the city council meeting on Tuesday there were at least two commenters who lived on Middle Ave who supported removing parking on both sides. And I have heard at least 10 commenters from Middle Ave at all the different meetings, not just "three people". There have been multiple community meetings as well as meetings with Complete Streets commission. There were signs on Middle Ave informing people of the meeting times and locations, plenty of opportunity to weigh in. I encourage the reporter of this story to do a little more research on this topic rather than quoting one upset resident.

As for me - as someone that bikes or walks down Middle almost daily, I'm happy to see that council is supporting bike and pedestrian safety and I'm looking forward to piloting some of these changes.

One thing that jumped out to me from this article is the comment from Jen Wolosin that cyclists ride side-by-side were posed a greater threat from cars (opening doors or oncoming traffic). In what world is it OK for cyclists to be riding two abreast on these streets? Are they not being taught in the bicycle safety classes to ride single file in the bike lanes? Why are they riding two abreast? So that they can chat, rather than paying attention to their cycling and road safety?

I'm a little disappointed with this article and surprised that the Almanac didn't fact check before publishing... There has been a great deal of discussion on this topic. The mayor and city council members specifically have reached out to the neighborhood. Many local residents (including many who live on Middle) participated in an in-person discussion on 9/3 that Mayor Nash and Ray Mueller hosted at Lyle Park. This is only one of a number of in-person and virtual discussions that have occurred involving the neighborhood. The single neighbour interviewed seems to have not been aware despite much neighborhood outreach and engagement.

Perhaps the reporter who authored this hadn't had the opportunity to actually listen in to the city council meeting to hear the many neighbors who spoke in favor of removing parking? Despite what the neighbor quoted in the article said, I DID speak at the meeting as a Middle resident in favor of removing parking. Our family has lived on Middle Ave for the past 13 years and we have children at Oak Knoll and Hillview. We prioritize safety and are in favor of eliminating parking on both sides to have the safest bike lanes, particularly with the surge in traffic (auto and bike) that will occur with the opening of the development on El Camino Real.

@Almanac: This seems to be a one sided article that does not reflect the bulk of the community comment at the city council meeting and multiple forums. And when you're printing an article about bike safety, perhaps it makes sense to choose a picture of cyclists wearing helmets?

Some children are biking side by side every school day on Santa Cruz Ave. That does not make it right but it's a fact to take into account when making plans for safe streets.

I'm a little disappointed with this article and surprised that the Almanac didn't fact check before publishing... There has been a great deal of discussion on this topic. The mayor and city council members specifically have reached out to the neighborhood. Many local residents (including many who live on Middle) participated in an in-person discussion on 9/3 that Mayor Nash and Ray Mueller hosted at Lyle Park. This is only one of a number of in-person and virtual discussions that have occurred involving the neighborhood. The single neighbour interviewed seems to have not been aware despite much neighborhood outreach and engagement.

Perhaps the reporter who authored this hadn't had the opportunity to actually listen in to the city council meeting to hear the many neighbors who spoke in favor of removing parking? Despite what the neighbor quoted in the article said, I DID speak at the meeting as a Middle resident in favor of removing parking. Our family has lived on Middle Ave for the past 13 years and we have children at Oak Knoll and Hillview. We prioritize safety and are in favor of eliminating parking on both sides to have the safest bike lanes, particularly with the surge in traffic (auto and bike) that will occur with the opening of the development on El Camino Real.

@Almanac: This seems to be a one-sided article that does not reflect the bulk of the community comment at the city council meeting and multiple forums. And when you're printing an article about bike safety, perhaps it makes sense to choose a picture of cyclists wearing helmets?